Trials for computer science education at elementary schools in Japan

Informatikos mokymo tyrimai Japonijos pradinėse

mokyklose

Takeharu Ishizuka (Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Junior College, Japan)

Seiichi Tani (Nihon University, Japan)

Do you know

Computer Science Unplugged,

(CS Unplugged)?

CS Unplugged is

• Originally proposed by prof. Tim Bell in NZ

• A method for children easy to understand computer science WITHOUT COMPUTER (= Unplugged)

• http://csunplugged.org/

Anyway

Please experience CS Unplugged first!

Today’s Activity is

Magic Trick!

• I am going to show you a magic!

• Please find how trick is done!

• However you find the trick, please do not tell the people around.

1. Lay out the cards in a 5 × 5 square, with a random mixture of sides showing

2. Add another row and column, just to make it a bit harder

3. Please flip over ONE CARD ONLY while I cover my eyes

4. I shall identify the changed card.

Can you find how trick is done?

Who found the trick?

Shall I play it again?

Let’s try in some group!

Make some groups who is included the

at least person who knows the trick

It’s informatics!

Letter “C“?

Letter “C” in computer graphics

Letter “O” in computer graphics

During transmission

NOISE

0 1 ↓↓

→”bit”

3 bits

2 1

2 3

0 5 2 4 0

In this case

Added a line and a column to be even numbers of bits

“Parity” bits (“paritetas bitai”)

0 6 2 4 0 4

4 2 2

2 4 2

0 6 2 5 0 4

4 2 3

2 4 2

Real life examples?

Barcode

↑

Last digit called “check digit”

like parity bits

CS Unplugged Activities in Japan

• “Fujitsu Kids Event”

– held by Fujitsu Ltd

– with The Japanese Committee for the International Olympiad in Informatics

– since 2008

– for 4th – 6th grade primary school children

– 90 children (30 children x 3 times) were recruited on Fujitsu Web

However

• There are quite few CSU at primary school class!

• I would like to do the computer science learning at primary schools

• To introduce children Computer Science

• How?

School Education System in Japan

• The kind of School – Primary : 6 - 11 years old

– Secondary : 12 – 14 years old

– High : 15 – 17 years old

• School subjects (at Primary School) – Japanese, Arithmetic, Science, Social studies,

Music, Drawing and crafts, Home economics, Physical Education, Health education, Moral education, Calligraphy, Special Activities, Period for Integrated studies

the course of study

• All teachers must educate under the course of study

• Revised every 10 years

• The latest revision is 2008 and 2009

– Fully started in 2012 at primary and secondary school, and in 2013 at high school

History of Information Education in Japan (in 1980s)

1983 1985 1989

OECD reported that PCs in classroom in Japan was lowest among the developed countries

MEXT Budget for buying PC at school (limited)

Primary

Secondary “Information Basics”(elective) in the subject “Technical home economics”

High

In 1990s 1997 1999

GOV Millennium project ・Internet connection by 2001 (fy) for all schools ・All teacher can use computers ・PC in all classroom by 2005 (fy)

MEXT Target for Information Study ・Practical Skill of Information Utilization ・Scientific Understanding of Informatics ・Attitude to Participate in Information Oriented Society

Primary Information Study (One of the regions of Period for integrated study, elective)

Secondary “Information Basics”(required) in the subject “Technical home economics”

High New Subject “ Information Study”

In 2000s 2008 2009

MEXT Revised course of study for primary and secondary school, stated that Information education should be done in the existing subjects

“Guidance on the informatization of education“ was published

Revised course of study for primary and secondary school

"Guidance on the informatization of education" by MEXT of 2010

School Practical Skill of Information Utilization

Scientific Understanding of Informatics

Attitude to Participate in Information Oriented Society

Primary

28 teaching examples in 5 pages

NO teaching examples in 0.5 pages

8 teaching examples in 2 pages

Junior High

23 examples in 3.5 pages

7 examples in 2 pages

20 examples in 3.5 pages

High 23 examples in 4 pages

11 examples in 2 pages

18 examples in 3 pages

So

• I would like to do the computer science learning at primary schools

• To introduce children Computer Science WITH FUN!

• How?

Why NOT CS in Primary school

1. There is no clear description for Computer Science in the course of study

– Even if teacher wants to teach CS, he/she think there is no legal basis

2. Can teacher teach CS?

– Most of the primary school teachers think they are NOT good ad CS

– Teacher will not teach CS if he/she think it is not effective for children

Solution for 1

• I have checked the textbook (all subjects) of the elementary school

• Matching percentage of school activities and CSU activities

• 57-100% (average 80%) of CSU activities was done in primary school one

Solutions for 2 (My latest task)

2. Can teacher teach CS?

– Most of the primary school teachers think they are NOT good ad CS

If I could show the examples of the CS study, they could do (TEACHERS ARE PROFESSIONALS TO TEACH)

– Teacher will not teach CS if he/she think it is not effective for children

If we could show that CS study is effective, they would do

ačiū

Thank you

ありがとうございました