◆◇ Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council News ◇◆ Vol. 064

The cherry blossoms are now in full bloom, and spring is finally in full swing.
It’s the time of year when we look forward to getting out and about.

This fiscal year, we will continue to focus on promotion and awareness-raising and carry out our activities with enthusiasm, so
we appreciate your continued support.

In this issue, along with a report on DiTT’s activities,
we bring you the latest information on digital textbooks and educational materials.

Digital Textbooks and Educational Materials Council Secretariat

Table of Contents ——————————————————
・Topics
・Activity Report (Study Sessions)
・Introduction to Pioneer Teachers
・Media
・Information on Digital Textbooks and Educational Materials
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Topics
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Starting this month, we will begin operating a community mailing list for the local governments (http://mirainomanabi.net/) that have endorsed the Statement on the Digitalization of Education.
This mailing list is intended to serve as a forum for sharing best practices and challenges related to advancing the digitalization of education,
As we advance the digitization of education, we hope you will share practical examples and challenges, and we plan to use this list as a forum for exchanging information.
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Activity Report
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≪Study Session≫
We held the 56th study session on Thursday, March 12.

Guest Presentation

■ Mr. Takashi Matsuda, Principal, Tama City Aiwa Elementary School
“The Phases from Tablet PC Introduction to Utilization—Insights Gained from a Year and a Half of Educational Practice with an ‘One iPad per Student’ System”

■ Mr. Rikei Kato, Director of Business Development, Classi, Inc.
“Classi (SoftBank and Benesse): Case Studies, Effects, Challenges, and Solutions for the Use of Education and
ICT”

*You can view the study session report at the URL below.
http://ditt.jp/report/

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≪Study Session Overview≫

Principal Matsuda of Tama City Aiwa Elementary School gave a presentation titled “The Transition from Tablet PC Introduction to Utilization—Insights Gained from a Year and a Half of Implementing One iPad Per Student in Education.”
He

Drawing on his experience working with the Komae City Board of Education on the administrative implementation of ICT through 2013,
he shared his insights—gained from a year and a half of continuous practice at an elementary school—regarding the transition from the introduction to the utilization phase of tablet PCs, while currently serving as principal of a Tama City elementary school.
Currently, the majority of public elementary and junior high schools have only about 40 devices per school, making effective implementation difficult; however, Aiwa Elementary School—which has undergone repeated consolidations—has seen improvements in its facilities and is blessed with a well-equipped ICT environment.
I believe it is our school’s mission to demonstrate results within such an environment.
I also believe that schools are places to teach about new eras and technologies.
With that in mind, I would like to introduce seven benefits we have observed from our practices:
1. Sustained concentration
2. Improved search skills
3. Mastery of foundational skills
4. Development of critical thinking skills
5. Respect for the individual and diversity
6. Improved expressive skills
7. Cultivating the “Ino Spirit”
We have observed the benefits listed above.
Furthermore, treating digital technology as a standard platform, we plan to introduce programming classes for students in grades 3 through 6 in the future, with the hope that students will truly come to understand that tablets are tools for creativity.
Furthermore, I would like to explore new ways of conducting classes that are not bound by existing subject-specific teaching methods. By combining various apps within a single class period, I aim to create lessons with a good rhythm and tempo.

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Introducing Our Leading Teachers
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We have updated our case studies.

■ Yasuhiro Suzuki, Aichi Prefecture
・3.11: What We Can Do Now
・Mission! “Investigate the Secrets of the Moon and the Sun”
・Toward a New Japan—Exploring Nation-Building Through “An Encouragement of Learning”—
・Channel 5-3: Ushikawa Kids News Bureau
・Let’s Think of Various Ways to Calculate Area
・Open Up! The Door to the Internet!
・Learning from the Asakura River—Let’s Restore the Village of Fireflies—
・A Recycling Station Where Everyone’s Hearts Come Together!
・Go, Eco-Car! As Far as You Can Go!
・The Path to Becoming an Internet Master
・Wasshoi!! Let’s Create the Ushikawa Festival Music!
・The Path to Mastering the Multiplication Tables! Part 1
・Let’s Go on a Town Exploration!
・We’re Little Architects!
・Operation: Helping Out!
・I Love Folktales!
・A Class Full of Smiles and Friendship
・Get Familiar with Classical Japanese and Become a Reading Champion!
・Let’s Take on the Challenge! ~The Sanpachi Market Full of Smiles~

■ Niigata Prefecture – Teacher Teppei Mizutani
・Creating “My Own Makura no Soshi” with Photos
・Let’s Promote Events with Flyers and Posters
・Let’s Create Stories with Clay Animation
・Let’s Share Each Other’s Best Qualities with “Friendship Posters”
Please view here.

http://ditt.jp/action/case/teacher.html

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Media Coverage Information
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■ Domestic and International Education
Aligning the Views of Local Leaders, School Boards, and Schools

http://ditt.jp/media/

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Information on Digital Textbooks and Teaching Materials
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March 2, 2015
Effectively Integrating Digital and Analog: Implementing a “One Tablet Per Student” Program
http://www.kyobun.co.jp/ict/20150302_01.html

March 9, 2015
Hanamaru Gakushukai Partners with DeNA for Critical Thinking Education Using Programming
http://resemom.jp/article/2015/03/09/23408.html

March 15, 2015
Government Considers Lifting Ban on Free Distribution of Digital Textbooks
http://www.sankei.com/politics/news/150315/plt1503150003-n1.html

March 18, 2015
Report on “Digital Learning for Elementary and Junior High School Students”
http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201503188601/

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　.:*:.:♪*:. DiTT—Now Accepting Members *:.:♪*:.*:.
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The Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council is currently accepting new members.
Executive members and general members are eligible to participate in study sessions and
committees organized by DiTT.

In addition, we provide information on digital textbooks and educational materials, and
organize networking events and other opportunities for members to exchange information.
For more details, please visit the page below!
URL: http://ditt.jp/join

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◆◇ DiTT NEWS ◇◆　vol.0064
Publisher: Digital Textbook and Teaching Materials Council
Publication Date: April 1, 2015
Editor-in-Chief: Nanako Ishido
Editor: Asaka Uchiyama
URL: http://ditt.jp/
e-mail: ditt@ditt.jp
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