Starting from the 2022 academic year, "Comprehensive Inquiry Time" has begun in high schools across the country.
Students from Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Kojoike High School (hereafter, Kurashiki Kojoike High School) and the Mizushima Stay-type Environmental Learning Consortium have created a cruise during "Comprehensive Inquiry Time," and I also boarded the ship.
What is "Comprehensive Inquiry Time"?
"Comprehensive Inquiry Time" is a new subject that started in high schools across the country from the 2022 academic year, following the revision of the curriculum guidelines in 2018.
According to the high school curriculum guidelines explanation issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (announced in 2018), the aim is to cultivate the following three abilities beyond the boundaries of subjects and disciplines.
- To acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for discovering and solving problems in the inquiry process, form concepts related to the issues, and understand the significance and value of the inquiry.
- To identify questions from the relationship between oneself and real society and life, set one's own issues, gather information, organize and analyze it, and be able to summarize and express it.
- To engage in inquiry proactively and collaboratively, while utilizing each other's strengths, cultivate an attitude to create new value and realize a better society.
Learning in cooperation with the community, like the Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise this time, will become increasingly necessary in the future.
Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise
The Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise was held on March 23, 2024 (Saturday), organized by Mizushima Stay-type Environmental Learning Consortium in cooperation with Mizushima Ferry.
This time, it was a project in collaboration with the inquiry learning of Kurashiki Kojoike High School, with high school students from the school serving as guides for the cruise.
Usually, the image of the Mizushima Industrial Complex is strongly associated with the "view from the mountains," such as the Washuzan Skyline, but this is a rare opportunity to see it from the sea with explanations.
A cruise supporting young people's challenges with the community
On the day of the cruise, it was raining from the morning, but the boarding time was expected to be cloudy, so participants gathered with umbrellas at the Mizushima Rinkai Railway Mizushima Station on the first floor.
Participants received an explanation about the purpose of this cruise from a representative of the Mizushima Stay-type Environmental Learning Consortium.
On this day, materials created by people active in the community, including the pamphlet for the Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise made by students of Kurashiki Kojoike High School, and a yakiniku (grilled meat) map created by the Mizushima Community Revitalization Cooperation Team, were distributed in large numbers.
After that, all participants moved to the Mizushima Port Ferry Waiting Area. On this day, the high school students who would serve as guides for the cruise introduced themselves and shared their enthusiasm, and the approximately one-hour cruise began.
Enjoying a cruise on the "working boat" that is usually hard to board
The boat used for the cruise is called a working boat (tsusen).
This boat serves the role of transporting crew members from ships navigating the ocean or anchored at sea to the land.
Mizushima Port, which connects the Mizushima area facing the Seto Inland Sea to the Tamashima area, is one of Japan's leading international trade ports, with 21 regular routes operating to countries such as China and Vietnam. This time, it is a valuable opportunity to board a working boat that connects these workers to the land.
The cabin is small, and most participants enjoy the cruise on the outer deck.
A cruise guided by high school students showcasing their learning outcomes
The highlight of the Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise is the explanation of the Mizushima Industrial Complex by students from Kurashiki Kojoike High School.
This explanation was created through trial and error by the students of Kurashiki Kojoike High School over the course of a year in "Comprehensive Inquiry Time."
This time, it was reported that the learning was conducted in collaboration with the "Mizushima Stay-type Environmental Learning Consortium," which is a cooperating organization for this cruise.
Not only were the characteristics of the companies and factories that make up the Mizushima Industrial Complex explained, but also how each company operates its factories with consideration for the environment was discussed in depth.
Participants were also impressive as they eagerly took notes in response to the students' learning.
Cruise to View the Mizushima Industrial Complex from the Sea
Selected as one of the 100 Night Views in Japan, the Mizushima Industrial Complex is also known as a scenic spot.
The charm of the Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise is that you can look up at it from the sea, a view that is often seen from the land side, such as from Washuzan Skyline or Tsusen-en.
All participants were captivated by the unusual scenery, with their hands constantly pressing the shutter buttons on their smartphones and cameras.
In particular, the new cars waiting at the wharf for shipment and the tugboats lined up (which serve as guides and for maneuvering within the port, as well as a base for disaster prevention at sea) are views that can only be seen from the water.
I, who was very excited about my first Mizushima Industrial Complex cruise, took nearly 300 photos during the one-hour cruise.
Since the boat is always moving, there are constant photo opportunities, so those who enjoy photography might find it quite addictive.
Conclusion
The Mizushima Industrial Complex cruise started in light rain, but thanks to the energetic power of the students from Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Kojoike High School, it did not rain after departure, and the boat safely completed the one-hour cruise without significant rocking.
The students who served as guides initially had anxious expressions, but upon returning to Mizushima Port after the cruise, they seemed to be filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Elementary and middle schools have a subject called "Comprehensive Learning Time," but the curriculum is required to be based on three pillars, similar to the "Comprehensive Inquiry Time" in high schools.
In the future, opportunities for schools and the community to learn together with children, like the Mizushima Industrial Complex cruise, will likely increase.
It was an event that made us feel it was a meaningful cruise that deepened learning for the children, the school, and the community.
Data on the Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise Guided by Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Kojoike High School Students
| Name | Mizushima Industrial Complex Cruise Guided by Okayama Prefectural Kurashiki Kojoike High School Students |
|---|---|
| Date | March 23, 2024 (Saturday) from 4:00 PM to 5:45 PM |
| Location | In front of the ticket machine on the 1st floor of Mizushima Station, Mizushima Rinkai Railway |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | 7,700 yen |
| Website | Mizushima Consortium for Environmental Learning |
