Information-communication technology spreading to classrooms

By Junko Suzuki

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rdana11 at 11:51 AM JST - 21st October

I think this is a great idea. Technology will only get better and there will be more of it, not less. Schools all over the world need more computers than what they have, so if they can, I think schools should get computers and technology that will help adavance and develop education.
smithinjapan at 04:22 PM JST - 21st October

Well, extremely late in the game, but better than nothing. My schools had computers in every classroom, video conferencing units (large scale TVs) in which classes were carried out with another class in a remote school, etc. and all that is getting on 15 years ago. Given how much technology has changed since then, they should be able to do FAR more effective things with technology in the classroom, and it's about time Japan is getting started.
rajakumar at 09:07 PM JST - 21st October

No other way for today's education in 2008.

Interactive study via global interactive feedbacks on informations and exchange of global interactive informations is the way forward.

As is being done via website like in JT discussion board among all our users/readers globally.

There is need for more discussion websites for students that discuss physics,biology,chemistry,medicine and other knowledge disciplines. The interactive global sharing of info/feedbacks via websites among students globally must increase.

This will really bring quality education everywhere globally easily via these quality discussions by global students at discussion websites of various disciplines.
Sophiedogo at 12:07 AM JST - 22nd October

I am interested in finding out more about the "Wai Wai" recorder and the "Pen Navi" but haven't had much luck. Does anyone know if there are any photos of these products or what the manufacturer links are?
KitsuneYoukai at 01:01 AM JST - 22nd October

WOW! and I thought Japan already had this like kost other developed countries. I had heard that this was not the case by people who do buisness in Japan. I was finally able to see that from the young people I've met that do nto seem to use e-mail as frequently as we do in the states.

Nice time to jump start the effort.
Speed at 07:22 AM JST - 22nd October

It's really about time! About 10 years ago, I tried to convince the public schools I used to teach in (in Japan) to connect to the Internet. Not only for the teachers but for the students. But the board of education hemmed and hawed about who and how much it was going to cost to connect to the Internet. This was in 1999.
Dogdog at 08:57 AM JST - 22nd October

Without the command of written English, the internet is pretty useless in Japan as a tool for I C tech. It would be great for looking up Yuki's 'I lub Panda' blog and Channel 2 and that's about it.

Ishii’s class has held such exchanges with the Japanese school in Vienna and the Japanese international school in Frankfurt.

(Japanese Student In Japan) Japan is unique four season country. Japan is safety country.

(Japanese Student In Vienna) So desu ne, foreigner is danger people.
Noripinhead at 10:10 AM JST - 22nd October

Japan is about 15 years behind the U.S. and Britain in terms of using IT in the classroom. The kids are ready for it, the majority of teachers are not. As stated before, the hardware is available, the software and teaching know-how is sorely lacking.
thepro at 10:18 AM JST - 22nd October

Japanese kids can't even communicate properly with each other in person
ninjaninaritai at 10:57 AM JST - 22nd October

Focus on giving the kids fundamental skills, knowledge and understanding. IT is just a tool, not a goal in itself. You want kids with good understanding of mathematics, rather kids that are good with Excel. Excel is a tool, math is fundamental knowledge. It's not that I think IT in the classroom is wrong, but such projects tend to be expensive, fail to meet expectations and often draws attention away from the real educational goals.
Dornier at 11:32 AM JST - 22nd October

I have yet to find any J company that uses Skype or similar communicator to make phone calls, especially abroad. I guess KDD still rules in 99% of companies..
cactusJack at 10:37 PM JST - 22nd October

They should teach these kids how to set up good firewalls and how to make Linux boxes...then later on they can get good I.T. jobs and keep China out. nuff said.
tzvete at 02:10 PM JST - 23rd October

ninjaninaritai,great post! I think the most imporatnt thing in education is to teach kids "the happiness of learning,of discovering".Once you've done it,they do the rest by themselves no matter how.
memyselfI at 06:43 PM JST - 26th October

It' not moving fast enough.
ptolemy at 12:36 AM JST - 30th October

In related news, there is still no word when critical reasoning will be spreading to the classrooms. Now a look at sports...