教育改革の概念
ジェームズ
Welcome to the Deep Dive. We've got a really fascinating topic for you today.
You guys sent us a bunch of Professor Tana's podcasts, and we're going to do a deep dive into
some big changes happening in Japanese education. Yeah, some really interesting stuff going on.
We're going to look at what's driving these changes, what they look like in practice,
and then what it all means for, you know, the future of learning.
サリー
And Professor Tana seems especially interested in, like, how these changes reflect a broader shift
in educational philosophy, you know, like moving away from the traditional rigid structures,
and more towards these personalized, flexible approaches.
ジェームズ
Okay.
サリー
That'll be a really interesting thread to follow as we go.
ジェームズ
Yeah, for sure. Let's jump right in.
サリー
Okay.
ジェームズ
So in one of his podcasts, Professor Tana throws out this, like, pretty bold idea. He says we
should replace the term "futoko," which means non-attendant, with "jiyugakushusha," which means
"free learner."
サリー
Okay.
ジェームズ
And get this, he flips the script.
サリー
Oh.
ジェームズ
And calls those in traditional schools "fujiyugakushusha," or "non-free learners."
サリー
Wow. Yeah. It's like a totally different way to think about it.
ジェームズ
Yeah. Yeah.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
It's powerful how he reframes the conversation.
サリー
I know. It really makes you think about, like, you know.
ジェームズ
Who's really learning.
サリー
Exactly. Who's really engaged. He even mentions these statistics, you know,
how there's a growing number of non-attending students in Japan.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
But instead of seeing that as a problem, he's like,
hey, this could be a sign that people's attitudes towards education are changing.
ジェームズ
Yeah. It's like, maybe the free learners are ahead of the curve.
伝統的な教育との対比
サリー
Right. Like adapting to a world where the old way of doing things just isn't cutting it anymore.
ジェームズ
Yeah. Totally.
Yeah.
But then the question becomes, what does that actually look like? Like,
how do you actually become a free learner?
サリー
Well, Professor Tana uses his own experience as a university student to kind of illustrate this.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
He was essentially a free learner within the university system itself.
ジェームズ
Interesting.
サリー
He talks about how he got through these really challenging courses by, you know,
going beyond just the classroom, finding resources and, like,
focusing on truly understanding the material rather than just memorizing it for exams.
ジェームズ
So it's like classic self-directed learning.
サリー
Exactly. He recognized where the lectures were falling short.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
And he just took charge of his own education.
ジェームズ
That's great.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
But it's interesting, though, because he doesn't completely dismiss traditional education.
Right.
He even says that, like, all those years of intense exam prep
forced him to become a more independent learner, even in a system that wasn't really designed for it.
サリー
That makes sense.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
It's like he learned how to learn even when the system wasn't helping him.
新しい学びの試み
ジェームズ
Yeah. Yeah. And that actually brings us to his critique of the system itself,
which is that traditional education often puts too much emphasis on memorization and test taking.
サリー
Right.
ジェームズ
Over, you know, really understanding and connecting with the material.
サリー
Right. It's like, are you really learning if you're just memorizing facts?
ジェームズ
Exactly. And he shares this anecdote about, like,
students struggling with basic math concepts, even at the university level.
サリー
Oh, wow.
ジェームズ
And it really highlights how, like, this obsession with just
covering the curriculum can actually leave students without the essential skills they need.
サリー
Yeah. The pressure to get through all that material.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
It leads to this, like, superficial learning, right?
Totally.
Where students are just focused on getting the grade, not really gaining knowledge.
ジェームズ
Then they hit a wall when they need those skills later on.
サリー
Exactly. And that leads us to some of these new initiatives that Professor Tana is excited about,
which are potential alternatives.
ジェームズ
OK. Yeah. Let's talk about those.
サリー
So one that stands out is ZEN University. It's set to open next April.
ジェームズ
Oh, wow. That's soon.
サリー
It is. And the really fascinating thing is it's a collaboration between
Duango, the tech company behind, you know, Niconico video platform.
ジェームズ
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
サリー
And the Nippon Foundation, which is a major philanthropic organization.
ジェームズ
Oh, that's an interesting partnership.
サリー
It is. It really shows you how the education landscape is changing, right?
ジェームズ
Yeah, for sure.
サリー
You have this major player in, like, online entertainment.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
Teaming up with an organization known for, you know, social good.
ジェームズ
Right.
To create a university that's primarily online and emphasizes practical experience.
サリー
It's a direct challenge to that traditional brick and mortar model.
ジェームズ
Yeah, it really is.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
And it aligns perfectly with Professor Tana's vision, right?
革新する教育機関
ジェームズ
Totally.
Like learning outside the classroom.
サリー
He's all about using technology to make learning more engaging, more effective.
Yeah.
He seems really enthusiastic about how online learning can make education
more accessible, more flexible.
And that's where Minerva Schools at KGI comes in, or their global campus model.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
Where students live and learn in different cities all over the world.
It's really groundbreaking.
ジェームズ
It's like study abroad on steroids.
サリー
Right.
Yeah.
And they're using online learning to, like, free up time and resources.
Yeah.
So students can really engage with the world around them.
ジェームズ
That's amazing.
It is.
サリー
And it actually connects back to what Professor Tana was saying about, you know,
the limitations of these big institutions.
Right, right.
He says that real innovation often comes from these smaller, more agile organizations.
Yeah.
The ones that are willing to experiment and take risks.
ジェームズ
Makes sense.
サリー
Like big bureaucracies, they get stuck in their ways.
They're slow to change.
ジェームズ
Right.
Yeah, totally.
サリー
But Professor Tana isn't just complaining about the problems, you know?
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
He's actually pointing to these concrete examples like ZEN University and Minerva,
and they're doing things differently.
ジェームズ
They're putting his ideas into action.
サリー
Exactly.
Yeah.
They show that there are other ways to structure learning.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
That are more in tune with the needs of today's students.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
And the demands of a world that's constantly changing.
ジェームズ
Totally.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
And then there's Teleport School, which is a project led by Hirano Tomoyasu.
サリー
Oh, yeah, this one's cool.
ジェームズ
It's all about using generative AI to create a community-driven learning environment.
サリー
Do you remember how excited Professor Tana was about Hirano's previous project?
ジェームズ
Ooh, the Web Composer School.
サリー
Yes.
This new one seems to tap into that same passion for using technology to rethink education.
ジェームズ
Yeah, to build it from the ground up.
サリー
Yeah, from scratch.
ジェームズ
Okay, so Teleport School hasn't officially launched yet.
サリー
Right.
ジェームズ
But Professor Tana has been following its development through
podcasts and online discussions.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
And he thinks it could be a real game changer, especially for creating those
personalized, self-directed learning experiences that go beyond just geographical limits.
サリー
The idea of students from all over the world connecting and learning together, it's really
exciting.
ジェームズ
Yeah, it's like a truly borderless education.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
And it's all powered by AI.
So it can tailor the learning experience to each person.
サリー
It's like having a personal tutor for every subject.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
Incredible.
ジェームズ
Professor Tana is realistic about the challenges.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
But you can really hear his optimism about the potential of technology to, like, democratize
education, make it more accessible and engaging.
サリー
That's what I love about him.
He's not just about shiny new gadgets.
He really cares about using them to address these big challenges.
Yeah.
To make learning more meaningful for everyone.
ジェームズ
He's always asking, like, how can we use these tools to create a better future for learning?
サリー
Right.
And it's not just about the technology either.
It's about this shift in mindset.
ジェームズ
Like a willingness to question the way things have always been done.
サリー
Exactly.
Like he says the real drivers of innovation aren't these big institutions like universities.
ジェームズ
Oh, really?
サリー
He thinks it's the smaller, more agile players like ZEN University or Teleport School.
ジェームズ
Oh, interesting.
サリー
Like he mentions businesses like DWANGO.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
They had no experience in education.
ジェームズ
But they saw an opportunity.
サリー
They saw the potential of online learning and they weren't afraid to disrupt the system.
ジェームズ
Wow.
So it's not just about the technology.
サリー
Right.
ジェームズ
It's about being open to new ideas.
サリー
Exactly.
ジェームズ
Even if they come from unexpected places.
サリー
Wow.
Yeah.
Professor Tana even suggests that maybe universities shouldn't be the only ones in
charge of knowledge anymore.
ジェームズ
It's like he sees a future where learning happens everywhere.
サリー
All the time.
ジェームズ
Through all kinds of different channels.
サリー
And that brings us back to this very platform.
ジェームズ
LISTEN.
サリー
Professor Tana compares LISTEN to Teleport.
ジェームズ
That's interesting.
サリー
He points out that LISTEN already has a lot of the same features as a virtual university.
ジェームズ
Right.
We have experts sharing their insights.
We have listeners engaging with those insights.
サリー
And we have this platform that allows for conversation and connection.
ジェームズ
And he's really excited about the transcript feature.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
サリー
He says it creates this valuable archive of knowledge that anyone can access.
教育の未来を探る
ジェームズ
It's like a library of lectures at your fingertips.
サリー
So cool.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
And while he acknowledges that Teleport is taking a more ambitious approach, you know,
with AI and all these different learning tools.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
He sees both platforms as important parts of the future of learning.
ジェームズ
So it's not a competition.
サリー
No, it's more like a convergence.
ジェームズ
A coming together of different approaches.
サリー
Exactly.
And that's what makes this whole discussion so exciting.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
It's not about predicting the future.
It's about exploring the possibilities.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
And recognizing that the way we learn is changing in a big way.
ジェームズ
Totally.
It's a really interesting time to be thinking about education.
サリー
It really is.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
教授のストーリー
ジェームズ
But to get a better sense of the issues at play, we need to dig into some of the specifics
of what Professor Tana sees as wrong with the current system.
サリー
Oh, yeah.
He's got some personal stories that really bring these issues to life.
ジェームズ
OK, let's hear those.
サリー
All right, let's dive in.
There's this one story he tells about a faculty meeting at a university.
ジェームズ
OK.
サリー
And he overheard these professors complaining about how students couldn't even grasp basic
math.
ジェームズ
Yeah, that's like a pretty common complaint, right?
Every generation thinks the next one is lacking in basic skills.
サリー
Right.
But Professor Tana doesn't just dismiss it as, you know, kids these days.
ジェームズ
Yeah, he digs deeper.
サリー
Yeah.
He's like, is it the students or is it how we're teaching them?
So he points out that universities often try to fix this by adding more coursework,
like remedial classes and stuff.
But his argument is that this might actually be making things worse.
ジェームズ
How so?
サリー
Well, because students get overwhelmed by all the material and then they just resort
to like rote memorization.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
And test taking tricks just to get by.
ジェームズ
To survive.
サリー
Exactly.
And he says this kind of learning, it's just superficial.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
It doesn't lead to actual understanding or, you know, a love of learning.
ジェームズ
Yeah, it can actually make students hate the subject.
サリー
Totally.
ジェームズ
He even uses himself as an example, right?
He talks about how he struggled with math in university.
サリー
Yeah.
And he just memorized formulas to pass exams.
ジェームズ
Wow.
Even him.
サリー
It's a great example because it shows that anyone can fall into that trap, you know?
ジェームズ
Yeah, yeah.
サリー
When the system rewards that kind of behavior.
ジェームズ
It makes you think about how we approach learning.
新しい学習環境
ジェームズ
Like maybe we don't always need to master the basics before moving on.
サリー
Right.
He suggests that maybe it's the opposite.
ジェームズ
Oh, interesting.
サリー
Like maybe we learn best when we're tackling real problems.
ジェームズ
Even if we don't have all the foundational knowledge yet.
サリー
Exactly.
The struggle is part of the process.
It can lead to deeper understanding.
ジェームズ
So he's not saying fundamentals are unimportant.
サリー
No, not at all.
ジェームズ
But that maybe we need to rethink how we teach them.
サリー
And how we test whether students have actually learned them.
ジェームズ
Okay, that makes sense.
サリー
And he brings up another important point.
The learning environment.
ジェームズ
Oh, right.
サリー
How isolating it can be when you feel like you're the only one who doesn't get it.
ジェームズ
Totally.
Yeah, it can be really discouraging.
サリー
Everyone else is on board and you're falling behind.
ジェームズ
Yeah, yeah.
サリー
And he thinks universities could do more to create a sense of community.
ジェームズ
Okay.
サリー
Spaces where students can connect, ask questions, learn from each other's struggles.
ジェームズ
So again, it comes back to that idea of learning communities.
サリー
Exactly.
And this is where teleport school comes in.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
He sees it as a way to create those communities, but on a global scale.
ジェームズ
Wow, students from all over the world.
サリー
Connecting, collaborating, learning from experts.
ジェームズ
It's like a borderless classroom.
サリー
And it's powered by AI.
So it's personalized to each student.
ジェームズ
That's amazing.
サリー
It's like that vision of learn anything you want at your own pace with support from a community.
ジェームズ
Yeah, he's really pushing the boundaries of what education can be.
サリー
But he's realistic.
He knows there are challenges.
ジェームズ
Of course.
サリー
But he's optimistic about the potential.
ジェームズ
And it's not just about the tech.
サリー
Right. He talks about this need for a shift in mindset.
ジェームズ
Like being open to new ways of doing things.
サリー
He says the real innovators aren't the big institutions.
It's those smaller, more agile players like ZEN University or Teleport School.
ジェームズ
Right. They're not afraid to disrupt the status quo.
サリー
And he uses DWANGO as an example.
ジェームズ
Oh, yeah.
サリー
They had no background in education.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
But they saw the potential of online learning.
ジェームズ
And they went for it.
サリー
Yeah. So it's about embracing new ideas.
教育の未来についての考察
ジェームズ
Even if they come from unexpected places.
サリー
Exactly. And Professor Tana even suggests that maybe universities
shouldn't be the only gatekeepers of knowledge anymore.
ジェームズ
So where does that leave us?
サリー
Well, it leads back to this platform, LISTEN.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
Professor Tanna compares it to Teleport.
He says LISTEN has many of the same building blocks as a virtual university.
ジェームズ
We have the experts. We have the engaged listeners.
サリー
And we have this platform that enables conversation.
ジェームズ
And the transcripts. He loves the transcripts.
サリー
He says it's like a library of lectures that you can access anytime.
ジェームズ
It's true. You can go back and revisit the information.
サリー
So while Teleport might be more ambitious with its use of AI and all that.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
He sees both platforms as playing a role in the future of learning.
ジェームズ
So it's not one versus the other.
サリー
Right. It's more about how they can work together.
ジェームズ
To create these new learning ecosystems.
サリー
Exactly. And this is where those free learners are finding their place.
ジェームズ
Those who are choosing to learn outside the system.
サリー
And it's not a rejection of education. It's a desire for something more personalized.
ジェームズ
And he even suggests that the rise of non-attending students.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
Maybe it's a sign that the traditional system is failing to meet their needs.
サリー
It's an interesting thought, isn't it?
ジェームズ
Yeah. What if these non-attending students are the pioneers?
サリー
Showing us a new way to learn.
ジェームズ
A way that's more relevant to the world we live in.
サリー
Professor Tana doesn't have all the answers.
ジェームズ
But he raises some really important questions.
サリー
What does all this mean for you?
For someone navigating this new landscape?
ジェームズ
That's a great question.
And in our final segment, we'll connect these ideas to your own experiences.
サリー
We'll see how these trends might impact not just formal education.
But how we all learn and grow throughout our lives.
ジェームズ
It's pretty clear that Professor Tana sees Japanese education at a crossroads.
サリー
Yeah.
ジェームズ
He's pointing out these deeply ingrained traditions.
But then he's also showing how they're clashing with all these new ways of thinking about learning.
These new approaches that are all about flexibility,
self-direction, and making learning relevant to your actual life.
サリー
And he doesn't hold back on the criticism.
ジェームズ
No, not at all.
サリー
He really calls out the flaws in the system.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
He even says that the rising number of non-attending students.
Right.
It might be a sign that things need to change in a big way.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
Maybe even a complete overhaul.
But he's not just dwelling on the problems, you know.
サリー
Right.
He's offering solutions.
Yeah.
ジェームズ
He's showing us all these amazing things that are happening.
サリー
And often outside of like the traditional institutions.
Yeah.
ジェームズ
It's like he's saying the real revolution.
サリー
It's happening on the fringes.
ジェームズ
Yeah, exact.
サリー
Not in the mainstream.
ジェームズ
He even hints that maybe school as we know it is becoming like obsolete.
サリー
Yeah.
I don't think he's saying get rid of schools entirely.
ジェームズ
Right.
サリー
But he's making us question.
ジェームズ
What school could be.
サリー
Yeah.
What if it wasn't about going to a physical building.
Yeah.
For a certain number of hours each day.
ジェームズ
What if it was more fluid.
サリー
More personalized.
ジェームズ
It could happen anywhere, anytime.
サリー
Right.
And that's where, you know, ZEN University.
Teleport school, they come in.
ジェームズ
They're not stuck in that old way of thinking.
サリー
No, they can experiment, innovate, adapt.
ジェームズ
Yeah, much faster than traditional schools.
サリー
And they're tapping into this growing demand.
ジェームズ
For self-directed learning.
サリー
Yeah.
People want to be in control of what they learn, how they learn it, when they learn it.
ジェームズ
Professor Tana even sees platforms like LISTEN.
サリー
Yeah, right here.
ジェームズ
As like hubs for these kinds of learning communities.
He's really pushing the boundaries of what we even consider education.
サリー
I love that about him.
ジェームズ
Yeah.
サリー
He's not just complaining.
He's offering real solutions.
Yeah.
Showing us that a different kind of education is possible.
ジェームズ
A better kind.
サリー
More focused on the learner.
ジェームズ
More engaging.
サリー
More relevant to the world we live in.
ジェームズ
It really makes you wonder what learning will look like in the future.
サリー
Like 10, 20, 50 years from now.
ジェームズ
Will traditional schools even exist?
サリー
Will the whole system be transformed?
Or will they adapt?
ジェームズ
And what about technology?
サリー
Will it keep disrupting things?
ジェームズ
Or will we find like a balance?
サリー
And what about teachers?
Yeah.
Will they be replaced by AI?
ジェームズ
Or will there be some kind of partnership?
サリー
It's impossible to know for sure.
But one thing is clear.
Things are changing.
ジェームズ
And they're changing fast.
自己主導型学習の考察
サリー
So as you listen to Professor Tana's podcasts.
Think about how these ideas relate to your own life.
ジェームズ
How are you already engaging in self-directed learning?
What role do online platforms play in your learning journey?
サリー
And how can you help shape the future of learning?
ジェームズ
For yourself and for others.
サリー
It's an exciting time to be thinking about all of this.
ジェームズ
The future of learning is in our hands.
サリー
Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into Professor Tana's ideas.
ジェームズ
We hope you found it insightful.
サリー
And that it sparks some new thoughts for you.
ジェームズ
Until next time.
サリー
Keep learning and keep questioning.
