Bansho (Japanese board writing) is becoming an area of interest among researchers and educators as it could serve as an asset to make a searching inquiry into teaching. This study aims to identify the variations of bansho styles in Japanese schools and draws its data from 10 lessons from a primary school in Japan. All lesson observations were…

The perception of the teacher as the authority in the classroom is deep-rooted in education yet this notion seems to contradict the fundamental values of democratic education. Schools grant teachers an abundance of authority and decision-making power. The pedagogical implications of how teachers use this power in the classroom are not…

According to architectural designers, although they are aware of the sound environment when designing spaces, in many cases visual (design) and cost (cost-effectiveness, etc.) were the predominant factors. In many cases, the visual (design) and cost aspects (cost-effectiveness, etc.) were dominant. The tacit rule for evaluating the sound…

This article presents a case study of the innovative Japanese film education project Children Meet Cinema, through aspects of an interview with its founder Etsuko Dohi, placed within a wider discussion of the project's pedagogical approaches. In particular, the article details the innovative manner in which Children Meet Cinema has invited some of…

This paper reports on part of a larger study of critical language pedagogy (CLP) in university EFL classes in Japan. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, we examined the philosophies, approaches, pedagogic choices, and adaptations of nineteen self-identifying critical pedagogues. Here, we focus on the theme of student receptivity to the…

This study explores the Yamanoko Program, a forest education initiative in Shiga, Prefecture, Japan, to examine how outdoor environmental education approaches can offer a transformative perspective on educational culture, fostering respect for and interconnectedness with more-than-human agency. The study aims to inspire discussions on…

Sozo Kurahashi's (1882-1955) theories, formed from his profound respect for children, have influenced Japanese early childhood education and care (ECEC) practitioners for a long time. They also have influenced the national ECEC curriculum in Japan, which emphasizes the need for a rich environment where children can actively learn and play rather…

In Japanese higher education, there is a notable shift in learning assistance. It is transitioning from merely providing remedial help to fostering comprehensive student success. This study examines learning assistance in Japanese higher education, which was restructured in the 1950s following the American university system, through comparison…

Statistical literacy, encompassing the interpretation and evaluation of statistical reports, is a skill developed in schools. However, the pedagogical approaches to statistical literacy skills have not been sufficiently investigated. This study investigated whether statistical literacy skills could be demonstrated through high school lessons.…

With the growing number of PhD graduates worldwide and the decline in tenure-track positions, more PhD students are considering non-academic careers. However, influenced by cruel optimism, many remain emotionally attached to academia, making it difficult for them to explore alternative career paths. This study employs an interpretative…

Given the difficult and unforeseen circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to transition from face-to-face instruction to digital instruction. This paper provides a teacher educator's autoethnographic account of implementing the pedagogical intervention of digital learning and student teachers' reactions to its effects on their…

Purpose: This paper aims to discuss the significance of teacher authorship ("jissen kiroku") developed during "jugyo kenkyu." Specifically, it explores the structural conditions of "jugyo kenkyu" that enabled the flourishing of "jissen kiroku." Design/methodology/approach: To find how "jissen…

We are becoming more and more aware of the marks our human existence is leaving on our global environment: the Anthropocene as discourse of that awareness is turning into a living and lived-in reality. I argue that such discourse cannot remain the purview of the natural and social sciences alone: culture must be recognized in its pivotal role of…

This article conceptualises how disruptions to conventional teaching models may lead to innovative practice. We have identified a gap in current knowledge around how innovations in higher education teaching and learning are initiated in times of crises. Disruptive Innovation Theory and Roger's Diffusion of Innovation Theory are used as lenses to…

The second of two volumes dedicated to this little-explored topic continues to gather international perspectives to critically assess how Waldorf education has been perceived and discussed in both public and academic arenas. Both books thereby challenge the historic concept of Waldorf education as an international movement championing…