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 education of young people is context bound. This edited volume explores the contexts that characterise South and South East Asia and their influence on social studies education. There is not a single context across this broad geographical expanse, rather different religions, different political systems and different values exert influences that create distinctive programmes that characterise different countries. Yet there are also commonalities such as the post-colonial nature of most of the countries portrayed in this book, determined efforts at establishing new national communities and multiple value systems that lead to distinctive local priorities. There are also voices of resistance in these chapters, recognising the realities of local contexts but also recognising the need for change. Social studies education in these contexts may well be descended from its origins in North America, but in South and South Asian contexts, it has taken on new purposes, new forms and new values. Education researchers, policymakers and postgraduate students in comparative education will find the volume useful in its exploration and comparison of the social studies curricular and reforms that shaped them.

This book examines both history textbook controversies AND teaching historical controversy in Asian contexts. The different perspectives provided by the book’s authors offer numerous insights, examples, and approaches for understanding historical controversy to provide a practical gold mine for scholars and practitioners. The book provides case studies of history textbook controversies ranging from treatments of the Nanjing Massacre to a comparative treatment of Japanese occupation in Vietnamese and Singaporean textbooks to the differences in history textbooks published by secular and Hindu nationalist governments in India. It also offers a range of approaches for teaching historical controversy in classrooms. These include Structured Academic Controversy, the use of Japanese manga, teaching controversy through case studies, student facilitated discussion processes, and discipline-based approaches that can be used in history classrooms. The book’s chapters will help educational researchers and curricularists consider new approaches for curriculum design, curriculum study, and classroom research.

This book examines both history textbook controversies AND teaching historical controversy in Asian contexts. The different perspectives provided by the book’s authors offer numerous insights, examples, and approaches for understanding historical controversy to provide a practical gold mine for scholars and practitioners. The book provides case studies of history textbook controversies ranging from treatments of the Nanjing Massacre to a comparative treatment of Japanese occupation in Vietnamese and Singaporean textbooks to the differences in history textbooks published by secular and Hindu nationalist governments in India. It also offers a range of approaches for teaching historical controversy in classrooms. These include Structured Academic Controversy, the use of Japanese manga, teaching controversy through case studies, student facilitated discussion processes, and discipline-based approaches that can be used in history classrooms. The book’s chapters will help educational researchers and curricularists consider new approaches for curriculum design, curriculum study, and classroom research.

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 countries of East and Southeast Asia, taken as a whole, display a laboratory of social and political conditions, with individual countries presenting a variety of political, cultural and social characteristics. Some with one-party state systems, others with stable liberal democracies and yet others with more fragile democratic systems. As such the region presents a unique opportunity to examine the relationship between diverse national environments and social work education regimes. In this book, social work educators and theorists from around East and Southeast Asia provide accounts of the social work programs within the higher education systems of their respective countries and compare them to those of their neighbours. This is the first book to offer a structured account of how social work and social work education have emerged and finds their present place in the historical, economic, political, urban/rural and higher education contexts of Southeast Asia and East Asia. Experts from the region assess the extent to which these countries’ systems possess a collective coherence, while examining the diversity among them.

This edited volume explores, investigates and analyses Free Learning – an innovative approach to student-directed learning which seeks to challenge educational norms from within. The volume is framed by a recognition of the urgent need for transformation of our educational systems. In traditional education, students work through a teacher-directed linear syllabus, at a pace dictated by the teacher, with summative assessment hurdles at too-frequent intervals. Progression and direction are determined solely by the teacher. In Free Learning, students determine their own learning pathway through a non-linear syllabus, which can be visualised as a mind map. Students may then complete as many units as they either have time for or are interested in, moving from one unit to another on the basis of having formatively satisfied the demands of each individual unit. This volume showcases the value and potential of Free Learning in contemporary practice and is intended to bridge theory and practice. The structure of the book reflects this complementary fit, with contributions from practitioners describing Free Learning as a learning and teaching tool in a range of educational settings, subjects and age-ranges. It also contains qualitative and quantitative analyses by researchers exploring the uptake of Free Learning and students’ responses to the methodology. Researchers and educators who are interested in student-directed methodologies, especially in Asia, will find that the practical accounts and analyses of Free Learning contained within provide much food for thought with regard to redefining student learning.

This book interrogates politics and practices of multiculturalism and multicultural education in contexts where liberal and critical multiculturalism is under pressure. It examines and interrogates perspectives on multiculturalism and the political and social to diversity in societies in Asia and Europe. It is set against a background of increasing right wing radicalism and pervasive authoritarianism in different parts of the world. These ideologies not only undermine multiculturalism but the potential of democracy itself. The book includes chapters from leading scholars on multiculturalism, interculturalism and diversity around the world. It examines the challenges to multicultural diversity in the Global North, and makes a distinctive contribution by addressing this issue in the Global South societies of Asia, including Myanmar, China, and Pakistan. As such, this book opens up international debate about multiculturalism by providing exchanges rarely heard across borders.

This Handbook provides a comprehensive look at the educational scope of life and values that characterize 21st-century Asia, as well as those values shared across cultures. Some values are deeply resonant with the region’s past while others reflect modernity and the new contexts in which Asian societies find themselves. Exploring these values of different types and the way they are constructed in Eastern and Western contexts, the contributors delve into the diversity of religious, moral and social education to promote greater understanding across cultures. While a range of values is identified here, there is no single set of values that can be applied to all people in all contexts. The time has long gone, even for single societies, when values can be imposed. Yet this Handbook emphasizes both the extent and importance of values to individuals and their societies—how they respond to these values may provide the key to better and more caring societies and to better lives for all. Academics and teachers will find this Handbook resourceful because it raises important theoretical issues related to social values and their formation in distinctive contexts and provides novel insights into the diverse educational landscape in Asia. Policymakers and educators will also find this text helpful in learning to think about new ways to improve the quality of people’s lives.

In the ever-shrinking global village, the field of education stands as a bridge that connects diverse cultures, ideas, and perspectives. The book , "Bridging Worlds: Teaching Social Studies in Asia with Western Methods," is a testament to the power of this bridge - a bridge that spans the rich tapestry of Asian cultures and the pedagogical approaches of the Western world. A Global Perspective on Education: Asia, the world's largest continent, is a mosaic of languages, traditions, and histories. As the 21st century unfolds, Asian nations are playing increasingly vital roles on the global stage. With this burgeoning significance, it becomes crucial to nurture[NR5] a generation of informed, empathetic, and socially responsible citizens who can navigate the complexities of our interconnected world. The Challenge of Balancing Tradition and Innovation: Teaching social studies in Asia is not without its challenges. Educators must grapple with[NR6] the delicate task of preserving cultural heritage while preparing students for a globalized future. The diverse learning styles, historical contexts, and cultural nuances across the continent add layers of complexity to this endeavor. A Collaborative Effort: "Bridging Worlds" is the culmination of collaborative efforts from educators, researchers, and policymakers who have dedicated themselves to enriching social studies education in Asia. It is a mosaic of insights, strategies, and best practices that aim to empower educators and stakeholders in their mission to shape the future. A Journey Through the Chapters: This book embarks on a comprehensive journey, each chapter serving as a stepping stone towards a more holistic and culturally relevant social studies curriculum. From laying the foundations in Chapter 1 to fostering global awareness in Chapter 10, we explore the intricacies of curriculum development, teaching strategies, assessment, and more. A Call to Action: As you delve into the chapters of "Bridging Worlds," we invite you to reflect on the role of education in shaping the future. Each page is an invitation to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, between local relevance and global perspective, and between cultural preservation and preparation for an interconnected world. A Vision for the Future: My hope is that this book will serve as a guide, a source of inspiration, and a catalyst for change. Whether you are an educator seeking fresh approaches, a policymaker shaping educational standards, or a researcher exploring the dynamics of social studies education, "Bridging Worlds" is a resource that calls us to envision a future where education transcends borders and unites cultures.