It is now July. Time flies, and the first semester will be over in just one month. I have a packed schedule of classes this semester, but I am also busy with various other things besides teaching.

By the way, the Japan Society for Educational Technology recently concluded its elections, and there has been a transition of outgoing and incoming directors and councilors. Since directors serve two-year terms for up to two terms, I was not up for reelection this time and will continue to serve as a director for the remaining two years. This will be my second term. Professor Suzuki at Kumamoto University will also continue to serve as President, and as a member of the “Suzuki Cabinet,” I would like to contribute to the development of the Japan Society for Educational Technology.

Now, starting this fiscal year, the Japan Society for Educational Technology National Conference will be held twice a year, in the autumn and spring, with each conference lasting two days. I will continue to serve as the director in charge of conference planning and have been appointed as the Chair of the Spring National Conference Committee. Additionally, following the elections at the end of June, Professor Matsukawa at Tohoku University has been appointed as a director (in charge of the Conference Planning Committee (Spring Conference)) and has joined as a Vice-Chair. We will form the executive structure for the Spring Conference with Vice-Chair Matsukawa and Vice-Chair Morishita (Shinshu University). I look forward to working with you. The committee structure for the Spring Conference includes Professor Tsubakimoto (The University of Tokyo), Professor Konno (Meisei University), and Professor Shimada (Shinshu University). With this committee structure, I would like to proceed with the planning and implementation of the Spring Conference together with the Executive Committee. Furthermore, since SIG activities are to be included in the Spring Conference, we have also asked for the assistance of Professor Misono (Shimane University) and Professor Fukuyama (Meisei University) from the SIG Committee. Thank you very much.

The predecessor to the spring conference was a research meeting, but the research meeting at the end of March grew to the scale of a mini-national conference, and it became difficult to support it with just one committee member and the Research Meeting Committee members, so it has been upgraded to a national conference. As a national conference, I want to make it a meaningful event for all members and participants. The conference will be held over two days.

The Spring 2020 conference will be held at Shinshu University on February 29 and March 1, 2020. An executive committee has been formed, led by Professor Morishita and Professor Shimada of Shinshu University, and they are currently making preparations. Thank you very much. As this is the first spring conference and it has been upgraded from a research meeting, I cannot yet imagine what kind of meeting it will be, but I want to make it a conference that everyone feels glad they attended.

Even though it feels like it is still a long way off, it is already July. With the start date at the end of February next year, we need to start planning the schedule, including manuscript deadlines. It feels like we don’t have much time.

I hope many of you will be able to visit Shinshu University. Thank you for your support.