Field work

We went on fieldwork to better understand "Information" in order to create this site. We went to the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) to see the Internet physics model and to interview a teacher in the Information science department of a private girls' school.

The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

We wanted to deepen our knowledge and insight into the Internet and digitalization in order to prepare for the "Information" component that will be added to the Common Test in 2025. We therefore visited Miraikan, which exhibits a physical model of the Internet that allows visitors to experience the flow of the Internet, which is normally invisible, in a more sensory and visual way.

What I learned at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation

We studied and deepened our understanding of how networks work in the "Physical Model of the Internet," a permanent exhibit on the third floor of Miraikan. The exhibit is a very fun place to learn about the mechanisms of binary numbers and IP addresses and to experience them firsthand.
In the hands-on corner, the binary number system was represented using black and white balls. These black and white balls correspond to 0s and 1s. Data is communicated by converting Information into 0s and 1s, and binary numbers are a method of representing data using these two types of numbers. This process of replacing Information with numbers is called digitization.
Also, terminals connected to the Internet have an IP address, which is like an address on the Internet. When sending data, the source and destination IP addresses are attached.
The Internet is connected through the processes of " converting data, transmitting data, reaching terminals, and viewing data, " and we now know that the Internet is an Information and communication network that connects multiple networks to each other. Also, a LAN (local area network) is a network that connects terminals within a limited area, such as a school, to enable them to communicate with each other.

↑A location to send an IP address to, represented by a black and white ball filled with binary 1s and 0s.

※Please note that the image is blurry, but it is a personal shot.

Interview with an informatics teacher at a private girls' school

We are mainly taught knowledge and skills related to "Information" by the teachers at our school. However, we wanted to hear not only the ideas and knowledge of the teachers at our school but also the opinions of teachers at other schools regarding and with the help of the teachers, we asked them some questions in the form of interviews.

① Why do you think the subject of "Information" was added?

I have two thoughts, the first one. Nowadays, we take for granted the internet environment and devices in our lives, and I think it is a terrible thing to not know the obvious things about the internet environment and devices in this context. We should be able to take things for granted as common sense in the world. I think that's why they added it. second, because "Information" is about work processing procedures. For example, in restaurant work, time usage and seat turnover are important. In other words, it is very important to grasp the flow of the work and eliminate what you know but cannot do. I think "Information" is the subject where you can learn this the most.

② Which units of "Information I" do you focus on?

I am focusing on Information design. I believe that sometimes design can make things that are taken for granted in the world easier to understand, but I also believe that sometimes it can be difficult to understand as a result of the pursuit of design. Also, I am a teacher at an all-girls school, and I think that this is a unit that my students are likely to be interested in.

③ What equipment and materials were needed for "Information I"?

The equipment we use in class has changed little. If I may say so, we now need a microphone. With the outbreak of the new corona, it has become more difficult to speak out loud, so there are more situations where I need to use a microphone. I also think the strength of "Information" is that you can actually experience and learn. To give an example, specialized things like 3D printers and non-contact displays are quite important. However, the current situation is that these things cost a lot of money and we are not able to prepare all of them.

④ When studying "Information I", should I memorize or understand the content? Which do you think is more important?

I think there are many things you need to get used to, such as Wi-Fi. For example, I would buy a 4K DVD even if my TV does not support 4K resolution. This means that if you don't understand the resolution, it doesn't matter in the end. You have to realize that you have to know how to use the machine. Even if you search and use the site on an ad hoc basis, it will be tough to understand because the site owner often uses difficult terminology. Understanding "Information I" is very important. However, it is uncertain if you can understand it only in class, and as I said in one previous question, I want the real thing. In conclusion, I think it is important to understand how it works, not just memorize it.

⑤　Do you think the programming language (DNCL) questions on the common test for "Information" will become more difficult in the future?

We do not expect DNCL to change much. In essence, we expect that the ability to read and understand the data will become more important, since increasing the programming difficulty will only make good programmers. I think that making the conditions of the questions more complex will make the test more difficult. As well, I don't think there will be many calculation-based questions. It is also important to make the test fair. For example, if you give a question on data processing and you use data that only a few people have experienced, it is not a very fair question. I think that the questions will be about familiar everyday subjects, such as cultural or athletic festivals, which students would have experienced. In general, I think the questions will mainly test comprehension skills. The exam's measures are still undecided. Since sample questions for the "Information" section have not been released (at the time of the interview), it is difficult to provide specific measures at this time.

⑥　What measures are you taking to cope with the situation where there are not enough teachers in the Information department?

The current situation is that the teachers we have are working hard. However, there are some teachers who do not understand what is in the textbooks, and this causes a gap. However, there are teachers who don't know what it is even if they look at textbooks, so there is a gap. In many cases, those who want to become teachers are doing so on their own. Also, there are teachers who are originally interested in science and mathematics, so if we can increase the number of such teachers, there will be a little more room for them.

⑦　How will the common test change education?

Part of me is looking forward to seeing how things will change. I am looking forward to seeing how it will change, but I am also wondering if it will be the same as I thought. If anything will change, I think it will be in cram schools, since many university students are not proficient in Word and Excel, which is what I would like to cover in my classes. Also, the practical skills aspect may be diminished by the common test.

⑧　What is your method of scoring the test?

I use the mark-sheet method. This method is easy because it allows for automatic grading, so there are almost no mistakes and it is easy to grade.