The second day was in Kaiyo Town. Parents were surprised by the new learning
The morning after we moved from Anan City to Kaiyo Town, the program started at 9am. The venue was Kaiyo Town Satellite Co-Working Center Shiroyamaso, a renovated nursing home.
Homeroom begins with the participation of foreign teachers living in Kaiyo Town. Each iPad connects to a classroom in Sagamihara, where the school building is located, and the children take classes remotely for each grade.
Meanwhile, parents spend their time as they like, doing remote work in the co-working space or exploring the surrounding area on Danish electric assist bicycles called "Mate."
The parents who accompanied their children appreciated the new learning experience.
Mr. and Mrs. Kawazoe said, "At our son's request, this was our second time participating. Our shared experiences have increased the amount of conversation we have as a family, and have brought us closer together. Originally living in Australia, we want our children to enjoy the world while retaining their Japanese identity. We hope that this education will help them develop diversity and self-esteem. Our work can be done anywhere as long as the infrastructure is in place, but this program has given us even more freedom. I believe that studying in a place we've never seen before will definitely have a positive impact. We only have one life, so we should definitely try everything we can."
Mr. and Mrs. Momose said, "Our elementary school-aged brother and sister are participating. Both husband and wife work in education, and they are participating while working remotely under the pretext of observing the latest education (laughs). As we are returning to face-to-face classes after remote classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, we feel that we are further developing the remote environment that we have worked so hard to cultivate. Being able to interact with passionate adults in the community is very stimulating for children. It changes their perspective on society, and I think it makes them want to find out what they want to do."
Kurata: "My two children are having fun and thriving. I like the atmosphere of everyone working together - children, parents, and teachers - to create an educational environment. This time around, we deliberately decided not to bring computers and only do what we can on our smartphones. As the children grow up, we have fewer opportunities to spend time together, so I want to make this a meaningful time for the family. It's also nice to be able to make friends with parents who share the same values as us, regardless of their grade level."
In addition to providing educational opportunities for children, satellite schools also seem to be a great source of inspiration for parents.
We want to make the time spent raising children at schools more meaningful.
Professor Imai: "My encounter with Kaiyo Town was by chance, but the more I get to know it, the more I realize it's a place with great potential. It's a place where all kinds of resources, including farming, fishing, and forestry, have miraculously come together."
"The first thing I noticed was that classes were remote," said Yosuke Imai, a teacher at LCA International Elementary School, which implemented the satellite school initiative.
Professor Imai: "The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid ICT reforms, and we have created a format called Hyflex, which allows students to take classes either in the classroom or at home. This gave me the idea to take advantage of the situation. Schools are entrusted with child-rearing time, but in a sense they are taking away time (from children and families). I thought there was more we could do."
It is said that implementing this program was extremely difficult, but what helped them overcome these difficulties was their passion for education.
Satellite schools have just begun to foster a desire to learn
Teacher Imai: "A teacher's job is to sow the seeds and connect them. Our main goal this time was to give the students a variety of experiences in an immersive environment. Remote lessons, with the realization that 'this kind of experience is something you don't get very often', will surely make them feel more positive. And in between lessons, the children will hold hands and climb a mountain. This will also be a wonderful experience. Learning can only begin the moment you make the effort to learn. The most important thing is the attitude of the children themselves. We were also able to work with JAL, which was great as it gave the children a valuable experience, and I believe there is still a lot we can do together in the future."
As I listen to this story, the children's morning lessons are about to finish. After lunch, they will have an indigo dyeing experience, see the famous Todoroki Falls, one of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan, and visit Todoroki Shrine.
The satellite school program will last for one week. Amidst the warmth of the children's smiles and the warm gazes of their parents, this new form of education is sure to make further progress.
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
