May 17, 2020 (soranews24.com) - If you've lived and worked in Japan -- especially as an English teacher in Japanese schools, then you might know that the high-tech image of Japan is still somewhat of an illusion.
While Japanese companies are certainly at the forefront of producing modern technology for individual consumption, many offices are still using old technology like fax machines and many schools have terribly outdated classrooms. For example, some schools still don't have air conditioning in their buildings.
But schools in Tokyo are slowly moving towards modernization, as the Shibuya public school system demonstrates. It's just been announced that they're going to introduce Microsoft Surface Go 2 tablets at all of the public elementary and junior high schools in the ward to help students with their studies.
The Surface Go 2 was chosen as the ideal tablet for students because it not only meets the standard requirements necessary for the Ministry of Education's new Global Innovation and Gateway for All (GIGA) School curriculum, but also has the power to operate digital teaching tools. It also allows writing on the screen with the Surface Pen, has high-definition cameras on both sides, and is most suitable for the use of the GIGA School program package.
12,000 of the new tablets - which come with their own full-sized keyboard - will be introduced in Shibuya's 26 public elementary and junior high schools in September, though these aren't the first tablets the schools have used. Since 2017 the district has been supplying teachers and students with Microsoft tablets to help with their studies, but they've been working hard to be able to provide every student with a tablet. The introduction of the Surface Go 2 is a step towards that goal, as the intention is that every student will get their own Surface Go 2 to use in the classroom and take home.
