Comments on: Observations on teaching school children http://kenshi247.net/blog/2008/12/11/observations-on-teaching-school-children/ - Kendo related news, discussion, and media - Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:55:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew Tan http://kenshi247.net/blog/2008/12/11/observations-on-teaching-school-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1275 Andrew Tan Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:26:57 +0000 http://kenshi247.net/blog/?p=1053#comment-1275 <a href="#comment-233" rel="nofollow">@Jayson1981</a> Hey Jayson! Ben visited SKC in January 2005 I think? It was a hot Saturday I remember. @Jayson1981
Hey Jayson! Ben visited SKC in January 2005 I think? It was a hot Saturday I remember.

]]> By: Jayson1981 http://kenshi247.net/blog/2008/12/11/observations-on-teaching-school-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1274 Jayson1981 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:21:51 +0000 http://kenshi247.net/blog/?p=1053#comment-1274 Bey Ben, I didn't know you are in Australia. When are you going to come visit us in Sydney? If you want to get in touch, email me ay jayson.chaplin@gmail.com Great post by the way! Cheers, Jays Bey Ben,

I didn’t know you are in Australia. When are you going to come visit us in Sydney? If you want to get in touch, email me ay jayson.chaplin@gmail.com

Great post by the way!

Cheers,
Jays

]]> By: Ben Sheppard http://kenshi247.net/blog/2008/12/11/observations-on-teaching-school-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1273 Ben Sheppard Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:55:14 +0000 http://kenshi247.net/blog/?p=1053#comment-1273 As a follow up, here are the results of some feedback the students were asked to give on the subject. You'll be able to get an idea of some of the conflicting motivations of the students (e.g. one wants less theory, another wants more about Japanese culture). You can also see the different levels of engagement (student 3 being the most and student 13 being the least with the rest on a continuum in between), and even the different levels of educational attainment. Students here are between 12 and 14 years old. Also keep in mind that this is a group of kids who did not self-select (as in a club setting) so some have had no affinity with kendo from the beginning. b Questions 1) What did you learn? 2) What was your favourite part of the subject? 3) What could be improved? 4) Other comments Student 1 1) How to use the shinai and write some letters (i.e. kanji - BS) in Japanese. 2) Nothing 3) More sparring 4) Don’t know Student 2 Kendo, it’s good. Student 3 1) Firstly, I have learnt how to perform correct kendo cuts and patterns, and I’ve learned about Japanese culture. 2) This semester has been good because I got to wear armour and perform more advanced series of cuts. 3) I’m not sure what can be improved, but it would be better if the whole class participated. More different activities would be better. Student 4 1) I have learnt how to demonstrate basic kendo movements and operations. I have discovered different aspects of Japanese culture. 2) The different clothing and armour was enjoyable and interesting. 3) The problem is more the people (other students?-BS) than the class (content?-BS) 4) More about the culture and Japan would be nice. Student 5 1) I have learnt the Way of the Samurai 2) Using the shinai 3) It can be improved us wear armour more. 4) Kendo was a good experience. Student 6 1) I learnt how to defend myself and how to strike people. 2) Fighting each other 3) To do more fighting. 4) No because everything was good. Student 7 1) I learnt to strike a person with the shinai. 2) We watched a movie about the Chinese (sic) warrior. Student 8 3) more stories Student 9 1) I have learnt how to use the kendo stick (sic). 2) (competing against)… other people in a kendo match Student 10 1) I have improved my knowledge of Japanese culture. 2) We got to spar. 3) It can be improved by having more space to use swords and more sparring. apart from that, nothing really. 4) Using the sword braking technique (tenouchi – BS), I improved my cricket too. It helps you roll your wrists so the balls I hit don’t fly to get caught. Student 11 I liked the movies but didn’t like all the walking around to do kendo. Student 12 1) I have learnt about Japanese culture. 2) Putting on the uniform and armour was the highlight. 3) I think that we should put the uniform and armour on more often. 4) I think that we should do less theory. Student 13 1) I have learnt how to hit people with sticks 2) Nothing 3) Everything As a follow up, here are the results of some feedback the students were asked to give on the subject. You’ll be able to get an idea of some of the conflicting motivations of the students (e.g. one wants less theory, another wants more about Japanese culture). You can also see the different levels of engagement (student 3 being the most and student 13 being the least with the rest on a continuum in between), and even the different levels of educational attainment. Students here are between 12 and 14 years old. Also keep in mind that this is a group of kids who did not self-select (as in a club setting) so some have had no affinity with kendo from the beginning. b

Questions
1) What did you learn?
2) What was your favourite part of the subject?
3) What could be improved?
4) Other comments

Student 1
1) How to use the shinai and write some letters (i.e. kanji – BS) in Japanese.
2) Nothing
3) More sparring
4) Don’t know

Student 2
Kendo, it’s good.

Student 3
1) Firstly, I have learnt how to perform correct kendo cuts and patterns, and I’ve learned about Japanese culture.
2) This semester has been good because I got to wear armour and perform more advanced series of cuts.
3) I’m not sure what can be improved, but it would be better if the whole class participated. More different activities would be better.

Student 4
1) I have learnt how to demonstrate basic kendo movements and operations. I have discovered different aspects of Japanese culture.
2) The different clothing and armour was enjoyable and interesting.
3) The problem is more the people (other students?-BS) than the class (content?-BS)
4) More about the culture and Japan would be nice.

Student 5
1) I have learnt the Way of the Samurai
2) Using the shinai
3) It can be improved us wear armour more.
4) Kendo was a good experience.

Student 6
1) I learnt how to defend myself and how to strike people.
2) Fighting each other
3) To do more fighting.
4) No because everything was good.

Student 7
1) I learnt to strike a person with the shinai.
2) We watched a movie about the Chinese (sic) warrior.

Student 8
3) more stories

Student 9
1) I have learnt how to use the kendo stick (sic).
2) (competing against)… other people in a kendo match

Student 10
1) I have improved my knowledge of Japanese culture.
2) We got to spar.
3) It can be improved by having more space to use swords and more sparring. apart from that, nothing really.
4) Using the sword braking technique (tenouchi – BS), I improved my cricket too. It helps you roll your wrists so the balls I hit don’t fly to get caught.

Student 11
I liked the movies but didn’t like all the walking around to do kendo.

Student 12
1) I have learnt about Japanese culture.
2) Putting on the uniform and armour was the highlight.
3) I think that we should put the uniform and armour on more often.
4) I think that we should do less theory.

Student 13
1) I have learnt how to hit people with sticks
2) Nothing
3) Everything

]]> By: The Cupking http://kenshi247.net/blog/2008/12/11/observations-on-teaching-school-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1272 The Cupking Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:21:47 +0000 http://kenshi247.net/blog/?p=1053#comment-1272 This is good, I like the observations. I teach Judo & Karate to children around the same ages and I found the very same things out years ago, they just want to get on with it. It would appear that we may be trying to teach something that is perhaps slightly above there levels of comprehension at that stage of their lives. I am about to embark upon my Kendo teaching career after the Christmas break and hopefully I will be able get a decent interest level going so thanks for the observations, it gives me confidence in thinking that the way I do things does have some benefit. This is good, I like the observations. I teach Judo & Karate to children around the same ages and I found the very same things out years ago, they just want to get on with it. It would appear that we may be trying to teach something that is perhaps slightly above there levels of comprehension at that stage of their lives. I am about to embark upon my Kendo teaching career after the Christmas break and hopefully I will be able get a decent interest level going so thanks for the observations, it gives me confidence in thinking that the way I do things does have some benefit.

]]> By: Leiv Harstad http://kenshi247.net/blog/2008/12/11/observations-on-teaching-school-children/comment-page-1/#comment-1271 Leiv Harstad Thu, 11 Dec 2008 04:52:01 +0000 http://kenshi247.net/blog/?p=1053#comment-1271 Heh. I like the kid with the hi-no-maru hachimaki on in the background. Heh. I like the kid with the hi-no-maru hachimaki on in the background.

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