The influence of the Internet on Japanese education: case of the 100 Schools Networking Project

This paper describes the current status of the use of the Internet in education within Japan, and the historical background to this development. The growth of technology, especially in the area of computers and networking, has influenced Japan's school education. With the advent of this technology, the school, which is considered as stable but closed, is opening itself to the outside world. In 1995, the 100 Schools Networking Project, a pioneering project supported by MITI (Ministry of Trade and Industry) and the Ministry of Education, was successfully launched. Based on the results of the project, we argue the merits and demerits of using the Internet within school education. The kind of support that is necessary for teachers and students to further promote the use of the Internet in education is also discussed.