Dialogue with external experts

Iida

Based on the achievements of the activities in fiscal 2007, MHI plans to implement the science class program at all works in fiscal 2008.

Kakuno

At first, I thought MHI products might be a little too difficult for children to understand. However, when I talked to children showing slides of product drawings and photos, explaining, "MHI products are used here, too," the reactions from children, often with a sparkle in their eyes, were better than I expected, such as, "Do you make this, too?"

Kawakita

The fact the company does not make general consumer goods may be an advantage in communicating the importance of hidden technologies. You can emphasize and boast to children about the beauty and fun of manufacturing, saying we use this technology for sturdy and fast ships, this technology for resilient bridges and so on. The fun of working will be communicated not only by amusing children with entertaining lectures but also by opening their eyes to the great things grown-ups can do.

Nishimoto

The company's activities may still be at the level of setting a stage for children to develop an interest in science. We are not yet demonstrating how MHI's products are helping in the world.

Kakuno

In order to communicate what grown-ups can do, I think it is important not only to provide textbook-type explanations of excellent technologies and products but to also share the drama of working adults, including stories of overcoming failures and working together to succeed after going through problems.

Kawakita

I think one of the most important things in science class is to understand how the things learned from the class are connected to society.

Hiura

I also heard that from a teacher at the Osaka Kamiminami Junior High School. She said children think everything can be done easily. We should tell them something like, "Look at the automatic vending machine, it is performing massive calculations inside." This will eventually increase their desire to learn about mathematics or science. I guess we also need to keep this in mind.

Iida

In addition to sparking interest in science, we included learning the importance of teamwork and recognizing connections with society in this year's curriculum. Are these areas very important for teachers?

Kakuno

In reality, only a few teachers deeply appreciate the importance of lectures in collaboration with businesses. After an actual lecture, however, many teachers say they recognized the importance of sessions that help students see the connection with their future or society.

Iida

Schools, however, have their own guidelines for education. The question is, how much should we take this into consideration?

Kawakita

Certain integration with school instruction may be advisable to deepen children's understanding. But I think MHI should develop classes that only MHI can create, instead of sticking too closely to educational guidelines. As a manufacturing company, you can definitely achieve better communication when you maintain your focus on classes for experiencing the importance of manufacturing. Entities like JAE have a major role to play here for enterprises and schools to share a common language.

Iida

In terms of a common language, as I listened to the children, I thought that environmental protection could be one option.

Kawakita

You're right. It is very important for a company working on reducing environmental burdens to communicate the importance of environmental protection to children. In the context of teaching how science is connected with society, it is important to not only share information on how the company is reducing its environmental burden but to also communicate what must be done to reduce the environmental burden of society as a whole. This is also essential in terms of Japan's mission to reduce CO2 emissions. While experiencing the fun of devising ways to create something new, children will learn the importance of creating ways to reduce environmental burdens before becoming a full-fledged member of society.

Hiura

Company members working on projects with high hopes and through trial and error always ask themselves how the projects will serve society and what impact they will have. Simply talking about this might actually constitute science education.

Kawakita

It would be interesting for children to know how product-related environmental burdens were different, say 10 years ago, as compared with today and what needed to be done to achieve this progress.

Nishimoto

Takasago Machinery Works holds experiment-oriented science classes called Science Summer School for 3rd to 6th graders in elementary school during their summer holidays. Company members who serve as lecturers are dressed like scientists and also enjoy the program. Children certainly sense the adults' excitement. I feel it is important for us to have fun together.

Hiura

After conducting science classes using wakamaru, I also felt this kind of activity requires enthusiasm. Whenever I was to talk about a difficult subject, I learned by thinking about how I can help children understand. Directly experiencing the children's response also boosted my motivation. I hope others develop this same enthusiasm in their own works for implementing science class programs at each works.

Kawakita

It is important that the company and individual works establish a support framework. It may be advisable to assign three to four persons at each works to play a central role in the activities and spread the enthusiasm. It may be also a good idea to create a "Career Education Meister" system.

Kakuno

Some companies that we assist assigned younger workers to do the lectures. This provided an added benefit for employee training, as they learned to cooperate with different departments in the process of preparing teaching materials and increased their motivation by seeing their job from a different point of view.

Nishimoto

I heard that some companies asked retired members to do the lectures. While lecturers who are closer in age to the students may be more approachable, older lecturers may be better in maintaining a proper balance in the classroom.

Kakuno

That's right. However, experienced workers tend to give away the correct answer too quickly. I would hope that either new staff or retired members would help children focus on a process in which they think on their own and come to their own conclusions.

Kawakita

I hope you to take this opportunity to develop a basic concept and standard methods for MHI science classes. I also recommend exploring partnerships for science education in addition to the efforts of company employees. There are many possibilities, such as requesting the involvement of local elementary school teachers and developing partnerships with groups already involved in community science education.

Iida

For this purpose, we would like to ask Ms. kakuno to identify classroom needs and to offer advice from an objective point of view. If we worked alone, we would only do things from the perspective of a company. A third party may be able to identify more resources from schools or from companies for use in science classes. I expect to see this kind of coordination.

Kakuno

It is definitely important for companies and NPOs to learn from each other to enrich the content.

Nishimoto

We at Takasago Machinery Works have offered our own education support activities. Today's discussion made me realize that we need to think more about helping children understand the connection with society and to their own personal development. We will also provide more opportunities for collecting evaluations and feedback from those outside the company.

Kakuno

I suppose it is difficult to move a major company like MHI, but incremental steps forward have a great impact. Since it operates business globally, the company can extend its impact across the world and develop this into a major movement that makes a difference for the global environment. We will also collaborate with the company to the best of our ability to maintain this momentum.

Iida

Thank you very much for joining us today.