In Japanese society, people have seen the acceleration of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution,” globalization and work-style reforms. On the back of this rapid progress, what has changed are skills and abilities expected from children who will eventually enter the workforce.
Additionally, essential elements of education are increasingly required to change in line with the emergence of “ed tech,” which enables implementation of new methods of education utilizing information technology.
Based on this, society needs to undergo an educational reform in the Reiwa Era, pursuing the establishment of new types of education, irrespective of successful experiences in the past.
Innovation in education
Responding to such social transformation, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) launched the Educational Industry Office in 2017. As the ministry oversees the private education industry, including cram schools and lessons outside of school, it has since promoted efforts to spur innovation, including ed tech, created by private sector parties for schools to seek new platforms of education.
This ministerial effort was collectively named the Learning Innovation Project, with three pillars being promoted across the country. These pillars are self-driven and individually optimized learning; STEAM-based learning approach; and new educational environment development. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Specifically, experimental programs have been conducted at schools utilizing ed tech to effectively introduce knowledge of school subjects and expertise — which would create spare time — and then holding STEAM-based lessons using this extra time. Placing curiosity and excitement of children at their core, these projects seek to circulate the act of “learning” obtained from input and that of “creation” based on STEAM-focused sessions.
For instance, an elementary school in Shizuoka Prefecture is working to incorporate ed tech into a math class — a part of the learning process — and holds STEAM-based lessons on tag rugby and programming — a part of the creation process — for its sixth-grade students.
By making use of ed tech, the former has achieved learning styles better suited for each student while simultaneously having appropriate instructions from teachers and students teaching each other. In the end, this effort aims to both streamline learning and deepen understanding among individual students.
Developing STEAM-based study materials themed on tag rugby and programming, the latter effort sets out to enable students to learn the physical coordination needed for tag rugby and at the same time express how to move their body in an electronic sense, utilizing knowledge of programming.
These programs eventually pursue the acquisition of the ability to set assignments, which in this case is connected with covering fractions and proportions in math, and the students’ ability to solve problems by themselves.
Furthermore, METI has co-organized campaigns with municipalities and other relevant parties across the country for the Learning Innovation Project in a bid to disseminate, facilitate understanding and promote the introduction of ed tech and STEAM-based education.
These efforts surely offer officials of municipal governments and local education boards, teachers, parents and students opportunities to get to know ed tech and STEAM-focused programs in person. They are also expected to help them realize the learning effect potential of ed tech, which would obviously boost the introduction and spread of this concept.
European showcase
In London, the 36th BETT trade show runs from Jan. 22 to 25. Formerly known as the British Educational Training and Technology Show, the annual event is one of the largest of its kind in Europe, attracting more than 30,000 visitors from over 100 countries.
The exhibit gives visitors a glimpse of the latest global trends surrounding ed tech, as well as information and communication technology (ICT) in the education sector. Ed tech companies across the world and national governments introduce what they have to offer through their booths.
The annual BETT trade show (formerly known as the British Educational Training and Technology Show) draws more than 30,000 visitors from over 100 countries, offering opportunities to get a glimpse of the latest educational surroundings on technology and innovation.
METI, with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), set up the Japan Pavilion for the first time at the event, striving to showcase Japanese ed tech companies to the world. The ministry is also working to acquire the latest relevant information through attending conferences and visiting local companies and educational institutions, in addition to providing networking opportunities for Japanese participants and educational officials from around the world.
At the Japan Pavilion, there are 10 ed tech firms from Japan participating. They are: SuRaLa Net Co.; atama plus Inc.; and Digika Co., all of which offer learning materials better suited for each individual; Hanamaru Lab; Enageed Co.; and GP League, all of which provide developmental learning through STEAM-focused materials among others. Toyput Inc. and CodeTakt Co. offer content based on artificial intelligence and platforms for e-learning, while Sportip Inc. provides analysis on sports and Benesse Corp. offers a wide range of educational material.
Methods better suited for each individual and learning material utilizing the concept of STEAM from Japan feature mainly three advantages. Firstly, they are equipped with “gamification” elements that enable students to learn while having fun. Secondly, material users can set detailed levels in accordance with each student’s degree of understanding. Lastly, they are equipped with an algorithm for learning based on their degree of understanding, which was calculated through their accuracy rates and time spent solving problems.
Spreading ed tech efforts
Some of the aforementioned companies have already expanded their services abroad.
Working with a microfinance institution, SuRaLa Net operates Japanese-modeled Surala E-learning Lab in Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo. With this project, the company has contributed to rectifying educational disparities by offering math education to the base of the pyramid group at a low cost.
Enageed is another company proactively expanding its services abroad. The firm started offering its overseas services from the Philippines, and went on to be highly regarded in other countries. Meanwhile, Hanamaru Lab has worked on introducing the education to nurture thinking ability in Cambodia, as a part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s projects. For this Asian country, facilitation of educational environment is a national priority issue.
Ahead of their participation in BETT, METI organized a kickoff meeting at the JETRO office in Tokyo earlier this month to prepare for the event with representatives from exhibiting companies. The meeting saw the participation of members of the British Educational Suppliers Association and Norihisa Wada, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of ed tech company EduLab. Inc.
The ministry is also scheduled to have a national booth at an educational ICT exhibition in Manila in February as part of its further commitment to disseminate Japan’s efforts.