DNP and OUJ in Cooperation with Microsoft Japan Commence Empirical Research into Digital Test Learning Management System

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) and Professor Nakagawa of The Open Universityof Japan (OUJ), in cooperation with Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd. (Microsoft Japan),will commence empirical research on a learning management system at multipleschools in Suginami-Ku and other areas of Tokyo. The system is designed to supportpersonal instruction by teachers, by digitalizing the tests used in schoolson a daily basis, and making it easier to tabulate and analyze test answers.

Empirical research will be conducted at multiple schools in Suginami-Ku andother areas, using tablet terminals to conduct the standard classroom tests.The contents use digitized data of tests created by the Tokyo Metropolitan Boardof Education, so as to make it possible to input answers on tablet terminals.When pupils input their answers on the terminal, test scores will be automaticallycalculated, allowing the results to be confirmed as data. By accumulating thisdata, it will be possible for teachers to be aware, on a daily basis, of theweaknesses and tendencies of individual pupils, or even entire classes. So far,regular testing, such as end of term exams, has not revealed such tendencies.Looking ahead, using these learning results, it is also planned to conduct empiricalresearch on a learning system designed to heighten the personal instructioneffect, by automatically proposing teaching materials tailor made to the needsof each individual pupil.

In this latest round of empirical research, DNP, in conjunction with ProfessorNakagawa's team, will acquire the test data, and perform a thorough analysisof the contents. This will include considering both the pupil's answers, aswell as the time taken to complete them, as a way of visualizing both pupilefforts, and their mistakes.

Based on the results of this research, DNP and Professor Nakagawa's teamplan to engage in further research driven by this data, concerning new instructionformats and pupil development.

The research will use the digital test learning management system developedby DNP. This system digitalizes tests so as to allow pupils to input their answerson a tablet terminal, and can even be used with figure drawing. Answers canbe automatically marked, with the exception of those to certain styles of questions,and the results processed as data. Compared to existing paper-based marking,there are expectations that the new system will make it possible for teachers,who are busy with numerous school activities, to reduce test-based workloads,including inputting and tabulating the results. Visualizing tabulated resultsin a graph format, on an individual pupil or class-based format, and then documentingthe pupil's learning status, will allow teachers to understand the pupil'sweaknesses or other tendencies. As a result, in addition to experiential orintuitive-based instruction, data-driven instruction will also become possible.It is also expected that presenting such data to parents and guardians at parent-teachersessions, will also make it easier to explain their children's progress atschool. And by setting defaults for such information as exam units and questiondifficulty, it will become possible to automatically propose teaching materialsthat match each pupil. As a result, it will be easier to conduct personal instruction.

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