#Japan #Tokyo #special needs #Enuma Japan #Tōdo Sansū

Enuma Japan's Initiative for Special Needs Education

Enuma Japan LLC, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has recently made a significant contribution to special needs education with the release of a free resource. This resource is an organized chart that aligns the curriculum of their mathematics app, Tōdo Sansū, with the learning stages outlined in the Japanese national educational guidelines for special needs schools that cater to students with intellectual disabilities. This initiative was developed in collaboration with Mr. Masanori Goto, a dedicated special needs school educator, and is available on the educational resource site “Teach U” and the official blog of Tōdo Sansū.

The Role of ICT in Special Needs Education

The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has garnered attention as a means to enhance the effectiveness of instructional strategies and to support students facing learning difficulties due to disabilities. Individualized learning has become increasingly essential, particularly given the diversity and variability in the learning challenges students face. Tōdo Sansū leverages visual representations to help students grasp abstract concepts and key mathematical principles naturally. Through engaging, game-like activities, it maintains students' interest and promotes enjoyable repetition in learning, which often tends to be tedious. This makes it easier for educators to prepare materials gradually, reducing their workload, and has led to high praise in the realm of special needs education.

Features of the Newly Released Resource

The newly publicized chart elucidates the relationship between Tōdo Sansū and the learning stages in special needs education, particularly regarding students with intellectual disabilities. Developed based on the Common Core State Standards used in the United States, this chart clarifies how Tōdo Sansū's curriculum stages (1 to 4) and levels (A to H) align with Japan’s educational guidelines for mathematics education in special needs schools. This resource is particularly useful as it facilitates educators’ understanding of how to effectively incorporate the app into their teaching.

Accessibility for All

The chart is freely available for all nationwide through the Teach U site and the Tōdo Sansū blog. The accessibility ensures that any interested educational institution, not just special needs schools, can download and utilize this valuable tool.

Insights from the Developer

Mr. Masanori Goto, the developer behind Teach U, expresses that his interest in understanding the relationship between the educational guidelines and the Tōdo Sansū curriculum was a primary motivation for creating the chart. With this visual representation, educators can easily identify which levels match specific learning stages across different educational divisions (elementary, middle, and high school), thus making the app much more user-friendly.

The Path Forward: Seeking Model Schools

In conjunction with the free resource release, Enuma Japan is seeking model schools to trial their educational service, Class Mode, specifically designed for institutions employing Tōdo Sansū. Class Mode allows for seamless management of multiple students' progress and learning histories. Schools of all types, whether public or private, are encouraged to apply, with successful candidates receiving unlimited free licenses through the end of 2025. For teachers looking to pilot the app with a smaller group, a trial license is also available.

Application Information

Interested parties can fill out the application form found here: Application Form.

About Teach U

Teach U is a digital teaching material distribution site tailored for use in special needs education. It was launched to support the development of educational materials crafted by educators working in special needs environments, particularly those focused on intellectual disabilities. Offering digital teaching resources such as PowerPoint presentations that are simple and highly customizable, Teach U aims to help teachers prepare lessons that cater to the unique circumstances of their students, thus fostering an enriched learning experience. Since its inception in June 2019, Teach U has recorded 5.15 million accesses and offers 678 types of published materials as of June 2025.

About Enuma Japan

Driven by the aspiration to make learning enjoyable for all children, regardless of their disabilities, backgrounds, or learning styles, Enuma Japan developed the Tōdo Sansū app. The app has achieved the top position in the education and children's sectors in over 20 countries. Notably, it received recognition as a winning project in the Global Learning XPRIZE, a contest supported by notable figures including Elon Musk, showcasing its impact and effectiveness in the educational software landscape. For more details, visit their official site: Enuma Japan.