Before announcing the project to schools, the "Educational Software Development and Usage Promotion Center Collaborators' Committee" was founded mainly by men of learning and experience who were members of the Center for Educational Computing (CEC), to evaluate the project including the 100-School Networking Project.

The secretariat did not expect many applicants since the project involved the network environment termed the Internet, which was still unknown to many people, and the advanced information technology of server and client, use of which was not expected at schools. Applicants were, therefore, invited and classified two groups: group A (30 schools) for power users and group B (70 schools) for general users. Actually, the number of school applicants reached 1,543 and many of them offered advanced proposals. The initial plan was modified to lease servers also to group B schools to enable information transmission.

Results of applicant selection were announced to schools through the Manager of Education and other appropriate personnel. The following types of schools, totaling 111 in all, were selected:

• Elementary school (18)
  
• Elementary/junior high school (1)
  
• Junior high school (29)
  
• Junior/senior high school (10)
  
• Senior high school (40)
  
• Special education school (8)
  
• Audio-visual center (3)
  
• Other special school (2)

In June 1995, connection to the Internet and operations of servers were confirmed at almost all member schools and the 100-School Networking Project was launched.

3. Report on 100-School Networking Project Activities

(1) Status of opening home pages to the public by member schools

As of February 8, 1996, the status of opening WWW server home pages to the public by member schools participating in the 100-School Networking Project are as listed below. (researched by the Center for Educational Computing (CEC))

• Servers opening data unique to respective schools: 97
• Schools opening the information in English (including English only): 26 of 91
• Under construction (home page only): 4

When schools under construction are included, 101 schools out of 111, or 91% of the member schools are transmitting at least some information.

(2) Typical voluntary activities

Varieties of voluntary activity plans have been created by member schools and some of these are introduced below.

• At the Togane Girl's Senior High School in Chiba Prefecture, "The Nine Planets" is translated by voluntary translators into Japanese, and the Japanese version mirror sight is being operated.
• The Fukuyama Junior/Senior High School attached to Hiroshima University designed research into acid rain and is leasing the necessary measuring equipment, analyzing collected data and opening the evaluation results to the public. This plan was adopted by the secretariat as a joint operation plan for assisting the activity in terms of the fund.
• The Takeokita Junior High School in Saga Prefecture broadcasted information on the rings of Saturn as observed by Misato astronomical observatory over Takeo City Cable TV via the reflector of Saga University. This permits real-time observation by junior high school students of the phenomenon of the rings disappearing.

There are many more excellent voluntarily operated activities including electronic mail exchange with overseas brother/sister schools, joint creation of stories and opinion interchange between students using the Cu-see-me.

(3) Voluntary expansion of utilization environment

Activities to voluntarily expand the utilization environment being provided by connecting the units (each server and client set) to the project's existing terminals are also conducted in many cases. According to research by the CEC, the number of client terminals is as listed below as of December 1995. More than half of the member schools has expanded the utilization environment.

• 51 or more: 6 schools
• 41 or more: 6 schools
• 31 or more: 0 schools
• 21 or more: 11 schools
• 11 or more: 12 schools
• 6 or more: 11 schools
• 2 or more: 23 schools
• 1 or less, or no answer: 42 schools

3.2 Report on Supporting Activities by Secretariat (Sponsor)

The 100-School Networking Project widely supports not only member schools, but also those with whom communications are possible through the network and who are considering educational use of the network. Activity results are made open to the public through the network.

• 100-School Networking Project Home Page: www.cec.or.jp/es/kyouiku/100/100_e.html
• Center for Educational Computing (CEC) Home Page: www.cec.or.jp/

Main activities of the secretariat of the 100-School Networking Project are as listed below.

(1) Support for the establishment of network utilization environment; April to September 1996

1. Opening of support window: madoguchi95@woo.mri.co.jp
   Various questions and inquiries are answered through the network. Most of the questions we received were regarding failures of the equipment, expansion of the utilization environment and use of the software.
2. Distribution of installation documents
   
   • Internet User's Manual (Server Vol. and Client Vol.): Member schools
   • Internet Guide (video and CD-ROM): Member schools and applicants (1,543 schools)
   • WWW Server Guide: Member schools and applicants (1,543 schools)
   • Connecting to the Internet: Member schools and applicants (1,543 schools ), nationwide educational committees, educational centers, etc.
3. Issuance of Newsletter
   A list of the most important questions sent to us via the network or received by telephone, and current topics during the initial introductory period from April to August 1995 were introduced by the Newsletter, as well as notifications from the secretariat.
4. Question/Answer on Internet User's Manual
   Questions regarding the Internet User's Manual received from teachers unaccustomed to the Internet were answered. Further, study meetings were held regarding the network for improving the Internet utilization levels.

(2) Operation of mail list and news group: Sequentially started from April 1995.

1. Mailing list for notification on 100-School Networking Project
   Registered names: Main and sub personnel in charge and secretariat of each member school Registration: Evaluation upon application Main objective: Notification relative to 100-School Networking Project
2. Mailing list on network education environment: aimiteno@woo.mri.co.jp
   Registered names: Personnel who are interested in the network education environment, no restrictions on participant qualifications Registration: Automatic acceptance upon application by electronic mail Main objective: Opinion exchange relative to network education environment
3. Mailing list on voluntary and joint utilization plans
   A service to permit free creation of a mailing list is provided upon application by two representatives. It allows full utilization of the mailing list for establishing joint plans among member schools and information exchange among groups sharing common interests.
4. News group
   • momo.announce
     Registered names: All participants of the momo news group
     Objective: Notification relative to the momo news group from the secretariat
   • momo.general
     Registered names: All participants of the momo news group
     Objective: General use relative to the momo news group, especially discussion of news presented on momo.announce and addition to or deletion from the news group
   • momo.test
     Registered names: All participants of the news group
     Objective: Practice and test of momo news presentation
   • momo.chat.teacher
     Registered names: Schoolteachers and those who have related opinions
     Objective: Information and opinion exchange among teachers and those who are interested
   • momo.chat.high
     Registered names: Senior high school students and those who have related opinions
     Objective: Information and opinion exchange among senior high school students and those who are interested
   • momo.chat.junior
     Registered names: Junior high school students and those who have related opinions
     Objective: Information and opinion exchange among junior high school students and those who are interested
   • momo.chat.elementary
     Registered names: Elementary school students and those who have related opinions
     Objective: Information and opinion exchange among elementary school students and those who are interested
   • momo.chat.misc
     Registered names: All participants of momo news group
     Objective: Information and opinion exchange among those who are not classified in (4) through (7)
   • momo.sys.general
     Registered names: All participants of momo news group, mainly those who are interested in engineering
     Objective: Discussion, bug report, etc. relative to installed systems of the 100-School Networking Project

   ---

   (3) Holding of Internet utilization study meetings: Oct. 1995 to Jan. 1996

   10 Internet utilization study meetings were held at eight locations in Japan (3 meetings each for elementary, junior high and senior high schools and once for a special school) to study use of the Internet through study of Internet application technology, study of practical usage by school type, and exchange of opinions. The study meetings were held at various regions in Japan and with the cooperation of the local network associations because active activities in each region and expansion of activities are essential for further promotion of educational use of the network and, for this purpose, actual examples closely concerned with each territory should be promoted, with member schools of the 100-School Networking Project being the centers of activities.

   At the meeting held by the Center for Information Infrastructure (CII), the "Advanced Information Program", which is the basis of this project, the entire image of the program was explained, primarily from the standpoint of the "Educational Software Development and Promotion Project." The main details of the Internet study meetings included:

   • Lecture on "Internet and Educational Application" by lecturers recommended by the local network committees
   • Technical lectures to member schools on basics of UNIX and applications of Internet by communication equipment vendors
   • Introduction of typical examples under chairmen recommended by local network committees
   • Information exchange meetings

   
   (4) Internet special study meeting: Feb. 9 to 11, 1996

   A 3-day study meeting was held mainly to provide technical training and lectures for those teachers aiming to be network administrators. Network administrators are essential for fully utilizing the network at education sites. It is, however, considered not practical for teachers also to play the role of network administrators. A special study meeting was held with the number of participants being limited to 32 personnel from 30 schools as a test case.

   
   (5) Joint usage plans: September, 1995 to February 1996

   A common usage plan is an educational network usage plan proposed by the secretariat. An educational network usage plan is put into practice with member schools (participation is proposed widely and includes nonmember schools) under the guidance of an educational-use professional. Various trial applications to the possible curricula are carried out. Basic plans are created by analyzing the plans initially made when recruiting applicants for the 100-School Networking Project and then are decided based on research results.

   
   
   1. Information exchange type usage plans
      • Voluntary information exchange by students
        A plan is established and implemented after research and analysis of what can be done by students themselves using the network. While model activities are currently being carried out by senior high school students, it is believed that they can be expanded to other types of schools. An offline meeting, primarily of teachers, was recently held, and they were surprised by the flexible ideas of senior high school students.
      • Exchange of educational materials
        Various multimedia data are summarized to provide a system that can be easily used by teachers for preparing educational materials. At present, data are available on the theme of New Year's Day events.
      • Exchange of local information
        The theme is determined for each month with information exchange carried out on events unique to each area, as well as local news and differences in students' ways of thinking.
      2. Collaborative study type usage plans
         • Nationwide market research
           Types and prices of products sold in each area are researched and differences in product types and prices by season and area are analyzed.
         • Database creation
           A database on a specific theme is created with the participation of member schools. At present, an activity is being carried out on the theme of differences in garbage collection and processing by area.
         • Investigation on acid rain
           The pH of rain is being measured at 40 locations in Japan. Data obtained are shared using the WWW. Those who are not member schools but are interested in this subject can acquire the data compiled into a table. There are plans for more detailed analyses of sample rain water in the future.
         • Ecological botany research
           This is a plan to study differences in living things by area. Continuous observations of a tree at each member school are gathered and summarized in the WWW. In the future, it is planned to observe blossoming cherry trees nationwide to study the advancing cherry-blossom front by area.
         3. Network conference style usage plans
            • Daily life events
              Each member school selects an event arising in daily life for opinion exchange using the mailing list.
            • Opinion exchange with men of learning and experience
              Garbage gathering and processing was selected as the theme, and there was opinion exchange with professionals. In addition to opinion exchange using the mailing list, real-time meetings were held using the Cu-SeeMe. Furthermore, a game software titled Gomirisu was used for versatile opinion exchange through comparison of differences in garbage gathering methods by area, and there was competition to gain higher scores in the game.
            • Network lecture
              The subject, "Future Senior High School," (primarily on general courses) was selected, based on questions and answers and opinion exchange.
            4. Special education type joint usage plans
               • Effective use for special education
                 The special education theme having contents relative to effective use of the Internet is selected, aiming at solution of differences in educational level for handicapped persons. There were active discussions with teachers of special schools from the overall viewpoint, without limiting the subject to certain handicapped persons.
               • Accessibility
                 Research and development are carried out on accessibility, aiming at active use of the Internet also by handicapped persons.
               5. Network contest
                  • A contest was held on two subjects using the virtual space being composed on the network for digitizable creative products for children and students. - "Kika-Koen" which uses a 3-dimensional modeling software being developed by the IPA as a part of the ESDPP) - "Our Future Town" which uses computer graphics.
                  
                  
                  (6) Result reporting conference: March 9, 1996
                  Results of the project and status of the sponsor were reported at each sub-committee meeting with the participation of teachers from member schools, personnel concerned with the local network, and people cooperating with the project, as well as people from the educational and industrial fields. Further, there were panel discussions of and information exchange about the reported results of the project.

                  
                  
                  

                  ---

                  4. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

                  In fiscal 1996, the following three points will be strengthened in addition to the ongoing 100-School Networking Project activities.

                  (1)Stronger PR
                  The PR activities were more or less limited to teachers of member schools on the subjects of what network education is and what can be done using the network in fiscal 1995. Based on the results from fiscal 1995, we will expand our PR activities to schools, education committee meetings and local authorities evaluating the educational use of the network on the subject of how to use the network for education, aiming at further contributions to widespread educational use of the network.

                  (2)Fulfillment of educational information
                  While the network was mainly used by teachers in fiscal 1995, we wish to increase opportunities for participation by children and students in fiscal 1996. For this purpose, the information that can be used for education will be summarized and strengthened and results will be distributed to persons concerned.

                  (3) Promotion of international activities
                  Activity at the K12 level in the U.S.A. is clearly ahead of us in terms of educational use of the network. International activities in fiscal 1995 were primarily in the field of information exchange via electronic mail, and no systematic activities such as joint project plans were attained. In fiscal 1996, strengthened international activities will be promoted through joint projects involving participation with overseas plans.

   ---

   5. CLOSING

   While we have just launched educational use of the network, we expect that the activities of the 100-School Networking Project, which will continue to the end of fiscal 1996, will contribute to future developments in this field.

   The advanced information society of the future is for the children. Thus, educational use of the network is essential. We hope that an environment will be established in the near future that will permit students to leap beyond the classroom and study through communications with those overseas.

   Taking this opportunity, we wish to express our boundless thanks to the many people who supported the 100-School Networking Project, including teachers at the member schools, persons concerned with the local networks, and vendors of the necessary hardware and software.

   ///end///_
   
   
   
   
   

   ---