IDT Trends in Japan
E-learning Trend
The E-Learning trend in Japan has encountered an interesting history and slow metamorphosis into modern technology. Why do I say this? Let me first give you a little bit of background on Japan's educational philosophy which influences its attitudes towards e-learning. This information was provided by the two sources cited at the end of this description. Computers and technology allowed for more growth in learning situations and more flexibility o meet the needs of various learning styles. The Japanese culture favors face-to-face educational interaction. For all of its technological advances, Japan usually has one computer per house not one computer per individual. Most students do not get their own first computer until they go away to college.
Japanese schools favor handwritten essays and assignments. The Japanese writing system has 3 sets of alphabets. Good penmanship is considered a sign of high education and most college applications and many job applications are still handwritten.
The Japanese culture values "association" with a group and not independence. E-learning can promote isolation and individualism so it was not highly regarded in its beginning stages. That began to change though with the introduction of RareJobs
(http://www.rarejob.com/ ), which gave cheap English language lessons. Students enjoyed this easy inexpensive way to learn English and became more accepting of this non-physical space of learning.
Fast forward to current trends and the scene looks very different. Although traditional values are still adhered to some degree, modern technology has made some inroads. Smart Education, a kid's educational mobile app developer, secured funding to develop educational apps for infants and will be adopted in 250 nurseries around Japan. They want people (babies) to get used to using apps like they would books.
Ikeya,a source at the company, explains:
By sorting out a curriculum focused on digital creation, and giving kids opportunities to learn through picture-drawing apps, we expect to help kids create something by taking advantage of IT skills.If kids draw and share their pictures, it can break language barriers and may even start interactions with people in different countries. Ikeya adds:
There’s no border for such communication. We expect kids to experience this concept in their childhood, and we would like to help them grow as cosmopolitan-minded people through our business.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LSEYCe-TWU
Sources
http://www.export.gov/japan/build/groups/public/@bg_jp/documents/webcontent/bg_jp_091247.pdf A Look at Japan’s E-Learning Market
https://www.techinasia.com/japan-smart-education-funding-from-cyberagent
Japan’s Smart Education raises $5.4 million to take kids e-learning apps global
These two sources provide an interesting contrast and progression of Japanese thought and values to e-learning. Both articles provided good factual information, data, and examples to describe the past and current trends. These stood out for me because they helped me to understand the culture of Japan as well as the future of how Japan seems to want to make sure their kids are now tech savvy. I found the first article a bit surprising because it seemed like the Japanese culture was sheltering their people from technology when I always viewed them as leaders and innovators.
Two Additional Sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1BX8rgGue0 Internationalism and education reform in Japan: e-learning This source stood out for me because it gave a summary of how Japan is developing in their e-learning attitudes and becoming more open to technology use for instructional design. This source also provides student testimonies and examples of how e-learning and technology ave affected them in a positive learning experience.
http://elearnmag.acm.org/featured.cfm?aid=601888 E-Learning in Japanese Universities
This article was very helpful in giving research and statistics to show what is happening in universities and for college student attitudes. E-learning really has not taken off in Japan but that is slowly changing.
http://www.educause.edu/sites/default/files/library/presentations/ELI091/SESS17/The%2BEmergence%2Bof%2Be-Learning%2Bin%2BJapan.pdf The Emergence of E-Learning in Japan This pdf of a slideshow Powerpoint presentation at an EDUCAUSE conference provides an updated look at the statistics to show how much (or how little) e-learning has developed (given in 2008, updated in 2012). Some traditional values still sway the educational process but the research numbers reveal that progress or more e-learning and technology has been incorporated. I found this helpful to get a current perspective.
3D Printing Trend
There was not much solid information about 3D printing in Japan except for statistics to show how much they produce and examples of what they create. But based on the statistics, Japan is definitely a trendsetter and ranks high in terms of quantity, quality and innovation. I continued to pursue this trend though because it is interesting and has many practical applications.
My research brought me to the fact that a Japanese man actually invented 3D printing. The history of instructional design trend of 3D printing goes back over 30 years.
"Charles Hull is considered the father of 3D printing. He filed a patent for a technology that is now known as SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus) and he was issued the same in 1986. So, it is widely accepted that he is the inventor of this technology. Hull went on to co-found the company 3D systems which is one of the largest companies in 3D printing space now. As an interesting side note, the first patent application for rapid prototyping technology was filed by Dr. Kodama in Japan in May 1980. Unfortunately, he didn’t file the full patent specification before the one year deadline after the application. Thus he didn’t receive the patent. Otherwise Mr. Kodama should be considered the father of 3D printing technology." http://www.think3d.in/3d-printing-history/
The UN released a World Intellectual Property Report 2015: Breakthrough Innovation and Economic Growth revealing that the US and Japan have skyrocketed in their innovation uses of 3d printing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgZJrUvuEAw Published on Nov 11, 2015
WIPO's third World Intellectual Property Report, "Breakthrough Innovation and Economic Growth" explores the role of intellectual property at the nexus of innovation and economic growth, focusing on the impact of breakthrough innovations.
This report reveals that Japan is either number one or number two in the three main categories studied in this report. 3D printing, robotics, and nanotechnology were selected as the focus for the WIPO report in 2015 because of their rapidly growing potential and their significance as “frontier technologies”. These three areas of technological innovation have been significant within many industries, and the United Nations believe they have the potential to advance and provoke growth within the slowly moving global economy.
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20151112-wipo-report-japan-and-us-lead-in-patent-filings-3d-printing-nanotechnology-robotics.html
Another interesting trend in Japanese 3d printing is that earlier this year in 2016, Japan’s Central Social Insurance Medical Council, an organization of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, medical insurance companies will cover cost of 3D printed organ models.
Recently, Japanese scientists have developed 3D printed liver models, ultra-realistic 3D printed organs, and most recently, 3D bioprinted bones, joints and human skin. Hopefully, Japan’s move towards making 3D printed medical models more accessible and affordable to its citizens will help to initiate similar movements by healthcare institutions and governments around the world.
http://www.3ders.org/articles/20160127-japanese-medical-insurance-to-cover-cost-of-3d-printed-organ-models.html
Although medical uses for 3D Printing are vital, 3d printing is also used for less life threatening purposes. For example, Fashion and 3D Printing Take to the Catwalk in Tokyo, Japan http://www.materialise.com/cases/fashion-and-3d-printing-take-to-the-catwalk-in-tokyo-japan
a conference sponsored by Materialise, a pioneer and leader in this technology, offered attendees a unique chance to see what is already possible thanks to 3D Printing, to discover what other fashion designers worldwide are creating, and to understand where this technology could lead to in the future.
https://vimeo.com/75584262
Two Additional Sources and Their Significance
3D Printing Technology and its Influence on Japanese Manufacturing Industry in Future
NIHON GAZO GAKKAISHI (Journal of the Imaging Society of Japan) Vol. 53 (2014) No. 2 p. 119-127
This source is significant for me because it shows how important 3d printing is to manufacturing. Manufacturing is essential for a healthy economy. Any element that can help manufacturing will in the end aid the economy and everyone benefits. I also like the journal source - I was not aware of an Imaging Society of Japan which sounded fascinating. The website for the organization was not very user friendly http://www.isj-imaging.org/isj(e).html I was curious if the US had a similar organization and through research discovered this website https://www.imaging.org/site/ist/ and Society for Imagining and Technology. It is not exactly the same but similar in its focus on technology.
Materialise Sends Medical 3D Printing Across Japan with Latest Deal
http://3dprintingindustry.com/news/materialise-sends-medical-3d-printing-across-japan-with-latest-deal-54272/
This web article talks about the collaboration of a premiere 3D company Materialise with a medical company to actually create a working not model but working total hip replacement. This has significance because of all the positive help this technology trend being developed in Japan can bring to suffering people.
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