Learning of Tomorrow The 2nd Learning of Tomorrow Online Symposium: Kumamoto City’s Online Education Initiatives At today’s “Learning of Tomorrow Lunch” online symposium, we heard from Kumamoto City Superintendent of Education Hiroji Endo about the city’s online education initiatives.
The city has begun online classes at all elementary and middle schools in the city, lending school devices to households without access to ICT infrastructure.
Furthermore, the Kumamoto approach to online education is characterized by “doing whatever it takes to stay connected with the children”—
including learning support through TV programs, video streaming on YouTube, information sharing via school websites, and counseling services via LINE.
Regarding security and other issues, they address problems as they arise; they do not believe in imposing restrictions on everyone just because of a few isolated incidents.
I felt that this attitude—not seeking excessive equality or perfection, but taking a certain amount of risk and just giving things a try—is what enables such a swift response during emergencies. I’ll write a separate report on this later.
Last time, Mr. Takaya, Section Chief at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, stepped in at the last minute as a commentator; this time, Mr. Hirakawa, Superintendent of Education for Hiroshima City, joined as a commentator on short notice.
Since Mr. Endo and Mr. Hirakawa said, “Nice to meet you,” I thought, “They absolutely have to appear together!” (*^^*) I’m also happy that this encounter came about.
Thank you very much, Superintendent Endo and Superintendent Hirakawa!
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.”
