2014 IIME REPORTCountry [ USA ]School [ Bergen County Technical High School ] Teacher [ Karen Waller ] grade ( 9-12 ) student number (12)JP School [ Okayama Ichinomiya High School ] Teacher [ Rika Kamata ]# Subjects, Activities and Times of the lessons
Subject
Conception of the lesson
Brainstorming
LayoutColor Theory

What uplifting and inspirational songs do we know that can be easily illustrated?
How do we deal with the horizontal split in the canvas and half paintedelements crossing the horizon line?
What colors can we use to help convey the message of the song? How do wematch/coordinate with the colors already used in the mural?

Times
2 days3 days
1 day# Theme and Message of the mural
ThemeMessage

Cultural Exchange Through Music
Music can cross language and cultural barriers. It can be uplifting and inspirational
spreading love, joy, and peace to people of all ages and backgrounds.

# Effects and the Problems
Effects your students have gained
Points for further improvement
Communication skills, layout and design skills, team Workplace readiness: follow-through, scheduling,building.
adherence to deadlines, use of materials.

# How has your impression toward your partner country and/or the world changed?
Change in student’s impression
Change in teacher’s impression
My students were amazed by the maturity and I was amazed that my students, all special needs
ambition of the Japanese students displayed during students, rose to the occasion. That is, sticking
the video conference.
through the project despite some design challenges.

# Flow of the Activity
ContentMonthIntroduction

October

Research

Nov. –Dec.

Composition

Painting

Jan.

Jan. Feb.

Appreciation
ReflectionFeb.

What you did
Talked about the project.
Showed photos and videosof the two previous murals
we worked on.
Posted to the forum.
Decided on a theme.
Listened to and discussed avariety of songs. Video
conference with Japanafter sushi dinner.
Drew a few rough sketches
baseduponthehalf-painted mural.

Your students attitude/reflection
SubjectAdvertisi
Excited. A little nervous (They wereng Media
worried about their painting skills.)
andSeniorSeminarVery excited. Several of my students Advertisi
knew quite a bit about Japanese culture ng Media
andand were anxious to share their song
Seniorsuggestions.
SeminarFinished painting mural.
Took photos and video.

Advertisi
ng MediaandSenior
SeminarAdvertisi
ng MediaandSenior
SeminarShowed mural to school attheCareer
TechnicalEducation Fair at ourschool. Posted photos toschool websites.

The composition was challenging
because of the split of elements down
the horizontal center of the mural. Thestudents worked it out in brainstorming
sessions. Four young ladies took thelead.
It was a bit of a challenging working withthe paint as water could not be added tohelp with the blending. The students
stuck with it, though, and worked throughany problems.
Students spoke very knowledgeably
about the mural theme, painting
techniques, and their collaboration withJapan.

Advertisi
ng MediaandSeniorSeminar# Aim of the Lessons and Result
Aim: Rank A to C in order you put emphasis on (A: very much/ B: much / C: not so much)
Result: Rank 5 to 1 (5: very effective / 4: effective / 3: so- so / 2: not so effective / 1: not effective at all)

Expected Effect
Understanding our own
cultures

AimResult

B5A

5A4

B5A4A

4

Attitude in learning

B4Expression ability

A5Appreciation ability

A5Understanding theother’s cultures
Communication ability
in the class/with partners

IT skills
Creating friendshipin the class/with partners

Collaborationin the class/with partners

How your students have reached it
Research, Lecture, Discussion
Research, Student-led Discussion
Email, Forum, Video Conference
Skype Set Up, Digital Photography and Video
Forum
Forum, Video Conference
Lecture, Discussion
Research, Brainstorming, Thumbnail Sketches, Rough Sketches,
Painting
Exhibition during Career Technical Education week, photos andvideo posted on school websites, project presented during
SkillsUSA competition in Career Pathways Showcase