Abstract:

Japan is facing serious demographic problems that include declining birthrates, an aging population, and depopulation. Additionally, local municipalities are losing their vitality because of these problems and the extreme concentration of the population and industry into the Tokyo metropolitan area. Under these circumstances, it is important for students to focus on regional problems and find ways of resolving these problems. This requires regional problems to be studied by students, the government, and local residents. In addition, it is necessary that students who become significant members of society in the future confront these problems and consider solutions from a local perspective in order to revitalize regional areas.

This research aims to evaluate experimental learning in each learning process. The learners in this project first learned about regional problems using texts and still images. Second, they researched the regional issues and discussed the problems with government and local residents. Third, the learners proposed a plan and produced moving images in order to understand the problem in detail. We used surveys on the learners at four specific points; these were during the three activities mentioned above and before they commenced their learning. Through the results of the surveys and interviews, we qualitatively understood the effect of education on the learners. In addition, by using the rubric method, we quantitatively measured the degree to which the learners understood the problems and proposed solutions.

More specifically, the students researched and discussed with the government and local residents the problem of vacant houses. From this experience, they understood regional problems in more detail. Next, they produced promotional moving images to generate interest among local residents in the regional problem of vacant houses. They also produced the promotional moving images to assist local residents in understanding the promotion of vacant houses and regional attractions including the surrounding environment.

In this research, the targeted learners were students learning the basic skills of moving images. From this learning environment, the learners learned about new methods and regional problems, and from these experiences, they were able to contribute to regional development. In addition, they became regionally based human resources. They propose some ways to use the vacant houses as resources for tourism as well as dwelling.

From these results, we clarified the effects of experimental learning of regional problems, and this can contribute to the creation of learning programs for regional issues in the future.

Keywords:

Experimental learning, Resolving regional problem, Vacant house, Tourism.