Abstract
This research aimed to develop an international social studies unit and the relevant software for the upper elementary/junior high school levels. Media symphony is an original concept representing the teaching materials that comprise hyperlinked sentences and images. These materials can be easily enlarged with merely one click and be read aloud by an artificial voice. The combination of these functions provides a new method of realizing such concepts as a universal design in the form of hyperlinked textbooks. In my opinion, students studying social studies must acquire a viewpoint that comprises four elements: space (geography), time (history), universe (civics), and me (self). These elements lose power if treated separately or as having no relation with each other. This research created a media-symphonic international social studies unit "The Countries of the World," which encompasses the above mentioned elements through the development of operating system-free, universal unit materials and teaching plans. The content is aimed at developing an international understanding through a comparison of four countries-New Zealand, France, Germany, and Korea. In each unit, the first lesson, titled "The Environment and People of 〜" treats the geography of that country. The second lesson, titled "School and the Children of 〜," examines the unique school systems and the children's life in their home and in each community. The third lesson, titled "History and the Industries of 〜," focuses on topical incidents and typical industries in each country. The fourth lesson, titled "The Interrelationships between 〜 and Japan/the World," explores the interrelationship between that country and Japan through persons, materials, money, and culture which connected both countries.
