New Aspects of Digital Education Implementation

　The Association of Digital Textbooks and Teaching (DiTT), of which I am the senior managing director, was established as a promotional organization in 2010, in response to concerns that the digitization of educational information wasn’t proceeding, and that Japan had resigned itself to remaining an underdeveloped country. At that time, the government also wasn’t putting in much effort.

　http://ditt.jp/

　However, when the former president of the University of Tokyo, Hiroshi Komiyama, became the director, and Nanako Ishido and myself took over the administration and set up a private volunteer company,

　We have been mentioned in the government’s intellectual property plans regarding digital textbooks and in the IT Office's implementation of the digitization of educational information. From the government decision for every person to have one device by 2020, the systemization of digital textbooks, and the utilization of radio wave usage fees to efforts to make programming education compulsory, what we proposed has become reality, and we have led this field.

　And at this time, a nonpartisan alliance of legislators has decided on a bill for the promotion of digitizing educational information. In the private sector, we at DiTT are participating in the work.

　However, Japan remains an underdeveloped country. Efforts in this field can be said to be the lowest level among the OECD member countries. It is precisely because it has just started to move that Japan must lift itself to  a higher level as soon as possible While the National Assembly and the government are moving, the attitude of the private sector will be scrutinized.

　Therefore, at this time DiTT is returning to its roots, and strengthening its original resolve. We will reorganize from a private organization into a general corporation in order to improve our effectiveness and stay on the right path.

　In doing this, DiTT is working to maintain cooperative relationships with national and local governments, and educational sites, while emphasizing activities such as survey research and proposals etc.

　In addition, construction of the following new features is under consideration.

①     1. Promotion of Programming Education

　　In order to handle the necessity of programming education, DiTT works in collaboration with the NPO Canvas, which has created a platform for programming education, and promotes its development and dissemination.

　　

　　Reference: Canvas’s Programming Education Project

　　　　　http://csforall.jp/

2. Construction of an Educational Materials Copyright Handling Scheme

　　The discussion at the Cultural Council regarding the copyright system for digital textbooks has begun, but regardless of its tendency, copyright on digital textbooks and teaching materials requires a private scheme to facilitate processing. We will construct a mechanism to adjust the tension between the textbook and educational material publishing world, copyright holders, and users.

3. Strengthening Net Literacy Education for Young People

　　The continued digitization of school education requires a higher level of net safety and security for young people. We will work in cooperation with the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and related organizations and industries in order to create measures that ensure our children’s safety.

　

　There are many other things that we must or should be doing. We are seeking a wide range of ideas.