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Erika Larson
EDUC200-001H
Prof. Scott Straub
December 1, 2020
EDUC 200 - SIGNATURE ASSSIGNMENT

Task 1. Big Picture Questions

Question 1 – Name 4 countries that have a great educational system. Based on what you learned in this course, what are 3
similarities that these countries have in common? In other words, what are some factors that have helped these countries to
excel in the area of education? 
South Korea, Finland, Poland, and Japan all have great educational systems. One of the things they all have in common is that
students in these countries understand the importance of getting an education. In these countries, if they do not do well in
school, they aren’t able to get into a good college. Another thing they all have is well educated teachers. In these countries,
becoming a teacher is much more rigorous than here in the US which leads to a smaller but more determined and well-trained
pool of people entering teacher programs. The third thing they all have in common is that parents are much more concerned
with how their children do in school then parents here in the US.
 
 
Question 2 – Based on what you learned in this course, do you think the top performing countries are influencing other
countries? In other words, describe how the countries which are listed highest in terms of PISA scores are having an affect on
other countries? 
I wish I could say yes but the truth is I do not think they are, at least not yet. While many countries could learn a thing or two
from the top performing countries, I think that it is very difficult to overhaul an entire education system. For example, in the US,
schools are very focused on incorporating technology, focusing more on ‘memorizing’ what is being taught to you to pass tests,
and extracurricular activities like sports teams. Many of the top countries don’t use high tech gear in the classroom and focus on
rigorous curriculum. Also, in these countries, the importance of getting an education is impressed on students and they
understand the need to focus on education. Here in the US, you can get into college with barely passing grades, an athletic
scholarship, or even pay your way in without really deserving the spot.
 
 
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Question 3 – Do you think that countries who pay little or no attention to educating its citizens can/will have a negative
impact on the world in the future? Support your answer.  
Yes, I think they will have a negative impact on the world, but I think they will have an even more negative impact on its citizens.
With uneducated citizens you will have underpaid employees who are not able to access adequate healthcare and nutrition
leading to higher rates of mortality. With underpaid employees, you will have more companies outsourcing factories and jobs to
countries with cheaper labor which in turn takes jobs away from citizens of other countries who may be due more wages due to
being better educated. This will cause some economies to, if not crash, take a serious hit causing families to lose income,
possibly homes, and go further into debt.

Question 4 - How does education in other countries compare to the system of education in the U.S. from your observations?
Here in the US I think school is much ‘easier’ compared to those that are considered educational powerhouses. Many schools,
especially high schools, are centered around athletic teams, especially football. We have shows that are dedicated to the idea of
the all-American high school football team and how the whole school is just living for the Friday night lights. While I do feel like
the US has some strengths, such as access to technology and teaching how to use it and in recent years the use of common core
(until I took my education math class, I disliked common core and now I LOVE it, soooo much easier), I do feel like many students
in the US don’t actually learn the material but memorize it without understanding the why behind it. In

Question 5 - Name some populations that are denied a good education? For example, we all know based on experiences in
this class that women and girls are denied a good education in parts of world (sadly). What are other groups of people that
are denied a good education?
Those in third world countries are denied good education, especially those in war torn regions. In countries where the education
is completely controlled by the government, they may not receive the best education or extremely biased education. Even in the
US, those in rural areas may not have access to good education; living so far from town, driving hours to school may not be an
option for some.

Question 6 - Think about the things we discussed in this course – name some things you could now do differently in your
future classes because of the information learned in this course? In other words, we want you to be self-reflective (thinking
about your thinking) – tell us some things you could in your future class to make it better based on items we learned about
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with regard to learning about educational systems around the world? It could things like helping diverse learners, or perhaps
being more aware about students who may live in more rural areas of your district and don’t have access to technology (these
are just some ideas I had).
Prior to this class, I was under the impression that all kids in a country received essentially equal access to education. Growing up
in a decidedly middle-class area, my education was what I had assumed every other kid in the US received. After having my eyes
opened to the reality of how poor education is, even in parts of our country, I plan to do whatever I can to ensure my students
get the best education possible that I can provide. I plan to have lessons that don’t put students who don’t have access to
technology at a disadvantage, create lessons that can be applicable to students’ everyday lives, and especially incorporate
stories and examples of education and cultures from other countries so that my students understand how different things are in
other countries. I plan to teach students in ways that they aren’t just focused on passing a test but actually learning valuable
information that will be applicable to their futures by using lessons that kid’s actually see out in the real world.

(questions 7a through 7e) Let’s say that you are the ruler of your own country - think about some of the factors/conditions
that go into having a great educational system. And please have a little fun with these questions, too.

Question 7a - What would be the name of your very own country? What would be the name of the capital of your country?
Make something up! Have fun, be silly.
My country would be named Wildelandia and the capital city would be Wellsterton

Question 7b – What would the population be? Big or small? Come up with a number. Why would be the size that you choose?
Would you want over 1 billion people in your country? Would you want under 1 million? Tell us why.
Our population would be somewhat large, over 1 million. It would be 79,396,477. It would be larger due to having a booming
economy that’s centered around its renewable resources and renewable energy industry. I think having a larger economy would
help inject more money into schools and public resources so children don’t have to struggle as much.

Question 7c - Do they have access to technology (very briefly tell us about technology in your country)?
Yes, there is an abundance of technology in our country. While there are some more remote parts of the country that struggle
getting good access to technology, they do have access to dial up and satellite services. There is high speed internet, cell towers,
as well as free access to internet at the library.
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Question 7d – Would your country be mostly rural? Urban? Suburban? A combination? Why?
There would be a good mix of urban, rural, and suburban in Wildelandia. Because many of the renewable energy resources are
in more remote areas there are small towns built near windmill and solar panel areas and more major cities where public
transportation is the primary source of travel.

Question 7e- Come up with at least 4 more facts/factors that would have impact they have on your country’s educational
system. In other words, think about conditions/factors that have led to the creation of great educational systems around the
world. Now, what condition/factors would like to see in your very own country?
1. Our education system would not only be supported by local tax dollars, this way citizens who may live in a more impoverished
area are receiving the same opportunities as those in more affluent areas.
2. Our schools will have mandatory school monitored community service for students so they can get real world experiences
they can apply what they’ve learned to.
3. Our country will be focused on promoting a good work/life balance so parents don’t feel like they may lose their job if they
need to take a day off work due to sick children or parent teacher conferences.
4. Our country will have free public transportation. While having a subway system in the rural areas may not be effective, we will
have buses, TRAX systems, subways, and programs to provide bicycles/scooters to those so inclined.

OPTIONAL – If you would like to draw an outline of country in Word (using tools found in Word), include some clipart and/or
freehand then insert that picture of your country and place it here, please do so. This is optional of course, but I love seeing
how creative students can get! Only do this if you have some free time.