Pedersen collaborates with science educators in Japan

19 Dec 2014    

Jon Pedersen, CEHS associate dean of research (pictured on front row, third from left), returned from Japan this week after spending several days in Tokyo meeting with an international group of professors focused on improving the preparation of science teachers. Professors from Finland, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States assembled in Tokyo Dec. 13-15 for an international seminar sponsored by the Society of Japan Science Teaching. Pedersen was invited by Toshihide Hirano (pictured standing, far left), associate professor of science education at Aichi University of Education in Hirsoawa, Igaya Cho, Kariya City. Hirano spent a year at East Carolina University while Pedersen was serving as associate dean for research in ECU’s College of Education.

Hirano is chairman of the Committee of International Affairs of the Society of Japan Science Teaching. He had proposed the seminar to help the Society “research trends on science teacher education.” Japan recently reorganized its teacher education system, according to Hirano, and is giving special attention to its graduate courses in teacher education.

Discussions at the seminar also included how to improve pedagogical content knowledge of preservice teachers, a common challenge for education leaders in the international community.

“This was a beginning meeting to share each country’s perspectives on science teacher education,” said Pedersen. “What we hope to come out of this is a better understanding of how to prepare science teachers.” A book of best practices and lessons learned is proposed as one of the outcomes of the group, said Pedersen.

Pedersen’s background in science education includes many years as a high school science teacher, college professor in science teacher preparation and research, and past president of the Association for Science Teacher Education, an international organization. Pedersen also helped author standards for science teacher preparation.

Each seminar participant submitted a paper for the seminar on their country’s trends in science teacher education and then made a 30-minute presentation that was translated to Japanese by an interpreter.

The group intends to meet again in the future.