CREATIVE KIDS TOP Blab B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 19

Blab

2024.01.18
B Lab Newsletter, Vol. 19

EMAIL NEWSLETTER Vol. 19 (January Issue)

◆ Featured Project: 

“B Lab Glasgow,” a new research center dedicated to learning design in higher education, has been established in the UK!
To revolutionize university teaching methods, the lab will focus on interdisciplinary learning design and conduct research that spans different academic fields. As its first initiative, it will promote learning through “manga” in three fields: business and management, psychology, and medicine.

With the goal of fostering the ability to formulate and test questions, as well as critical thinking, judgment, and communication skills, we will create a space for dialogue with diverse individuals and for proactive, collaborative inquiry. By actively providing opportunities for dialogue with people of all ages, nationalities, and ethnicities, we will broaden the scope of inquiry and provide ongoing inspiration to the younger generation who will shape the future.

B Lab Hiroshima carried out a project to revitalize local fisheries businesses. Conducted in collaboration with Hamamoto Suisan Co., Ltd.—located across the bay from Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture—this project aimed to revitalize local fisheries businesses by establishing a new method for mussel aquaculture and digitizing management practices.
Read the rest of the report here!
◆ Introducing
B Lab Researchers


B Lab’s Superhuman Sports Project has been actively working on social implementation with the goal of more widely promoting and integrating superhuman sports into society.At the recent SIGGRAPH ASIA international conference, our achievements were recognized, and research related to the “Superhuman Sports” project “SlideRift” won an award! This time, we spoke with Ryoichi Ando, who leads the Superhuman Sports Project.

********************************************************************
I dream of creating a world where everyone can play together. That’s what “Superhuman Sports” is all about. One such example, SlideRift, is an omnidirectional “extended body” that expands the capabilities of an existing wheelchair.

Click here to read the rest of the report!
◆ What’s New! for Each Project

A slightly unique program starts on March 1! We’ll analyze Suntory’s management—which elevated the global reputation of Japanese whiskey from an extremely long-term perspective and eventually led to the acquisition of the global whiskey giant “Beam”—from the standpoint of organizational management.The third session will feature a free tasting of the world’s five major whiskeys! We hope you’ll join us.

Starting in April 2024, we will establish an “Esports Room (tentative name)” dedicated to esports within the current iU Common Room. We will install 12 high-performance gaming PCs and open the space not only to iU students but also to partner high school and college students, as well as the local community.

Footage from the children’s workshop “Let’s Solve Yuki-chan’s ‘Problems’ in the Town!”—held on December 3 at the “UDC Sumida Super Cultural Festival”—was featured on the Sumida Ward official YouTube channel.

Virtual Laboratories
The 13 Virtual Labs that launched in the 2023 academic year have completed all their activities by the end of the year! 98.8% of participating students reported being “satisfied.” We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who provided these valuable learning opportunities.
◆ B Lab Hub News: B Lab hubs are spreading across the globe, both virtually and in person. This month, we bring you news from B Lab Miyagi♪
Building on 13 years of activities since the Great East Japan Earthquake, B Lab Miyagi is gathering information directly from local governments and organizations to carry out support activities focused on mental and physical well-being in response to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.We are also promoting various projects, such as the production of an English-language animated video featuring “Ono-kun”—a character created during the Great East Japan Earthquake’s recovery efforts—and branding initiatives for Japanese creators whose work has remained overlooked until now.

◆ Announcements
from Participating Organizations and Researchers
● A latest article has
been published on Toyo Keizai Online (Shoichi Okawa, Ryugaku Sommelier Co., Ltd.)
An article based on on-site reporting about studying in the Philippines, titled “Studying in the Philippines: The Current State of Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” has been published on Toyo Keizai Online.
⇒ For details, click here
● J.League × Inquiry-Based
School Trips
(TOKYO EDUCATION LAB Co., Ltd. – Representative Takayuki Kanai)
We have developed a regional inquiry-based school trip program in collaboration with J.League and J.League clubs that carry out activities under the J.League Social Partnership “Sharen!” initiative in their local communities.Starting this January, in collaboration with “Renofa Yamaguchi FC,” a professional soccer team based in Yamaguchi Prefecture, we will offer a school trip program for high school students set in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
⇒ For details, click here

● A collaboration between table tennis and business leaders/entrepreneurs! Why not give it a try?!
(Ryukyu Astyda Sports Club Co., Ltd.)
In January, we joined Japan’s first publicly traded sports team. We host conferences that bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and new business development executives from major corporations. We would be delighted to collaborate with you all.
⇒ Click here for details  

● We’re
hosting an online symposium
(Learning of Tomorrow)
We’ll be holding an online symposium during lunch hour (12:00 PM – 12:55 PM). We look forward to your participation.
・January 31 (Wed): “Challenges as a Generative AI Pilot School: Educational Practices and School Management at Iwanuma Kita Junior High School” — Hiroyuki Kamo, Principal
, Iwanuma Kita Junior High School, Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture
◆ Handling of Personal Information
The personal information we have collected (such as your name and contact information) will be handled appropriately in accordance with our Privacy Policy and used to deliver this Newsletter and to communicate with you. We appreciate your understanding regarding our handling of personal information.

◆If you wish to unsubscribe from this Newsletter, please click here. Alternatively, please contact us at admin@blaboratory.org with “Unsubscribe” clearly stated in the subject line of your email.

January 2024, Vol. 19
Publisher: Nanako Ishido
Editor: Chika Masuda
Address: 1-18-13 Bunka, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
         info@blaboratory.org

　

Profile


  • Digital Picture Book Author

    Professor, Keio University; Ph.D. (Policy and Media)
    Director, B Lab
    Chairperson, Learning of Tomorrow (General Incorporated Association)
    Chairperson, CANVAS

    After graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, he served as a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab before founding the NPO CANVAS and the Learning of Tomorrow Association, a General Incorporated Association, and assuming the role of representative. He serves as an outside director for Matsuya Co., Ltd., Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., and Digital Garage, Inc.
    He has served on various government committees, including the Information and Communications Council of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, as well as the NHK Central Broadcasting Program Council. He also serves as a director of the Digital Signage Consortium, among other roles. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Media.
    His publications include *Turning On Children’s Creativity!*, *What Are Smart Kids Doing on Their Smartphones?*, *The Forefront of Online Education in Japan: Considering Learning in the Post-COVID Era*,“What Is Programming Education? 45 Questions Parents Want to Know,” and “Declaration on Digital Education.” He has also provided supervision for numerous works, including “Ah, I See! Programming Education for Parents and Children Through Manga.”