Isolation and Adaptation - Edo and Meiji Japan

DISCUSSION PROMPTS: EDO JAPAN, MEIJI JAPAN, ISOLATION, ADAPTATION, NORTH KOREA, WORLDVIEW, EFFECTIVE TEST-TAKING SKILLS, EFFECTIVE NOTE-TAKING SKILLS, EFFECTIVE STUDY SKILLS

UP NEXT: WORLDVIEWS IN CONTACT ON THE LAND & SOUTHERN ALBERTA WORLDVIEW TOUR

Japan
Why would a country/group choose a policy of isolation? Why would a country/group choose a policy of adaptation?

Our final case study for social studies has been an investigation into the ideas isolation and adaptation in Japan from the Edo period to the Meiji period. We started this unit by exploring the big ideas through an investigation into certain indigenous peoples in the Amazon rainforest, using our worldview paradigm to understand the choices these peoples have made, and have been forced to make.

"Survival International estimates that there are over 100 uncontacted tribes worldwide, and says that uncontacted tribes in the region are under increasing threat from illegal logging over the border in Peru." (REUTERS)

Our next step was to deepen our understanding of this process of isolation and adaptation through a detailed look at historical Japan. We used a PBS documentary and the textbook to gather the information we needed. Embedded in this content was a skills unit focused on effective note-taking, studying, and test-taking. We have been working on these skills throughout the year in grade 8, but more focused work was needed. Many students' skills in these areas grew throughout this unit, and these skills are very transferable to future levels of school. Essential in this process was the reflecting on the tasks. Specifically, students were asked to informally reflect on how effective one's study approach was based on confidence in the test, and success on the test. Completing corrections on the test itself and ensuring the reflection included the correct answer as well as an idea as to why the answer was incorrect was also important.

Empty binders work as privacy screens.

Taking a test, using their laptops for privacy!

Test-taking strategies front and centre.

We ended our examination of isolation and adaptation this week with a focused look at a current example of isolation, North Korea. Students were tasked with using their knowledge of what isolation and adaptation looked like in Japan to come up with a blueprint for adaptation if North Korea were to move away from their current policy. This required some focused research into North Korea's current society and worldview, which we did through a National Geographic documentary and a variety of other sources such as newspaper articles and Ted Talks. In the end, students made suggestions, although it was important that they ensured they were making the suggestions not out of hatred or ethnocentrism, but based on their knowledge of what it could look like for a country to successfully adapt.