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(1) Enabling the knowledge obtained as a result of the 100-School Networking
Project to be shared with as many outside parties as possible, and ensuring
that schools planning to access the Internet or improve their current network
environment are able to easily and effectively use that resulting knowledge.
(2) Providing all project participants, from newcomers to advanced net users,
with an opportunity to study together and expand their knowledge in an environment
conducive to the free and open sharing of ideas.
(3) Verifying the effectiveness of advanced educational methods incorporating
information and other such technology.
2. Project Background
The 100-School Networking Project introduced the Internet and other information
technology to approximately 100 schools with advanced information orientation
in 1994, when net use was still not common even in large companies. This project
enabled participating schools to conduct joint research, and thereby demonstrated
the effectiveness and potential of the Internet in the field of education. Several
other Internet-based projects have been conducted. The Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT) undertook research-and-development
projects involving net use at schools. Such private-sector educational projects
as the "KonettPlan" and "MediaKids" also employed the net,
and there was another project that aims to provide Internet access to approximately
40,000 public schools nationwide by the end of 2001. The number of schools with
Internet access has been approaching nearly 100% thanks to this project.
3. Project Name
"E square (e2) Project"
Meaning behind the project name:The "E square" is a square in cyberspace
that is designed for education. The capital "E" in this project name
stands for two adjectives -- "educational" and "electronic."
The word "square" was adopted after a plaza in the heart of a town
that enables participants to increase their knowledge through communication.
The project was open to all comers involved in education. The project was intended
to provide data to net users at elementary, junior high, and senior high schools
around the country. The abbreviation "e2" was adopted because of the
two "e"s -- "educational" and "electronic" --
and another meaning of the word "square" to multiply a number by itself.
4. Project Outline
The E square (e2) Project consisted of the following two projects:
(1) School Network Support Project
Providing opportunities for both schools planning to access and those having
already utilized the Internet, to communicate and interact with each other and
to join the cooperative projects with the Internet use. In addition providing
information service on technology to introduce and use the Internet at school.
(2) Advanced Information-technology Application Project
Inviting applications and examining the cases of schools planning project work
which use advanced technology and methods on the network.(The results were published
on the E square homepage and openly discussed.)
5. Operation of the Project
The E square (e2) Project Promotion and Cooperation Committee was established
to discuss the introduction of information-based education to schools and plan
cooperative learning projects. Sub-committees or research councils, consisting
of academics and specialists, were set up in order to make policies and plans
and to evaluate the results. The Information-technology Promotion Agency and
the Center for Educational Computing were the secretariat of the E square. They
worked to ensure the effective implementation of the projects. The achievements
of other projects designed for the promotion of information-based education
at schools were incorporated into the project as the need arises. The project
was advanced in cooperation with universities, educational institutions, and
network projects that were already assisting schools. We will also launch public-relations
activities were launched in order to expand our activities under this project
and disseminate information on its achievements.