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Through a Reinventing Education grant awarded in 2002, IBM Japan and the Mitaka City Board of Education have formed a partnership to foster the learning abilities of students through collaboration between the school, home and local community utilizing a secure broadband network.
The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MOE) places a high priority on educational reform. The MOE greatly values the way in which the Mitaka City Board of Education is working together with their local community to tackle educational issues and showcase the effective integration of Information and Communications Technologies into the classroom.
This Reinventing Education partnership encompasses all 15 municipal elementary schools in Mitaka and has implemented a secure network that includes Lotus Learning Space and Lotus Sametime. This communication and collaboration software enables parents, guardians and appropriate community members to participate in the students' learning online.
Working parents and guardians are observing their children during class using video devices and communicating with teachers online about student progress. The school community is also able to access information about school events and activities through this online network.
Through Lotus Learning Space and Lotus Sametime, community experts are serving as online mentors providing information to students and teachers on a newly developed project-oriented curriculum. This online learning space enables mentors and teachers to send information and materials in real time, allowing valuable collaboration that enriches the student learning experience.
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