In Japan, Intel offers the Intel® Teach Program, Math & Science Program and Higher Education Program. As part of the Higher Education Program, Intel provides research grants and supports technology entrepreneurship initiatives. The Intel® Teach Program was established in 2001 and helps teachers to know how, when and where to bring technology tools and resources into their classrooms. To date, 34,000 teachers have completed the Intel Teach training. Intel Japan also organizes a Master Teacher Club Forum in order to encourage collaboration between Intel Teach trained teachers. On June 28, Intel Japan hosted its seventh annual Forum, where teachers from the Hyogo Prefecture and the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education discussed and shared ideas with teachers from South Korea via web conferencing.
As part of its Math & Science Program, Intel Japan participates in the annual Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). Intel ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college science competition, aimed at expanding knowledge and enthusiasm for science, mathematics and engineering. This year, ten Japanese students participated, with eight students winning a total of three Grand Awards and three Special Awards.
Prior to the event, the students gained confidence through a finalist training session at the Intel Tokyo office. After Intel ISEF, the students were invited to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), to meet with the Minister. The Minister congratulated the students and encouraged their further study of math, science and engineering. The students also had the opportunity to discuss their experiences at Intel ISEF and their future study plans and ambitions.
Intel® Teach Program
Since Intel® Teach program, a worldwide professional development program, was launched in Japan in 2001, more than 80 boards of education have implemented the program. More than 30,000 teachers have completed the training, which focuses on the effective integration of technology to improve teaching and learning. Intel Japan expanded the program in 2002 to include a train-the-trainer and a private school model. The curriculum has been localized to meet the requirements of the new Japanese educational policy that was instituted in 2002. Teachers who complete the training are expected to be leaders in their district or school and to help disseminate the effective use of technology in the classroom. To provide follow-up support for teachers after they complete the training, Intel Japan launched its own education Web site in March 2001. Intel Japan also started a pre-service program in 2004.
Intel also helps creating the international exchange opportunities for teachers. In January, 2007, Korean teachers from Gwangji visited Kodaira-city and Fukushima-prefecture and shared information on teaching and learning.
Science Research Promotion
Approximately 6,000 students each year compete at the Japan Students Science Awards (JSSA) and the Japan Science and Engineering Challenge (JSEC). Winning competitors participate in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), held in the United States. Japan has several winners every year at Intel ISEF. Recent highlights are; Miho Ishikawa of Chiba-prefecture received Intel Foundation Achievement Award for the “Mechanisms of Flower-Stalk Lay-Down After Fertilization and Re-Erection After Seed Naturation in Dandelion.” Seira Shimoyama of Saitama-prefecture received First Award in Zoology for the "Glycogen Induces Extension of Pharynx During Feeding in Planarians."
Many finalists of the JSSA and JSEC science fairs report that participating at Intel ISEF in the United States is their initial goal, but they find that Intel ISEF is really a platform to help them define their next scientific and technological challenge.
Intel supports Nihon Science Service, a NGO established by Intel ISEF finalist alumni, for activities to promote science research such as research consulting events during summer vacation.
For more information do log onto www.intel.com/education/jp. This site is in Japanese.
