Yasuhiro Maeda

Yasuhiro Maeda is an Art Teacher and Technology Coordinator at Kumamoto-university-Affiliated Elementary School, in Kumamoto, Japan. He has used the internet and other technologies to create many opportunities for his students to learn from and with students in several different countries. Here is what he had to say about this way of teaching.

You are very active in arranging opportunities for your students to use technology to collaborate with people in other countries. Why? What benefits come from these activities?

When I was a child. I did not have opportunities to make friends with foreign (non-Japanese) people. But now we have the technology to collaborate with many people. It is wonderful !! Perhaps if the all of the children in the world have the experience to collaborate with people from other countries, the world will be more peaceful.

Can you describe some of the things you have learned about making exchange projects successful?

I learned from Kiyomi Hutchings. She is the leader of Teachers International Exchanging. I have learned a lot from her. For example:

• Making the exchange plan is most important.
• First of all, the teachers should make friends with each other.
• The teachers should reply as soon as possible and.... many things.

What difficulties have you encountered?

The beginning of the school year is different. For example, Japan's new school year starts from April. But USA starts from September. In April and March Japanese teachers want to find partners, but it is impossible. And, now I am not the class room teacher. It depends on the motivation of the class room teacher. If I arrange the exchange plan, but the class room teachers are not interested in exchanging, that plan will not succeed.

How does art help your students understand the world?

Art is very important, because, it is very good way to communicate with foreign people without language.

What kinds of projects would you like to do in the future, using technology to facilitate exchanges?

I would like to exchange movies. Recently, it is very easy to make movies with computers. Making movies is very artistic and creative.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Recently , I feel it is very important to add the image expression (video and digital still camera, and computer) to art education. Of course, painting and drawing and crafting and making structures are also important. But, the images in computers and TV have great effect on the sensibilities of people, so art educators should not ignore these image expressions.

[ close ]