"OKOME" NHK's full-digital material (1): Web site design and log collection system

"OKOME" or "rice" is the first full-digital course material produced by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Cooperation). Using the familiar subject of rice as a teaching resource, this program is designed to provide children with lessons on various integrated issues such as community, the environment. the economy and international understanding, which cannot be simply categorized in the traditional framework of the subjects. "OKOME" full-digital course materials have four main contents: (1) review the TV program, (2) video clips, (3) Internet, and (4) BBS. All of these four were designed so as to work effectively by relating to each other. To measure the effects of the material, 13 elementary schools were appointed as pilot schools and various research has been conducted since April 2001. The purpose of this first paper is to introduce the whole picture of the "OKOME" full-digital course material and log collection system supporting its research activities.