The Status of Internet Education in Japanese and German Guidelines on ICT and Media Education

Abstract

This paper tries to locate references to Internet related elements in curricula and guidelines for general education in Japan and Germany from around 1985 to the present. The most obvious difference is the historically grown concentration on «information» in Japan vs. «media» in Germany (although in Germany informatics exists as a general school subject) and accordingly the assignment of Internet related content to the respective area. The guidelines do not differ much in that they stress comparable general aims of education, but differences in focus become visible through examination of the detailed content listed for information and media education. The paper concludes with suggestions to further pursue some of the strong points from both approaches.