Advanced Course of Traditional Technology and Intercultural Co-learning

Academic unit or major

Breadth courses

Instructor(s)

Rie Murakami / Eri Ota / Takashi Watanabe / Equo Kobayashi / Yuri Matsuzaki / Kenshu Kamura / Yakup Bektas

Class Format

Lecture/Experiment (Blended)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

5-8 Wed

Class

-

Course Code

LAW.X440

Number of credits

101

Course offered

2023

Offered quarter

1-2Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 8, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

Through lectures, on-line self-learning by Small Private Online Courses (SPOCs), analysis of appropriate information and data, collaboration among Japanese and international students working and practical training in groups, students will
1. Develop their knowledge of a traditional technology: Tatara iron making, and
2. Learn the methods of product design and marketing, and propose new idea

This course will be held on Wednesdays, but several classes will be held on weekends. Please make sure course schedule.

Course description and aims

1. Understanding traditional iron making technology, related industries, historical / cultural / social background of traditional iron in other countries (including students' home countries), students will find something that the country can proud of.
2. Developing multicultural understanding through multicultural group work, and learning skills for intercultural co-learning.
3. Learning how to create market value and planning product idea
4. Taking Japanese Tatara iron making method as a specific example, developing proposals to revive or develop a traditional technology of their home countries.

Keywords

Traditional technology, Tatara Iron Making, Intercultural co-learning, Product design

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills
• Intercultural skills, Practical and problem-solving skills

Class flow

1. Lectures, on-line self learning (SPOCs)
2. Gaining information about traditional iron making technology, related industries, historical/cultural/social background and becoming knowledgeable about traditional iron manufacturing in other countries (including students’ home countries)
3. Sharing knowledge about information collection in multicultural group work
4. Lecture and workshop for product design and marketing
5. Practical training in steelworks tour, charcoal cutting, Tatara Iron Making, sword smith experience (paper knife making), and Japanese sword appreciation
6. On/off class groupwork and group proposal presentation on revival and development of traditional iron technology
7. Making individual proposal report about focused specific and detailed parts based on group proposal
8. Creating individual PR products (Poster, Video, Website) for individual proposal "7."

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

SPOCs contents, other materials will be provided in due course.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

N/A

Evaluation methods and criteria

Participation on lecture：10％
Research on traditional technology of home country：20％
Participation on practical training：10％
Contribution to group work：30％
Group proposal presentation (group evaluation)：10％
Personal essay, Individual proposal report and PR product: 20％

Related courses

• LAW.X353 ： Traditional Techonlogy and Intercultural Co-learning

Prerequisites

1.Students who wish to enroll in this course should have English proficiency (equivarent to TOEIC score 750 or above, TOEFL-iBT score 80 or above), so that they will be able to understand lectures and actively participate in discussions.
2.Students should have interest in Japanese traditional technology (Tatara Iron Making) and its products (Japanese traditional iron).

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

GSEC office: ghrd.info[at]jim.titech.ac.jp

Office hours

N/A.
Contact by E-mail to GSEC office.

Other

Priority will be given to students enrolling in Global Scientists and Engineers Course and to international students．
Due to the limitation on the number of participants, if the registration have reached more than the maximum limit, the selection may be made based on the credits received for the completion of GSEC course.
For the preparation of group work and practical training, students should complete course registration in the registration period for 1Q-2Q.