5th Teaching & Education Conference, Amsterdam

CULTURALLY LEARNED VALUES AND THE INTERCONNECTED WORLD: THE CASE OF JAPAN AND ADAPTABILITY

LUKE CARSON

Abstract:

Our world is becoming increasingly interconnected and interdependent. This creates new challenges for educators, institutions and national education systems - what are the learning needs of the citizens of this global village? Are they at odds with those of the national culture? This presentation looks at the influence of national cultural values on the design of educational systems, and how, given the international nature of the world today, this may create a tension or a positive union, resulting in some cases in a global advantage or disadvantage for some cultures. This perspective is discussed and exemplified through a case study: an analysis of the modern need for adaptability as an ability, and how the development of this increasingly needed skill is at odds with some of the culturally infused educational practices in Japan.

Keywords: Culture; Adaptability; Learning; Japan

PDF: Download