ISAAC MARTY
A new way to improve overall mathematic skills and critical thinking for public elementary students is being undertaken by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer teachers. The pilot project is based on an electronic tablet device that engages students in virtual math practices, various game-like activities, and tests.
According to project coordinators Hiroyuki Shibuya, who teaches at Ajeltake Elementary School (AES), and Toshio Akiyama, Woja Elementary School (WES) teacher, they are collaborating with the Public School System and the tablet provider company RISU, which is based in Tokyo, Japan. RISU has provided four RISU Tablets for the project with the aim that it is also being promoted in the Marshall Islands. RISU Tablets are widely used in Japan and in the US. It covers kindergarten to high school level math.
Shibuya and Akiyama said they see a lot of math potential in their students. “We want to improve students’ performance to the maximum level possible,” they said.
WES has the highest eighth grade result in the October 100 Percent Goal Test with an average 76 percent test score, and AES with highest seventh grade result with 62.4 percent. Both teachers are keen to find out future results after students spend some time with RISU Tablet.
Read more about this in the December 4, 2015 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.