Innovative Teaching: Utilizing the 'Mirai Touch' Digital Blackboard at Kashimada Kindergarten

In a groundbreaking move to foster creativity and collaboration among young learners, Satsuki Corporation has integrated the innovative 'Mirai Touch' digital blackboard at Kashimada Kindergarten, a facility run by the Kashimada Shrine in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. This initiative is part of the kindergarten's commitment to ensuring a joyful environment for children, parents, and staff alike, adhering to their motto of 'sanpo yoshi' (all three parties are satisfied).

Why the 'Mirai Touch' was Introduced

Kashimada Kindergarten firmly believes that enriching the humanity of children requires the growth and continuous learning of the adults surrounding them—parents and educators alike. Thus, they have actively sought to incorporate digital tools into their daily operations. In an age where digital technologies provide quick information sharing, the kindergarten recognized the need to adapt and leverage this convenience in their operations.

Features of the 'Mirai Touch'

The 'Mirai Touch' X Series M65CE3XE comes equipped with numerous features designed for seamless educational experiences:

- Ultra-wide-angle web camera and optical 3x zoom lens built into the document camera
- High-performance touch display, industry-leading CPU, and large memory capacity
- Highly sensitive microphone and Google EDLA certified model

The Impact of 'Mirai Touch' Post-Implementation

After the integration of the 'Mirai Touch' blackboard, the applications for its use have expanded vastly at the kindergarten. From art projects to dance rehearsals and parent-teacher meetings, the tool has become a versatile asset in various educational scenarios. Notably, by leaving the usage open-ended, children are encouraged to ponder, 'How can I use this?' which cultivates their creative thinking skills.

Increasing the variety of tools available for instruction, has also enabled each teacher to more easily realize their educational ideals. This flexibility has made it simpler to bring their innovations to life.

Interview with Educational Director Masafumi Koizumi

To gain insight into the changes resulting from this new technology, we interviewed Masafumi Koizumi, the educational director at Kashimada Kindergarten.
Q: What transformations have you noticed in the children since the implementation of 'Mirai Touch'?
A: The 'Mirai Touch' has sparked new ideas among the children. For instance, during a dance practice, a student expressed a desire to observe their movements objectively. That’s when a senior student suggested recording the dance and displaying it on the large screen.
This open-ended approach, where adults refrain from dictating usage, allows children to explore how they can utilize the tools themselves. The 'Mirai Touch' acts as a supportive assistant in fostering their creativity.

Q: How have teachers responded to this technology?
The efficiency of preparing teaching materials has dramatically improved, making it easier for teachers to translate their ideas into practice. Previously, preparing printed photographs and reference books was time-consuming, but now they can simply open digital materials to kick off the lesson.
Being able to implement ideas on the fly has reduced teachers' psychological stress, allowing them to cherish their time with children even more.

Q: How do you envision the future use of 'Mirai Touch'?
I am confident that 'Mirai Touch' holds vast potential, like improving staff efficiency, deepening children's learning, and resolving parental concerns. We wish to keep exploring usage possibilities without confining it, creating better and more engaging educational methods. This 'non-deterministic' approach is, I believe, the key to generating new educational benefits that we cannot yet imagine.

About 'MIRAI TOUCH'

'MIRAI TOUCH' is conceptualized as an inclusive digital blackboard designed to be accessible for everyone, irrespective of ability, age, or tech experience. With its straightforward operations for writing, erasing, and displaying, even those who struggle with technology find it intuitive.

Reaching New Heights: Over 70,000 Units Shipped

Since its launch in 2017, 'MIRAI TOUCH' has shipped over 70,000 units in approximately eight years, highlighting its popularity and positive reception in the educational field. Satsuki Corporation looks forward to maintaining its commitment to innovation, collecting feedback to enhance its ICT solutions for educational environments continuously.

Conclusion

By merging traditional educational values with modern technology, Kashimada Kindergarten exemplifies how creative tools like the 'Mirai Touch' can promote an enriching learning environment where everyone's potential is nurtured. As both technology and educational needs evolve, so will the methods and tools available to embrace the unknown future of learning.

For Detailed Case Studies

For more detailed articles on case studies, visit the 'Mirai Touch' website here.

About Satsuki Corporation

Founded in 1931, Satsuki Corporation operates in three primary business domains: Environmental Solutions, IT Solutions, and Appliance Equipment Parts. Through its IT Solutions sector, the company actively addresses challenges in Japanese education, providing functional and user-friendly electronic blackboards that find application across various educational settings.