FROM a small South East town to the buzzing tourist destination of Japan, Yahl Primary School teacher Andrew McGregor will soon experience what teaching is like in one of the world’s most technologically advanced countries.
Chosen from thousands of applicants, Mr McGregor is one of just eight teachers from across the country that will jet off to Japan this month for an immersive look into Japanese schooling.
Organised by the Australian Science Teachers Association and the Sony Education Foundation, the primary school science teacher will spend just over a week experiencing and learning from Japanese teachers and science professionals.
“I want to see how they are teaching and making science enjoyable and fun for the kids,” he said.
“We think we do a good job here, but being able to see a culture that is at the cutting edge of science will be fascinating.
“Even their partnership with Sony shows how well they are doing with the science resources they are able to get.”
On his first day in Japan, Mr McGregor, with the help of an interpreter, will teach a uniquely Australian science lesson to 34 Japanese students.
“I’m teaching the wonders of Vegemite – during the lesson we will look at electrical circuits and see how Vegemite can in fact conduct electricity,” he said.
“We will first test whether wasabi conducts electricity and then show Vegemite can because of its high salt content.”
While in Japan, Mr McGregor will also visit science museums and the Sony showroom which has not been opened to the public at this stage.
“They are going to give us a demonstration of some robotics which are not out in America yet – we will be some of the first people to see it,” he said.
Keeping in touch with his students at Yahl while he is away, Mr McGregor will make regular updates on the school’s Facebook page.
“As part of the trip they want a big social media presence, so I will be blogging my experiences and putting updates on Facebook using the hashtag #ASTAJapan,” he said.
“I also want to record my lesson in Japan so the students at Yahl Primary School can see what I am doing.
“We are in the process of painting a boomerang for the class I will teach so they can feel like they are a part of it too.”
Thankful for the opportunity to learn from Japanese professionals, Mr McGregor said he felt lucky to have been chosen.
“From the thousands of applications, to have me from little old Yahl Primary School get selected is just awesome,” he said.
“When I was at school I wasn’t really into science, but it is what I really love teaching – the technology side and seeing some of the robotics we could get into is fantastic.”
