Learning of Tomorrow Online Lecture: “A Conversation with the Amagasaki City Superintendent of Education—Amagasaki City’s Online Education Initiatives” to Be Held Next week’s “Learning of Tomorrow” Online Lunch Symposium will feature Mr. Makoto Matsumoto, Superintendent of Education for Amagasaki City.
With a computer-to-student ratio of 1:10, Amagasaki City has implemented online classes by leveraging students’ home ICT environments.We would also like to hear about Amagasaki City’s online education initiatives—achieved through the creative collaboration between schools on the ground and the Board of Education—including the decision to introduce “Study Suppli” for all elementary and junior high school students in the city.
We are grateful to Mr. Makoto Matsumoto of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for his support regarding the move to make programming education mandatory.Although the decision to
make programming education mandatory had been finalized, around the end of 2017—when I sensed a growing trend toward programming education that did not use computers—I made a request at a MEXT meeting to draft the “Guidelines for Programming Education”:
“We would like MEXT to clearly state whether programming education without computers is acceptable or not.If not, please state so explicitly.” I had been saying this repeatedly
up to that point, but it was Mr. Matsumoto who, for the first time, gave me a clear answer: “That would constitute a violation of the law.”
I believe it is thanks to Mr. Matsumoto that the requirement to make full use of computers was explicitly stipulated when programming education was introduced.
https://lot.or.jp/wp/report/1865/
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.”
