The accomplishments made by the Association of Digital Textbook and Teaching (DiTT)

The following is a summary of the accomplishments made by the Association of Digital Textbook and Teaching (DiTT). It is split into two sections:  accomplishments made in the first 2 years, and accomplishments made afterwards.

1. Campaigns and accomplishments made in the first 2 years

Due to the successive lobbying of our vision and proposals, the government took a clear stance on the promotion of the digitization of education and worked out a policy for it.

1) Action plan and vision

Immediately after our establishment in 2010, we unveiled our action plan and vision.

“1) Giving students the opportunity to have the world’s knowledge at their fingertips no matter where they live, 2) A top-quality environment for students to foster creativity, expressiveness, and communication, 3) The immediate implementation of the means to connect students with their friends, teachers, and family.”

http://ditt.jp/action/policy/vision.html

2) 2012 Proposal

In April 2012, we issued the “2012 DiTT Policy Proposal”. Our three proposals were the institutional reform for the realization of the standardization of digital textbooks, financial measures for the spread of digital textbooks, and the formulation/execution of a comprehensive plan for the digitization of education.

http://ditt.jp/action/policy/aim.html

3) Digital textbook law

We established a WG for the consideration of this law, and announced its outline. Among other things, it incorporated revisions for the School Education Law, the Temporary Measures Act for the Publishing of Textbooks, and the Copyright Act.

4) Statement for the promotion of the digitization of education

We announced a statement calling for institutional reform, budget allocation, and plan formulation. The statement was endorsed by academic circles, experts, representatives of the private sector, as well as the heads of 50 municipalities.

http://mirainomanabi.net/2012/index.html

Accomplishment 1: Influence on 2010 government policies

In response to our initial movements, the government made clear its policy position to both the IT Headquarters and the Intellectual Property Headquarters.

(i) A new IT Strategy 2010.5.11

“The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology will decide on a basic policy for the digitization of education, promoting the enrichment of education content such as digital textbooks and teaching material (paraphrased).”

(ii) 2010 Intellectual Property Strategic Program 2010.5.21

“Digitizing education content (interim): Promoting the enrichment of education content such as digital textbooks and teaching material. Lead departments: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.”

Accomplishment 2: Clarification of the 2012 Intellectual Strategic Program policies

Our successive lobbying reflected into the government’s policymaking, and on May 29, 2012 at a meeting at the Intellectual Property Headquarters, the institutional policy for digital textbooks was decided on as a “Intellectual Strategic Program.”

2. Other activities and accomplishments

1) Public awareness activity: symposium

Since our establishment, we have held approximately 20 symposiums.

2) Collaboration with municipalities

Started a mailing list with the 70 municipality supporters of our education digitization statement for information exchange.

Made the mapping of 180 municipalities who use ICT available on the internet.

3) Collaboration with leading teachers

Shared examples of the implementation of digitization by teachers from schools who have taken an advanced stance towards it.

4) 2013 proposal

In June 2013, we issued the following 8 proposals.

1. The establishment of a task force for the digitization of education, 2. The formulation of the “Digital Textbook Law,” 3. Moving forward the project for the digitization of education, 4. The standardization of a digital education system, 5. Placing promotion areas around the country, 6. Support for super digital teaching staff, 7. The expansion of digital creativity education, 8. Allocating budget for the digitization of education.”

5) 2014 statement for the digitization of education

In December 2014, we issued a new statement with proposals. It was endorsed by over 110 people, including 40 municipality heads, members of the Diet, and experts.

6) Enacting a law for the promotion of the digitization of education

In June 2015, we issued a proposal calling for the enactment of a law for the promotion of the digitization of education.

Accomplishment 1: Formulation of a National Diet caucus

In February 2015, we formed the “Diet Caucus for the Promotion of the Use and Application of ICT in Education.” Ichiya Nakamura participates as an advisor, and DiTT serves as the executive office.

Accomplishment 2: An investigative committee for the positioning of “digital textbooks.”

In May 2015, the “Investigative Committee for the Positioning of Digital Textbooks” was established in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. DiTT expressed its opinions and also held a symposium, inviting committee members to discuss the issues. The government’s report expressed the same position as DiTT.

Accomplishment 3: The practical use of radio use fees

As the financial foundation for the promotion of the digitization of education, DiTT proposed to raise funds by using the 80 billion JPY earned annually from radio use fees. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications implemented this solution.

Accomplishment 4: Formulation of a private member’s bill

DITT’s proposal for the “enactment of a law for the promotion of the digitization of education” was taken into consideration by the bipartisan Diet caucus, and in October 2016, the caucus moved for the law’s enactment.