In addition to the study report by Prof. Ichikawa and Associate Prof. Murakami, the students of Secondary School attached to the Faculty of Education, the University of Tokyo talked about the experience learning in Okinawa in the talk by their teacher, Mr. Fukushima about the “mind and body” lesson. They also performed the contemporary Okinawan dance “Kimotaka no Uta (Amawari)” (picture on the left). The symposium let us understand the link between the academic perspective toward active learning and the outcome of its practice. It seemed that a lot of participants were moved by the students’ powerful performance.

A third year student that performed “Kimotaka no Uta”, as well as the speakers and Prof. Kodama (President of the Secondary School attached to the Faculty of Education, the University of Tokyo), participated in the panel discussion (picture on the right). She spoke and responded in a dignified manner, and it let us feel the outcome of the “mind and body” lesson and the active learning.

(Hideki Ito, Research Associate, Center for Excellence in School Education)