What is Educational DX? We also introduce three merits and purpose recommended books to realize!

Currently, in Japan, “DX”, which enhances competitiveness between companies through digitization, is becoming active.

DX is no exception in the educational field.

The change in the form of education due to the corona crisis is tremendous, and it is possible that we will not be able to respond to the changes unless we understand the current situation in the educational field.

In order to respond to changes, it is necessary to grasp the true purpose of “educational DX”, not just the surface, and to ascertain the changes in future educational settings.

This time, we will introduce the current situation of DX in the educational field, the true purpose of realizing educational DX, the challenges to realize it, and the cases where educational DX is actually being promoted.

What is DX in the first place?

DX is an abbreviation of “Digital Transformation”, which means “digital reform” in Japanese.

DX is realized by the accumulation of digitization and digitalization, and DX cannot be said to be just by unifying paper materials into PDF.

DX is a concept that affects the entire company, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of operations by digitizing analog data and renewing the mechanism itself.

What is Education DX?

Educational DX (Digital Transformation) means that educators use digital technology to innovate learning methods and curricula, while at the same time innovating the work, organization, processes, and school culture of faculty and staff to create an education that meets the needs of the times. is to establish

It is often confused with the digitalization of education,'' such as shifting classes that were held in the classroom to online classes, but there is a big difference betweeneducational DX” and “digitalization of education.”

True purpose of education DX

The original purpose of education DX is to “realize truly individualized and optimal learning that could not be achieved in the past.”

The 20th century view of education took the same approach to all students and adopted the averaging and demerit points system.

However, in the 21st century, the educational view has changed to that of “making the most of each student’s abilities and being able to play an active role in what they are good at, even if there is a large bias in their abilities.”

As you can see from this change, the educational policy for students has changed from “the same education for all” to “education that maximizes the abilities of each individual”.

In addition, the purpose of educational DX is to realize even more creative learning by using digital tools for learning.

Although it can be said that DX is the conversion of simultaneous class-type education for the purpose of knowledge acquisition online, it is simply a re-creation of education up to now.

In this way, the true purpose of “educational DX” is to realize truly individualized and optimal learning that has not been possible until now, and to realize creative learning through the use of digital tools, to realize “the possibilities of children living in this era.” The goal is to maximize the use of technology.

Advantages of education DX

What are the benefits of DX in the field of education? I will introduce three.

• Hybridization of education
• Efficient learning with digital teaching materials
• Reduction of workload by CBT system

Each of these will be explained in detail below.

Achieving hybrid education

Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, hybridization has spread in educational settings nationwide. Hybridization in education means making both traditional face-to-face education and online education compatible and effective.

By DX, you can now take classes without going to school regardless of location. In addition to eliminating the need to commute to school, it is thought that the safety of students will increase because they do not have to go outside.

In addition, parents can digitally contact their child’s absences, etc., and can check letters and submissions on their smartphones, so there is no need to worry about not receiving paper materials for their children.

Efficient learning with digital teaching materials

If you use the on-demand method, you can watch the lessons repeatedly and study the fields you want to study at any time. Digital teaching materials can also automatically record and visualize the progress of the lesson.

In addition, you can analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each student based on the results of quizzes, etc., and recommend classes that teach the necessary knowledge for that student, so you can learn efficiently.

Reduction of workload by CBT system

CBT is an abbreviation for “Computer Based Testing”, which means a test performed on a computer. By having each person conduct the test on the premises using a terminal, it is possible to take measures against problems such as not having to print out paper or not having enough pages. It also saves teachers the trouble of grading.

In addition, the CBT system automatically manages the learning situation. The CBT system has become an indispensable technology for DX in the field of education.

Issues in promoting DX in the field of education

It is only recently that DX has become popular in the field of education, so there are issues. The main three are as follows.

• Delay in infrastructure development
• Cybercrime risk
• Lack of IT literacy on the part of educators

We will explain each below.

Delay in infrastructure development

Infrastructure maintenance is an environment where each person has a personal computer and the Internet environment is maintained. However, owning a personal computer is a huge financial burden. The school also needs to perform regular maintenance after installing the Internet and cloud environment .

The technology already exists, but in order to actually promote DX in the field of education, the barrier to introduction is high and infrastructure development is delayed, which is considered the biggest issue.

Cybercrime risk

As DX progresses and a lot of information is converted into data, the number of cyber crimes is increasing worldwide. Companies are currently being targeted, but if we promote educational DX, we will be managing students’ personal information, so it is expected that the risk of being targeted by schools will increase.

Thorough security measures are necessary to protect the important information of students even after installing equipment such as computers and the Internet.

Lack of IT literacy on the part of educators

The educators did not receive DX education when they were children, and most of them teach using analog equipment. Therefore, in order to realize educational DX, it is necessary for educators to acquire new IT literacy.

If you can’t make good use of infrastructure facilities, there is no point in taking high costs and risks. However, some teachers are unfamiliar with the environment, so it is necessary for those who are familiar with IT to explain how to handle it and respond to questions to improve the IT literacy of teachers.

If you want to introduce it, there are actually seminars for the education industry, and there are vendors who visit schools and give guidance, so it would be a good idea to consider it.

Digitalization of Education in Japanese Education

Digitalization movement in Japan in the world

The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) survey on student learning achievement revealed the use of digital devices in and out of school in Japan.

Compared to other countries, Japan has a high percentage of students who frequently use online chats and games (single-player games and multiplayer online games).

On the other hand, the frequency of doing homework using a computer is the lowest among OECD countries. From a global perspective, Japan is not actively using ICT for learning.

GIGA school plan

The digitization of education in Japan cannot be said to be the fastest in the world, just like the results of PISA surveyed by the OECD.

Against this background, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology proposed the “GIGA School Concept” for the purpose of developing human resources who can respond to the changing times.

In the “Realization of the GIGA School Concept” published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the GIGA School Concept is defined as follows.

Educational ICT that equitably optimizes the qualities and abilities of diverse children without leaving any one behind by integrating a terminal for each person and a high-speed, high-capacity communication network. Aim to realize the environment.

Maximize the power of teachers and children by trying to achieve the best mix of educational practices in Japan and cutting-edge ICT.

In addition, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has set a policy for the GIGA school concept to nurture children in the future, realization offair and individually optimized learning that leaves no one behind” for diverse children.

As a result of the GIGA school concept, it is said that as of April 2021, 90% of elementary and junior high schools nationwide have a system of one information terminal per person.

“Future Classroom” Demonstration Project for True Educational DX

As a result of the above “GIGA School Concept”, many students were able to establish an information terminal system. However, it is said that it is difficult to realize true educational DX with this concept alone.

This is because the digitization of education realized by the “GIGA School Concept” is limited to the improvement and efficiency of work by replacing analog with digital, and has not led to a drastic reform of the education of students and teachers. is.

Here, the “Future Classroom” demonstration project is another step toward educational DX.

What is the “Future Classroom” Demonstration Project?

This is a project by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to demonstrate new ways of learning using a single device per person and various EdTechs under the new Course of Study. Since 2018, we have been working with schools nationwide.

Specifically, by making full use of each person’s terminal and EdTech, and realizing “individually optimized learning” that efficiently acquires the basics such as mathematics and language, the time created by this will be “STEAM education”. I will give it to

STEAM education is a coined word that combines the initials of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, and refers to an educational philosophy that combines science and mathematics education with creativity education. increase.

The purpose of this project is to learn and acquire knowledge efficiently through EdTech, create time to immerse yourself in inquiry and project-based learning (PBL), break through with your own strengths, and create role models who are active in society. That’s it.

With “individual optimization learning”, it is said that you can independently study suitable for yourself at your own pace.

Books on educational DX

If you want to learn more about education DX, we recommend reading the following books.

• Easy-to-understand education DX: What changes with one PC per person and cloud utilization?
• Let’s create a “future classroom” with education DX: Can the “school” be reborn with the GIGA school concept?
• OECD Education DX White Paper Smart Education Technology Opens Up the Future of Learning/Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

We will introduce each feature.

Easy-to-understand education DX: What changes with one PC per person and cloud utilization?

The contents are explained from the basics that even people who are just starting to learn about education DX can understand. increase.

It is recommended for those who want to know specific examples from the basic content.

Let’s create a “future classroom” with education DX: Can the “school” be reborn with the GIGA school concept?

From the point of view of why Japanese education needs to change in the first place, he introduces many examples and explains how the future classroom will change if education DX is developed.

It is recommended for those who want to know what kind of education system will be if DX of education is realized.

OECD Education DX White Paper Smart Education Technology Opens Up the Future of Learning/Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

This book focuses on how digital technology is used in education, and explains the benefits and challenges of DX in education from the perspective of artificial intelligence, robots, and blockchain technology.

Recommended for those who want to know how the latest technology is used to promote DX in education.

Let’s make the most of students’ potential by realizing true educational DX

This time, I introduced Educational DX.

In order to shift to the education of the future, it is necessary to update the view of learning to the 21st century model.

In order not to overlook the abilities of each student and make the most of them, let’s implement educational DX and update the way of learning.