Hiroyuki Nishimoto, Wakana Iijima, Serina Tomita
Faculty of Education, Shizuoka University, Japan
Abstract. This paper aimed to explain about ESD initiatives in the public school education and reports how it was implemented in the school where the students experienced teaching practices. Firstly we explain about Japan’s government efforts and measure in implementing ESD. Secondly, we explain about teaching practice system. During the teaching practices period we gain experience in teaching and learn from in service Schoolteachers. When we had practical training at elementary and junior high schools we learnt not only about class management but also about teaching methods and worked with school children. We think that it is not enough to learn only from what is written in the academic textbook. Thus, teaching training practices is a precious experience to student trainees. Thirdly, we explain about ESD activities we have experienced during the teaching practices at the school that puts emphasis on ESD. At that school, during the “sougo gakushu (integrated study)” classes children were proactive and take the initiative in learning. From what we learnt and observed at the school, we conducted a Social Studies class in another about “Equal Rights”, a theme related to SDGs. However, we also had practical training at the schools that do not conduct any ESD activities, and it turned out to be that there are differences in awareness and efforts among public schools. At the last, we contextualize the national measures in implementing ESD at school level with what we have learned at the university and frame our idea.
Keywords: ESD activities, teaching practices, teaching training education