Limitations and possibilities of the digital archive from the viewpoint of the Japanese language education field

Our efforts toward Japan’s 2011 disaster and future

possibilities

Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 （ IUC ） 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 Ari Sato

Outline of presentation

The significance and viewpoint behind our treatment of 3.11 at IUC

The approach to 3.11 at IUCLimitations and possibilities from the

viewpoint of IUC students and teachers

The significance and viewpoint behind our treatment of 3.11 at IUC

What is IUC ？→An organization to nurture Japanese specialists and businesspeopleAdvanced intensive Japanese language education for 10 monthsWhy do we deal with 3.11?→It was an unprecedented disaster and its influence cannot be ignored by Japanese researchers

The viewpoint on 3.11 at IUC

We want to grasp 3.11 using not only mainstream media but also from diverse viewpoints

　　　

Similarities between the digital archive and IUC’s approach to 3.11

The approach to 3.11 at IUC

１． Materials currently in production２． Materials used as texts in the past

Materials currently in production

Online materials for future use, including by high school studentsFirst section: factual articlesSecond section:　① entire newspaper from the day after 3.11　② materials organized by topicThird section: influence on specific fields

First section: factual articles

Use of photos and articles from newspapersTopics: 「地震と津波」「原発事故」「救援活動」「帰宅難民」「海外の反応」

Second section: entire newspaper from the day after ①3.11

Click on a section to see an explanation

Second section: materials organized by topic②

Topics: 「漫画」「奇跡の一本松」 「うわさ・デマ」「瓦礫処理」

Third section: influence on specific fields

Course name: Elective course Ａ ( 政治・経済 )When: Elective courses in second half of

programHow: Reading and discussion

Materials used as texts in the past ①

Topics: 「地震と津波」「原発事故」「救援活動」「帰宅難民」「海外の反応」

・ Course name: Applied Japanese Skills I (newspaper and news)・ When: Toward beginning of 10-month program, used by all students・ How: Articles used in “First section: factual articles” News from the time when the earthquake happened

Materials used as texts in the past ②

Course name: Applied Japanese Skills Ⅲ ( ビジネス・社会 ) When: Elective courses in second half of program How: After learning about founders of various companies, study

how companies reacted to 3.11 Each student chooses one company president to present

Materials used as texts in the past ②

Student Ｇ’ s presentation

Materials used as texts in the past ②

Student G’s presentation

Materials used as texts in the past ③

Course name: Applied Japanese Skills Ⅲ ( 大衆文化 )When: Elective courses in second half of programHow: After studying consumerism and commercials,

study post-3.11 public service announcements

Materials used as texts in the past ④

Course name: Elective course A ( 文化人類学 )When: Elective courses in second half of

programHow: Reading and discussion

Limitations and possibilities from the viewpoint of IUC students and teachers

Student A’s comments about the archive Limitations ・ Social media users do not represent all of society ・ People in some Asian nations do not have same access ・ Dominant narrative may emerge based on included sources ・ Large volume of Twitter posts need to be organized in a

rational mannerPossibilities ・ More human-focused study of disasters ・ Guard against fallible human memory ・ How new technologies change how history is written ・ Contrast narratives from during and after events ・ Compare with other events around the world

Limitations and possibilities from the viewpoint of IUC students and teachers

Teachers’ comments about the archiveLimitations ・ At present, the site is somewhat hard to use ・ Difficult to locate desired information　　

Limitations and possibilities from the viewpoint of IUC students and teachers

Difficult to search for materials that are easily comprehensible from an educational viewpoint

Limitations and possibilities from the viewpoint of IUC students and teachers

Teachers’ comments about the archiveLimitations ・At present, the site is somewhat hard to use ・Difficult to locate desired information ・Students without background cannot use it well ・Need to nurture their awareness of the disaster　　　

Most students lack the necessary background, and even when they have one, they cannot search the archive effectively

Limitations and possibilities from the viewpoint of IUC students and teachers

Teachers’ comments about the archivePossibilities How can it collaborate with present activities at IUC ?

Key points are “search” and “link”?

Possibilities and suggestions

Search: ・ Add more images and video　　　　　　 e.g. ： Kirin Beer Factory, evacuees, broadcast PSAs

　　・ Search Twitter posts by keyword　　　　　　 e.g. ： “ comments about PSA”

• Link: ・ Link to online materials created by IUC

• Suggestion: Explain how the archive can be used clearly on the site, including examples such as “Collections”, etc.

Special thanks:

IUC teachers ＆ studentsMichael AbeleKristi GovellaLisa Onaga (Teach3.11)Kazumi Hatasa (Project to add subtitles to "Kyo-o mamoru")William Dunbar

Lake Inawashiro

Thank you for your attention