11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
[HCG27-P05] Elementary school education and its localities in geoparks
Keywords:geopark, locality, school management, elementary school, San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark, Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark
I. Background and Objective
UNESCO Global Geoparks aim to protect geological heritage of international value and realize sustainable development and the coexistence of nature and humanity. This is done through enhancing understanding of the natural environment and local culture brought about by the geological heritage and by utilizing geological heritage in scientific research, education, and regional development. In Japan, there is also a domestic version called "Japanese Geopark". In both cases, the focus is on community and education.
On the other hand, in the field of Earth and Planetary Science, the contents and teaching methods are often emphasized in education. They are important, but without a good understanding of the regional community and the context of school education, they can be ineffective and difficult to sustain. In particular, when students and teachers are involved in school education beyond the framework of subject education such as geography education, science education, geography education, and social studies education, it is necessary to look from the perspective of school management, especially when cooperating with elementary schools.
Therefore, in this study, we examine how locality is expressed in elementary school education in geoparks.
II. Methods
We use the school management policy (grand design) of elementary schools in the UNESCO Global Geoparks. The school management policy is formulated by the principal at the beginning of the school year, and often consists of the school education goal, the ideal child, the ideal school, and the ideal teacher. It shows what each school is aiming for.
The text mining analysis tool "KH-Coder" is used to analyze the school management policy, and the co-occurrence network analysis is performed to illustrate the patterns of words co-occurring in sentences. The results are compared between regions.
The study areas are San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark and Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark. While the former shares the theme of 'diverse topography, geology, and people's climate and lifestyles associated with the formation of the Sea of Japan,' the latter comprises, from the east, six cities and towns facing the Sea of Japan: Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture; Toyooka City, Kami Town, and Shin'onsen Town, Hyogo Prefecture; and Iwami Town and Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. The latter consists only of Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, which is in sharp contrast to the San'in Kaigan. As the basic principles, the three principles of "Recognize the value of hometown by learning, learning, and discovering the Itoigawa River" "By protecting, utilizing, and conveying the value of the Itoigawa River, we will foster affection and pride in our hometown." and "Refining the Itoigawa River and disseminating information both in Japan and overseas in order to expand the number of people involved in exchange and achieve sustainable development" are emphasized for regional development and education.
III. Results and Discussion
Geopark is not located at the center of elementary school management in both geoparks. However, there are localities in school management. In particular, relationships between local communities and schools vary by municipalities in San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark.
UNESCO Global Geoparks aim to protect geological heritage of international value and realize sustainable development and the coexistence of nature and humanity. This is done through enhancing understanding of the natural environment and local culture brought about by the geological heritage and by utilizing geological heritage in scientific research, education, and regional development. In Japan, there is also a domestic version called "Japanese Geopark". In both cases, the focus is on community and education.
On the other hand, in the field of Earth and Planetary Science, the contents and teaching methods are often emphasized in education. They are important, but without a good understanding of the regional community and the context of school education, they can be ineffective and difficult to sustain. In particular, when students and teachers are involved in school education beyond the framework of subject education such as geography education, science education, geography education, and social studies education, it is necessary to look from the perspective of school management, especially when cooperating with elementary schools.
Therefore, in this study, we examine how locality is expressed in elementary school education in geoparks.
II. Methods
We use the school management policy (grand design) of elementary schools in the UNESCO Global Geoparks. The school management policy is formulated by the principal at the beginning of the school year, and often consists of the school education goal, the ideal child, the ideal school, and the ideal teacher. It shows what each school is aiming for.
The text mining analysis tool "KH-Coder" is used to analyze the school management policy, and the co-occurrence network analysis is performed to illustrate the patterns of words co-occurring in sentences. The results are compared between regions.
The study areas are San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark and Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark. While the former shares the theme of 'diverse topography, geology, and people's climate and lifestyles associated with the formation of the Sea of Japan,' the latter comprises, from the east, six cities and towns facing the Sea of Japan: Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture; Toyooka City, Kami Town, and Shin'onsen Town, Hyogo Prefecture; and Iwami Town and Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture. The latter consists only of Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture, which is in sharp contrast to the San'in Kaigan. As the basic principles, the three principles of "Recognize the value of hometown by learning, learning, and discovering the Itoigawa River" "By protecting, utilizing, and conveying the value of the Itoigawa River, we will foster affection and pride in our hometown." and "Refining the Itoigawa River and disseminating information both in Japan and overseas in order to expand the number of people involved in exchange and achieve sustainable development" are emphasized for regional development and education.
III. Results and Discussion
Geopark is not located at the center of elementary school management in both geoparks. However, there are localities in school management. In particular, relationships between local communities and schools vary by municipalities in San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark.