A New Learning Space Combining Digital Information and Books: The Case of Seisho-kaichi School

Abstract

In Japanese Junior and Senior High schools, books and computers are often tucked away in school libraries or computer rooms, separated from the classroom. Students are left isolated from the tools that stimulate their own learning. I will introduce Seisho-kaichi Junior and Senior High School as a practical example of solving these problems conventional schools have. One of the primary focus of the school is ‘building a school in a library’. Books are not all hidden away in the library; rather bookshelves are arranged throughout the school building. Another primary concept is the use of digital tools: the whole school is equipped with wireless internet access, and each student has his or her own tablet computer. The other primary concept is active learning. Seisho-kaichi strongly believes these focuses better equip students to reach their education goals.