Abstract

Some mathematics school performance studies showed that German students have deficits in their math competence; other countries perform much better for example, Finland and Japan. Our research idea is to develop a concept for learning from the other countries. This concept is for students who study mathematics education, to improve their mathematical skills for teaching. In a first theoretical orientated step students compare different textbooks of several countries to a topic e.g. calculation of areas. The second step is a cooperation seminar. In this students from different countries develop together presentations about topics of mathematics in which they compare the different approaches of their countries. Finally, they present their results during an international teleconference. This article reports on possible ways occurring obstacles and uncertainties to implement a cooperation seminar with teleconferences. It refers to an experience of several years with cooperation seminars of the University of Education in Karlsruhe (Germany) with the University of Education in Kyoto and the Tamagawa Academy (K12) & University in Tokyo (Japan).