This book describes a comparative study of the primary science learning objectives (from the cognitive domain) in the curriculum of six high-achieving East Asian states — mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Singapore. Specifically, the authors use one of the most widely accepted and useful tools in curriculum research — revised Bloom’s Taxonomy. This is the first time that such findings from all six states have been published in one place and the results are valuable for policymakers, educators and researchers around the globe. Our new English translations of the primary science learning objectives in China, Taiwan and Korea will also greatly facilitate future analyses of these curricula.

This book presents innovations in teaching and learning science, novel approaches to science curriculum, cultural and contextual factors in promoting science education and improving the standard and achievement of students in East Asian countries. The authors in this book discuss education reform and science curriculum changes and promotion of science and STEM education, parental roles and involvement in children's education, teacher preparation and professional development and research in science education in the context of international benchmarking tests to measure the knowledge of mathematics and science such as the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and achievement in science, mathematics and reading like Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Among the high achieving countries, the performance of the students in East Asian countries such as Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and China (Shanghai) are notable. This book investigates the reasons why students from East Asian countries consistently claim the top places in each and every cycle of those study. It brings together prominent science educators and researchers from East Asia to share their experience and findings, reflection and vision on emerging trends, pedagogical innovations and research-informed practices in science education in the region. It provides insights into effective educational strategies and development of science education to international readers.

This edited volume is a state-of-the-art comparison of primary science education across six East-Asian regions; namely, the People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Republic of China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, and Singapore. While news of educational policies, classroom teaching, assessment, and other educational innovations here often surface in the international media, this book brings together for the first time relevant information regarding educational systems and strategies in primary science in East Asia. Above all, it is a readable yet comprehensive survey—readers would have an accurate sense of what has been accomplished, what has not worked so well, and what remains to be done. Invited experts in comparative education research and/or science education also provide commentary by discussing common themes across the six regions. These types of critical synoptic reviews add much value by enabling readers to understand broad commonalities and help synthesize what must surely be a bewildering amount of very interesting albeit confusing body of facts, issues, and policies. Education in East Asia holds many lessons (both positive and negative) to offer to the rest of the world to which this volume is a timely contribution to the literature.

This book is a collaborative product of an official project approved by the East-Asian Association for Science Education (EASE), one of the most important professional societies of science education in Asia. This EASE book is compiled with a unique approach. It consists of well-structured four sections: (A)The Historical Development of Science Education in East Asia, (B)The Achievements of Science Education Research in East Asia, (C)Science Teacher Training in East Asia, and (D)Some Challenges to Research in Science Education in East Asia. Its fifteen chapters are co-authored/collaborated by renowned scholars from regions of East Asia. The book successfully integrated and consolidated the research, findings, curricular developments, and science teaching practices that have shaped ongoing educational agenda and student learning outcome in an unprecedented approach. Six Regional Coordinators from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan worked together with Editors and more than fifty science educators to assure the book project adequately reflects the trends and practices in this region. The six Regional Coordinators are: (1)Prof. Weiping HU, Shaanxi Normal University, (2)Prof. Winnie SO Wing Mui, The Education University of Hong Kong, (3)Prof. Masakata OGAWA, Tokyo University of Science, (4)Prof. Jinwoong SONG, Seoul National University, (5)Prof. Huann-shyang LIN, National Sun Yat-sen University, (6)Prof. Chi-jui LIEN, National Taipei University of Education. This book intends not only to serve as references, but also a complement of existing perspectives from western countries. Insights gained from the integration and consolidation of East-Asian developmental trends and perspectives would allow science educators, teachers, and policy makers make wise decision for future advancements for their own countries/regions. 1. Why We Study the History of Science Education in East Asia: A Comparison of the Emergence of Science Education in China and Japan. 2. The Advent of Science Education for All: A Policy Review across East-Asian Regions. 3. Trend and Development of School Science Education in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. 4. National/Regional Systems of Research Training in Science Education: The Experiences in Japan and Hong Kong. 5. Science Education Research Trends in East Asian Areas: A Quantitative Analysis in Selected Journals. 6. Current Trends of Science Education in East Asia (1995-2014): With a Focus on Local Academic Associations, Journal Papers, and Key Issues of Science Education in China Mainland, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. 7. Diversity Dilemmas of Science Education in East Asia. 8. A Comparison of Elementary School Science Textbooks in East Asia. 9. Primary School Science Teacher Training in East-Asia: In the Continuous Reforming for the Quality Assurance. 10. Pre-service Education of High School Science Teachers. 11. Science Education Reform and the Professional Development of Science Teachers in East Asian Regions. 12. Affective Aspects of Science Education in East Asia Regions. 13. Science Learning in Informal Environments in East Asia: Focusing on Science Museums/Centers. 14. Introducing Modern Science and High Technology in Schools. 15. Government Policy in Developing a STEM Curriculum: The Case of the High-Scope Program in Taiwan.

This book provides an overview of science education policies, research and practices in mainland China, with specific examples of the most recent developments in these areas. It presents an insiders’ report on the status of Chinese science education written primarily by native speakers with first-hand experiences inside the country. In addition, the book features multiple sectional commentaries by experts in the field that further connect these stories to the existing science education literature outside of China. This book informs the international community about the current status of Chinese science education reforms. It helps readers understand one of the largest science education systems in the world, which includes, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment, the best-performing economy in the world in science, math and reading: Shanghai, China. Readers gain insight into how science education in the rest of China compares to that in Shanghai; the ways Chinese science educators, teachers and students achieve what has been accomplished; what Chinese students and teachers actually do inside their classrooms; what educational policies have been helpful in promoting student learning; what lessons can be shared within the international science education community; and much more. This book appeals to science education researchers, comparative education researchers, science educators, graduate students, state science education leaders and officers in the international communities. It also helps Chinese students and faculty of science education discover effective ways to share their science education stories with the rest of the world.

This book presents an international perspective of the influence of educational context on science education. The focus is on the interactions between curriculum development and implementation, particularly in non-Western and non-English-speaking contexts (i.e., outside the UK, USA, Australia, NZ, etc. ). An important and distinguishing feature of the book is that it draws upon the experiences and research from local experts from an extremely diverse cohort across the world (26 countries in total). The book addresses topics such as: curriculum development; research or evaluation of an implemented curriculum; discussion of pressures driving curriculum reform or implementation of new curricula (e. g., technology or environmental education); the influence of political, cultural, societal or religious mores on education; governmental or ministerial drives for curriculum reform; economic or other pressures driving curriculum reform; the influence of external assessment regimes on curriculum; and so on.

This book discusses how East Asia has introduced school and curricular reform to reflect democratic citizenship and globalized skills, knowledge, dispositions, and competencies in the 21st century. It also focuses on the tendencies and reasons students from Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore receive the highest scores in international students’ assessment such as PISA and TIMSS; yet their curiosity and motivation for learning are the lowest internationally. Moreover, Indonesian and Vietnamese students are likely to receive the lowest testing scores, yet their motivation for learning is quite high. It is worth investigating high academic achievement in East Asia in light of the trend towards democratization. The authors consider controversial issues such as whether the goals of democratic education should be the attainment of high academic scores, consideration of whether to implement competency-based curriculums or meritocratic systems of academic competition, and the provision of equal opportunities in the community of learning. The book illuminates each country’s struggle to realise school reform on the basis of its social and cultural settings, and looks at what connects East Asia’s past, present, and future.

The book explores the state of social studies education within selected East Asian societies and provides some insights into distinctive classroom practices. In an increasingly volatile and unpredictable world, the education of young people who both understand the contexts in which they are growing up and see the need for engaging with them is a top priority. This task falls to social studies education which carries the responsibility for inducting young people into their social world and helping them to see the role they can play within it. This is particularly important in East Asia where strong economic growth, long held cultural values and diverse political systems create an environment that challenges young people on multiple fronts. This book, with its team of regional authors, shows how different societies in the region are dealing with these challenges and what can be expected from future citizens. The book will appeal to policy makers, researchers and teachers interested in the current state of social studies education in East Asian societies.

The mission of the International Journal of Educational Reform (IJER) is to keep readers up-to-date with worldwide developments in education reform by providing scholarly information and practical analysis from recognized international authorities. As the only peer-reviewed scholarly publication that combines authors’ voices without regard for the political affiliations perspectives, or research methodologies, IJER provides readers with a balanced view of all sides of the political and educational mainstream. To this end, IJER includes, but is not limited to, inquiry based and opinion pieces on developments in such areas as policy, administration, curriculum, instruction, law, and research. IJER should thus be of interest to professional educators with decision-making roles and policymakers at all levels turn since it provides a broad-based conversation between and among policymakers, practitioners, and academicians about reform goals, objectives, and methods for success throughout the world. Readers can call on IJER to learn from an international group of reform implementers by discovering what they can do that has actually worked. IJER can also help readers to understand the pitfalls of current reforms in order to avoid making similar mistakes. Finally, it is the mission of IJER to help readers to learn about key issues in school reform from movers and shakers who help to study and shape the power base directing educational reform in the U.S. and the world.

This book shares insights into the achievement gap in mathematics between East Asian and Western countries, and the ways to improve students’ mathematics achievements. Especially, it highlights the importance to integrate case studies with large-scale international comparative studies in general, and comparative studies of mathematics education in particular. This book is a must-read for mathematics teachers, mathematics educators, educational researchers, education administrators, curriculum developers, assessment designers, and student teachers who are interested in mathematics education and how to improve students’ mathematics achievements.