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EDUC 200 - SIGNATURE ASSIGNMENT

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? What are some factors that have helped these countries to excel in the area
of education?
I would say that Denmark, Finland, South Korea, and Japan
1. They all have high PISA Scores Above the average. They really focus on doing well on the PISA test.
2. They take pride in their education and find high importance in it.
3.The put their teachers to a high standard and expect a lot from them.

Question 2 – Based on what you’ve learned in this course, do you think the top performing countries are influencing other
countries? Describe how the countries, which are listed highest in terms of PISA scores, are having an affect on other
countries.
From what I learned I would say that some countries with high PISA scores do influence other countries. This is because PISA
gives data on their education system for other countries to look at/use to make their education systems better and there is also
an obvious competition factor where countries want to have higher PISA scores so lower scoring countries will look up to the
higher scoring countries and try their methods.

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.
I think a country with uneducated citizens would impact the world negatively, but I think it would mostly impact that specific
country. But if that country were to be a trade partner or in an alliance with another country that could affect parts of the world
because they may not understand how an economy works. Also, a whole population of uneducated citizens brings in the worry
of a rise of a dictator. Since we have seen in history that uneducated people are easier to control/persuade, so if another
dictator arises that could also affect the world.

Question 4 - How does education in other countries compare to the system of education in the U.S. from your observations?
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From what I learned in class, the U.S has a different education system compared to other countries. First, in the U.S. there are
more topics that are taught but are not taught in much depth. While other countries may focus on a few topics (usually the
basics) and go far into depth. Second, the U.S. has more of a laid-back education system compared to other countries. This is
because the expectations are lower, and students are given multiple chances. There was a student in the book we read that said
that the teachers gave the students all the answers and that it was really easy compared to her home education. I think this is
because students in the U.S. can still get a job even if they do bad in school. In other countries, the expectations are higher and
your grade in school almost determines how your life will be in the future. Lastly the U.S. focuses more on extracurriculars like
sports than other countries. The U.S. makes school more fun than other countries. While other countries school is the main focus
because as mentioned before, their future depends on good grades in school.

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 the world (sadly). What are other groups of people
that are denied a good education?
In other countries we see that education is denied to kids with disabilities, kids who don’t speak a certain language, and even
kids whose parents cannot afford the education. So, it is usually the minorities that do not receive education and it is quite sad.
But there are even students who are in rich countries butt live in rural places so they do not receive the resources necessary to
have a good education or even one at all.

Question 6 - Reflect on the topics we've discussed throughout EDUC 200 – name some things you could now do differently in
your future class because of the information learned in this course.
I want you to be self-reflective (think about your thinking) – tell me what you could do in your future class to make it better
based on items we've learned about with regard to different educational systems around the world?
It could be things like helping diverse learners, or perhaps being more aware of students who may live in rural areas of your
district and don’t have access to technology (these are just some ideas I had).

I would like to have cooperative learning established in my classroom. I want the students to feel welcome not matter hwere
they come from. I like the suggestion of helping/ being aware of students who live in rural areas because we live in a place that
has those students. So, when I teach in Idaho I need to remember that my students are diverse and come from different walks of
life. So, to be affective I need to be aware of that and I think if I can come up with ways to help those students belong it will
make their experience of school a lot better.
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(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.
Name of country: Republic of Moscas (Flies)
Name of Capital: Cherry Hill

Question 7b – What would the population of your country be? Big or small? Come up with a number. Why did you choose
that number? For example, would you want an incredibly large population, say over 1 billion or perhaps you want a very small
population, under 1 million? Tell me why you chose the population size you decided up.

Population:300,000
I chose this number because I did not want to have a super big population. If I am going to have a decent education system it
may have to change quickly and the more people there are the harder it is to change an education system quickly. So having a
smaller amount of people allows for the education system to change with the people and maybe change with PISA.

Question 7c - Do they have access to technology (very briefly tell us about technology in your country)?
They do have access to technology. To describe it briefly, the schools would have technology like the Boise school district.
Students would receive chrome books and would have a decent amount of access to their class work online. Also, because this is
a make-up country, I am going to give them big helicopter busses that take students to school.

Question 7d – Would your country be mostly rural? Urban? Suburban? A combination? Why?
I am going to say mostly rural agricultural, though it would not help my education system a whole lot. I find that farmland is
important, and it would help kids with work ethic. It would make a country of hard-working people and that is an important
factor that I want my country to have. Also, this makes the flying busses make sense.

Question 7e- Come up with at least 4 more facts/factors that would have an impact on your country’s educational system.
Think about conditions/factors that have led to the creation of great educational systems around the world. Now, what
condition/factors would you like to see in your very own country?
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1. Mix language- Spanish and English is primary
2. This country has previously participated in a war in their country. Some parts of the country are still recovering from it.
3. Mixed cultures
4. High funding for education

OPTIONAL – If you would like to draw an outline of the 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.

‘’’’’’
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Rural towns: Capital: