◆◇ Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council News ◇◆ Vol. 058

It’s gotten noticeably colder in the mornings and evenings.
I suppose the fall foliage is about to reach its peak.

We will be holding a symposium next month. We look forward to your participation, so please be sure to register.

In this issue, we’ll provide a report on DiTT’s activities, as well as
the latest information on digital textbooks and educational materials.

Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council Secretariat

Table of Contents ——————————————————
・Topics
・Activity Report (Study Sessions)
・Announcements from Member Companies
・Media
・Information on Digital Textbooks and Educational Materials
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　　　　 Topics
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December 10 (Venue: Keio University Mita Campus, East Building, 6th Floor, G-SEC)
DiTT Symposium
“Learning in the Future—Classrooms Are Changing, Learning Is Changing!” will be held.
http://ditt.jp/news/?id=2069

We are honored to welcome Mr. Kazuhiro Fujiwara, Vice Chairman of DiTT, and Mr. Akira Kaneko of Hiroo Gakuen, who will give presentations.
We hope you will join us.
Registration: http://urx.nu/d2Nf

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　　　　 Activity Report
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≪Study Session≫
We held our 50th study session on Thursday, September 11.

Guest Presentations

■ Joetsu University of Education, Center for Research on School Education Practice
　　 Specially Appointed Associate Professor Masayuki Shimizu
“Expressive Learning through ICT: Initiatives from FS Pilot Schools”

■ Principal, Meihokan High School
Mr. Kozo Hino, Chairman, Atmark International High School
( http://ditt.jp/office/hinoshi.docx)
“All for the Sake of Nurturing Independent Learners
　　　　　　　　　　　　— e-Learning: Another Perspective —”

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

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≪Workshop Overview≫
Mr. Hino, Principal of Meihokan High School and Chairman of Atmark International High School,
delivered a lecture titled “All for the Sake of Nurturing Independent Learners: e-Learning—Another Perspective.”
Now in his 15th year of operating high schools as a corporation, he currently manages three correspondence high schools within his group.
“All for the Sake of Nurturing Independent Learners” is closely aligned with the company’s motto.
The concept of an “independent learner” refers to fostering learners who are mentally and financially self-reliant. The idea is to nurture such independent learners through e-learning and coaching (educational skills) that serve students and families with serious needs.
There are three essential elements to e-learning:
(1) Instructional content, (2) technology, and (3) interpersonal skills. The most important of these is teaching skill.
We believe that 21st-century education requires teachers to provide personalized instruction. While the majority of students benefit from group learning, we also aim to provide educational services in a learning environment that leverages the educational resources of families, the community, and the internet—offering students who do not thrive in group settings a learning experience free from the constraints of time and place.
Meihokan High School enrolls students who have stopped attending school due to developmental disabilities, students facing difficulties in attending school due to an unfavorable learning environment, students studying abroad, and students returning from abroad. The program is fundamentally a distance learning program utilizing the internet, with instruction provided online.
For e-learning to yield results, it is necessary to integrate it with a student management system and systematize the teachers’ work so they can devote more time to students with less administrative burden. It will work successfully if we make the teachers key drivers who actively promote e-learning.
Naoki Higashida, who has severe autism yet is active as an author, is one of our graduates.
His book, *The Reason I, an Autistic Boy, Jump for Joy*, has been translated and published in 20 countries worldwide and is approaching 1 million copies sold.
There has been an increasing number of cases where talents blossom by viewing these conditions not as disabilities but as unique characteristics, and by utilizing ICT tools to provide psychological and developmental support.
As the number of students with developmental disabilities increases, so do calls for specialized support for students with special educational needs.
We have opened the SNEC (Special Needs Education Center) in Shinagawa to provide support based on individualized education plans that take into account each student’s disability characteristics, cognitive traits, and learning styles.
Students with tendencies toward developmental disabilities are increasingly choosing our correspondence high school program, and we are actively welcoming and responding to them rather than taking a passive approach.
Going forward, we aim to expand SNEC nationwide, viewing disabilities as “special needs” and providing support and guidance in close collaboration with families.

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　Announcements from Member Companies
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■Casio Computer Co., Ltd.

“Educational Tool for Preschoolers to Learn Letters, Words, and Numbers While Having Fun” Goes on Sale November 13

While tablets for preschoolers have been available in the past, we are launching a general-purpose tool for the public that features a wealth of authentic
content for young children, including Oxford.
http://www.casio.co.jp/release/2014/20141029_kids_word/

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　　Media Coverage Information
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■ Domestic and International Education
“Flipped Classroom” Is Possible Even for Elementary School Students
http://ditt.jp/office/20141007naigaikyoiku.pdf

http://ditt.jp/media/

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　Information on Digital Textbooks and Educational Materials
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October 1, 2014
A “Sense of Crisis” Is Needed for Japan’s ICT Education: Falling Behind the World, Regional Disparities Widen—Atsushi Watanabe—
http://benesse.jp/blog/20141001/p2.html

October 7, 2014
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) / Saga Prefecture and Arakawa Ward Selected as Pilot Areas for ICT Education Promotion Project

文科省と総務省／ICT教育推進事業の実証地域に佐賀県・荒川区など

October 8, 2014
JAPET & CEC / Teacher at Kindai University High School Discusses Learning Outcomes from Implementing the Flipped Classroom Model

JAPET＆CEC／近大附属高教諭が反転授業を取り入れた学習効果を語る

October 17, 2014
[ITpro EXPO 2014] Ensuring It Isn’t Just a Fad: Experts Give Lectures on the Use of ICT in Education
http://itpro.nikkeibp.co.jp/atcl/news/14/101701502/

October 20, 2014
Programming Education: Pilot Program in Saga—First-Graders Use Tablets
http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20141021k0000m020096000c.html

October 24, 2014
South Korea’s Smart Education: Support for Emerging Markets Gains Momentum Based on Domestic Successes
http://pc.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/column/20141023/1145884/?P=1

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

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

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◆◇ DiTT NEWS ◇◆ vol. 0058
Publisher: Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council
Date of Publication: November 4, 2014
Editor-in-Chief: Nanako Ishido
Editor: Asaka Uchiyama
URL: http://ditt.jp/
e-mail: ditt@ditt.jp
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