Technique Studies

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OPAL-RING

Summary of Research

Research, Development, and Proposal of “Technique Studies” for 

Effective E-learning

Our laboratory creates new education/learning models for the network era. It also de-

signs and develops learning support technologies to explore a new world of learning. 

We propose “technique studies,” a field of study for investigating effective learning 

methods using new media. This is our first project.

As the Internet continues to expand and grow more sophisticated, expectations are 

growing for e-learning, or systems that would enable lifelong study unbound by physi-

cal or spatial constraints. However, in reality, e-learning has not lived up to its promise.

One reason is that e-learning requires the learner to collect and reconstruct the nec-

essary information from a vast volume of Web content. In other words, the learner 

must take the initiative of seeking out information and studying on his/her own.

Metacognition Support Tools

In light of the above, our laboratory decided to formulate a learning model (method of 

learning), rather than examining what tool is needed. Based on this model, we then 

develop tools.

The metacognition support tool is one of these tools. When a learner browses the 

Web and visits websites to gain knowledge of something, he/she jumps from website 

to website without viewing them in an orderly manner, unlike reading the pages of 

a book in strict sequence. The learner correlates the information obtained from the 

websites viewed in haphazard sequence or maps the information in his/her head in 

order to reconstitute the information into knowledge.

If the learner is unable to perform the above process well, he/she will be quickly lost 

in a vast sea of information and become uncertain of what he/she was searching for 

or why he/she reached and viewed certain websites. The learner ends up learning 

nothing after many hours of browsing the Web.

During the browsing process mentioned above, the metacognition support tool au-

tomatically stores information on Web pages accessed by the learner and creates a 

map. It then correlates the pages and creates a browsing history. By viewing the map 

and browsing history, the learner will understand at a glance the process (route) by 

which he or she reached the current Web page and its mutual relationships to previ-

ously viewed pages. Those using this tool for learning purposes can spontaneously 

acquire the skills needed to gain knowledge using the Internet. In short, the metacog-

nition support tool gives people the ability to learn how to learn (meta-learning).

E-learning Library and Learning Resource Navigator

We have developed other learning tools as well, including an e-learning library and 

learning resource navigator. Using these tools, we are building a new learning environ-

ment beyond the reach of conventional textbook-based instruction methods. This is 

our second project.

We will post the newly developed learning environment on the Web to invite people to 

participate in our project. This will allow us to incorporate comments and viewpoints 

and to develop more effective systems. Our open research activities have drawn posi-

tive response.

E-learning process modeling technologies, 

development technologies for Web-based 

learning support system tools

Akihiro KASHIHARA 

Laboratory

Akihiro KASHIHARA

http://wlgate.ice.uec.ac.jp/

E-learning, learning science, learning 

engineering, technique studies, learning 

models, metacognition support tool, 

e-learning library, learning resource 

navigator, Web-based learning support

Affiliations

Japanese Society for Artificial 

Intelligence; Institute of Electronics, 

Information and Communication 

Engineers; Japanese Society for 

Information and Systems in 

Education; Information Processing 

Society of Japan; Japan Society for 

Educational Technology

Member

Akihiro Kashihara, Professor

Keywords

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OPAL-RING

Advantages

Learning Science that Introduces Engineering 

Approaches to Education

The e-learning addressed by our laboratory differs from the e-

learning advocated by many educational organizations and ed-

ucational researchers in that we take an engineering approach 

to achieve effective e-learning based on a learning model for 

learning how to learn. This is a characteristic of the University 

of Electro-Communications, a science-/technology-oriented 

educational institution.

We closely observe how learners accumulate knowledge using 

new media called the Web, then incorporate the techniques 

observed into tools. Learners who use a tool for learning spon-

taneously acquire the skills required to learn using the Web and 

the tool. The concept of this tool is carefully thought out and 

radically different from other learning tools that merely enumer-

ate content or incorporate novel learning features simply to 

showcase their unique functions. Our scientific approach to 

learning reflects a unique characteristic of our laboratory.

Making “Learning Bench” Available on the Web

Another unique feature of our laboratory is that we promote 

“open projects.” Instead of pursuing research activities in the 

isolated environment of the university, we invite those interest-

ed in remote learning and lifelong learning to participate in our 

projects. Our laboratory posts a so-called “learning bench” on 

its homepage, a learning environment that draws on learning 

support tools much like those introduced above.

When large numbers of people use this environment to learn, 

the process of their learning is fed back to our laboratory and 

reflected in the development of new learning models and learn-

ing tools. This approach to research is both advanced and 

novel and takes advantage of the characteristics of the Web as 

a medium.

Future Prospects

Triggering an Era of Full-fledged E-learning

Educational needs continue to grow in breadth and depth. 

While demand is growing for more detailed education for chil-

dren, there are active discussions on new lifelong education 

systems for older people and people living in remote locations.

Against this backdrop, expectations are growing for new learn-

ing systems based on the Internet, and there is urgent need to 

establish new Web-based learning models.

The learning models and learning tools developed by our labo-

ratory will continue to evolve. We expect them to trigger the 

dawn of an era of full-fledged e-learning.

Information and Communication Technology

Metacognition support tool designed to make effective use of Web resources for learning

Research meeting

Programming