Things that can be done with the Internet

 NPO “CANVAS” and Google opened a web site that gathers nice stories involving children and the internet. Young people from Japan, the U.S., England, Germany, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Thailand, Malaysia and Pakistan all took part.

　http://withnet.co/

　We wanted to concentrate on activities that promoted creativity and expressiveness. One result was the creation of this site. For more details please see the site, but I’d like to present some examples here.

　

Ayane Naoi (17)

 Naoi studied at Renaissance Academy high school via the internet. She didn’t physically attend school.

 With the exception of five days, all of her schooling was conducted over the internet. All students receive a smart phone or tablet. Naoi was challenged by simultaneously taking classes and living life as an entertainer.

 “Because I could study at any time and at any place, I could find time to do both my classwork and study as a comedian.”

“I think that it would be nice to have more places like this. Even at full-time schools, having the ability to do homework or personal study using the Internet would be helpful and should be introduced at more places.”

Yusuke Mamiya (11)

 Mamiya studies stop-frame animation over the internet. He studies the techniques used in stop-frame animations that have been uploaded to YouTube, learns the techniques through trial-and-error, and creates original works.

 His stop-frame animations receive rave reviews at exhibitions put on for students and teachers. Mamiya says that he is “Never happier than when his work is praised!” and he has gained much self-confidence.

Hiromu Yakura (16)

 Android security expert Yakura began to love the internet when he entered the PC room at junior high school when he was 13. Because of his expertise he is asked to speak at universities and technical institutes throughout Japan.

 “Instead of trying to do everything on your own, please request assistance using email, Facebook, Twitter and other such tools. Everyone is working together and there are people from around the world who are willing to lend a hand. Source code is an international language.”

　Powerful.