Newsletter [Newsletter] Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council News, Issue No. 55 Published ◆◇ Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council News ◇◆ Vol. 055
On top of the scorching heat we’ve been experiencing day after day, we’ve had sudden thunderstorms.
While these harsh weather conditions continue, please make sure to take all necessary precautions against the heat, and
let’s get through this heat wave together.
Next month, we will be holding the “DiTT Symposium Vol. 2.”
We look forward to your participation, so please be sure to register.
Once again, we will provide a report on DiTT’s activities, as well as
the latest information regarding digital textbooks and educational materials.
Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council Secretariat
Table of Contents ——————————————————
・Topics
・Activity Report (Study Sessions)
・Media
・Information on Digital Textbooks and Educational Materials
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Topics
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September 3 (Venue: Fukutake Learning Theater, University of Tokyo)
DiTT Symposium
“Is the Flipped Classroom Feasible for Elementary School Students?”
We will be hosting this event.
http://ditt.jp/news/?id=2045
Flipped learning, which is said to be effective in higher education,
is it truly effective in elementary education as well?
We will be welcoming Mr. Akihisa Shirota, Superintendent of Education for Takeo City and Principal of Takeuchi Elementary School, and
Mr. Yasuyasu Sato of Tomiya Town Higashi-Koyodai Elementary School in Miyagi Prefecture, who will share their insights.
We hope you will join us.
Registration: http://bit.ly/1sIokq1
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Activity Report
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≪Study Session≫
We held our 48th study session on Thursday, July 10.
Guest Presentation
■ AZ Holdings Co., Ltd., Learning Division
Content Director: Mr. Norihiro Kawasaki
“Communication Through Dialogue”
■ Cyber University Co., Ltd., Director and President of Cyber University, and
Dean of the School of Integrated IT Studies, Dr. Hiroshi Kawahara
“Social Expansion of Higher Education through the Utilization of ICT”
~Practices at Cyber University and Partner Institutions, and Expansion into Public Courses~
*You can view the study session report at the URL below.
http://ditt.jp/report/
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≪Study Session Overview≫
Dr. Hiroshi Kawahara, Director of Cyber University Co., Ltd., President of Cyber University, and Head of the Department of IT Studies (Ph.D. in Engineering),
delivered a lecture titled “Social Expansion of Higher Education through the Utilization of ICT” ~Practices at Cyber University and Partner Institutions and the Expansion into Public Lectures~.
Normally, establishing a university requires significant capital investment in land and facilities necessary for education; however,
under Special Measure No. 832, enacted in 2006, these requirements were relaxed for online universities
that conduct all classes over the Internet. Combined with another special measure—the school establishment project by a school-establishing company (a corporation wholly owned by SoftBank
100% owned by SoftBank), Cyber University was established in April 2007 within the Fukuoka City Asia Business Special Zone.
Cyber University admits students who have graduated from high school, possess university entrance qualifications, and demonstrate a desire to study—without requiring an academic aptitude test.
. Thanks to this so-called “open admission” policy, the university currently has approximately 1,500 students enrolled.
In the curriculum of the School of Integrated IT Studies—which aims to cultivate highly skilled IT professionals in both IT and business—students split into the Technology Course and the Business Course starting in their third year; in particular, the Entrepreneurship and Management Program within the Business Course is chosen by
enrolled students.
Cyber University’s course operation requirements include: (1) maximizing the use of spare time by busy working students for learning;
(2) verifying student identity and preventing impersonation for credit certification; and (3) streamlining the production
and maintenance of course content.
Regarding (1), the “Cloud Canvas” system—in operation since April 2012—is designed to allow students to switch between PCs, iPhones, and
iPads depending on the time, place, and occasion, thereby maximizing their study time.For (2), we have implemented a facial recognition identity verification system on mobile devices. For (3), we provide an environment where faculty and students can easily create content on their own using just a PC, and in the spring semester of fiscal year 2014, we distributed on-demand content for 153 courses (5,611 titles).
These distance learning systems and operational frameworks enable the provision of online courses—including grade evaluation—to students at other institutions, and are integrated into the curricula of partner schools. Furthermore, we believe that if we can implement “user-submitted courses” from the general public, this could become a new model for community education programs.
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Media Coverage Information
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■ICT Education News
DiTT/Discussing Challenges in “What Went Wrong? Future & Learning”
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Information on Digital Textbooks and Teaching Materials
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July 7, 2014
One in five first-graders uses computers or game consoles before starting school… a trend toward earlier adoption
http://resemom.jp/article/2014/07/07/19307.html
July 8, 2014
Tablets Distributed to All Students!
Kazuhiro Fujiwara, Former Principal of Wada Middle School, Discusses Takeo City’s Educational Reform Through “Flipped Classroom” Teaching
http://gendai.ismedia.jp/articles/-/39712
July 9, 2014
Skuu / Live-Streamed Classes: About 70% of Teens Attend via Smartphones or Tablets
July 11, 2014
White Paper on Elementary School Students: Over Half of 6th Graders Say “Using Computers in Class Was Helpful”
http://resemom.jp/article/2014/07/11/19402.html
July 23, 2014
Smartphone Education for Kids Is Amazing!
http://smartphone.r25.jp/news/114186
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.:*:.:♪*:. DiTT—Now Accepting Members *:.:♪*:.*:.
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The Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council is recruiting members.
Executive members and general members can participate in study sessions organized by DiTT as well as
committee meetings.
In addition, we provide information on digital textbooks and educational materials, and
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.0055
Published by: Digital Textbook and Educational Materials Council
Publication Date: August 1, 2014
Editor-in-Chief: Nanako Ishido
Editor: Asaka Uchiyama
URL: http://ditt.jp/
e-mail: ditt@ditt.jp
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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.”
