Happy New Year. I look forward to working with you again this year.
When I reflect on what I did last year, the Core Education program was undoubtedly the biggest topic. With the launch of the new Core Education program, I served as a coordinator for the Problem-Solving Seminar and the Core Education Seminar. It was a year spent thinking about how to enhance educational effectiveness within Core Education, as I re-examined, implemented, reflected on, and redesigned my own course designs. In the second semester, I piloted a flipped classroom approach in the Problem-Solving Seminar. Although it is not yet finished, I intend to properly evaluate it and prepare to deliver even better classes for the next academic year. Various things, such as the team members for next year, have already been decided, and I hope to make next year’s classes successful as well.
In the intervals, I also conducted research. Last year, I produced four papers (one as first author) and five international conference presentations (one as first author). Despite working in the gaps, I was able to see it through thanks to the cooperation of my co-researchers. It was truly a year of gratitude. I want to make this year a fulfilling one for research as well. I have been given the opportunity to be involved in a large-scale research project on big data that began last year, and I am also looking forward to a potential new collaborative research project starting this year in a field I have not yet explored.
Learning support by the library is also starting to get on the right track. By discussing with the librarians, brainstorming learning support proposals, and developing and piloting teaching materials for learning support, we have been able to engage in good practice. I want to turn this into research this year so that we can cycle through practice and improvement. At the JSET research meeting in February, the library will also be giving a presentation. It will be about the development of game-based learning materials related to library usage. The February JSET research meeting will be held at our university. If you are interested in library-related topics, please come and join us.
Furthermore, in the graduate school, my supervised students were officially decided in November, and I also accepted a research student from overseas. Both of them are working very hard, so I want to help them become individuals capable of conducting good research and good practice by making the most of their potential. Also, to ensure that research in Educational Technology continues to develop at our university, it is necessary to appeal to students both domestically and internationally. I will do my best.
I look forward to another exciting year. I will work hard to make it so. I look forward to your continued support this year.
