Narrowing the gap between the information rich and the information poor :
New technologies and the future of the school

The 100 School Network Project (and E square (e2) Project)

Japan

The 100-School Network Project provides opportunities for both schools planning to access and those having already utilized the Internet, to communicate and interact with each other and to join the corporative projects with the Internet use, and disseminate cases of schools planning projects through its website (E square project's homepage).
The main goal of phase 1of the 100-School Network is deepening international understanding through the Internet, especially by learning foreign languages through the exchange of information through internet. Phase 2 consists in practice of sophisticated use of school networking. The project is designed for multiple communication in an area, i.e. people to people or school to school.

CEC works closely with overseas organizations to foster international understanding in schools. It brings technical support to schools in networking and information technology. The institution does research on the collaborative production and use of educational software for networking and on the use of educational material for information education.
A supporting committee, composed of members of academic circles, educational organizations (schools or Ministries)has been organised for the practical experimentation of advanced utilization of school networking within the CEC in order to ensure that the project runs smoothly and effectively.

The 100-School Network project introduced the Internet and other information technologies to approximately 100 schools with advanced information orientation in 1994. This project enabled participating schools to conduct joint research, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness and potential of the Internet in the field of education. The Ministry of Education, Science, Sport and Culture (MOE) is undertaking research and development projects involving net use in schools. Now, the project permits access to an ever increasing number of schools in Japan.

Center for Educational Computing (CEC)
Terayama Pacific Building 1-23-11
Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
105-001 Japan
0081 3 3593 1801 (1805)
www.cec.or.jp

Institutional Partners
Jointly run by CEC and by the Information Technology Promotion Agency (IPA), Japan under the advice of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (MOE) and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)

April 1994-March 1997, for phase 1
Since April 1997, for phase 2

Ministerial and internal (CEC)