- Train your "thinking skills" to survive in the future
- There are a variety of ways to approach a child's learning situation
- The combination of "technology" and "human support" motivates children
A variety of educational services for preschool children are appearing one after another. RISU KIZU" is also an educational service for children before they enter elementary school, but it is unique in that it specializes in "arithmetic" among educational materials for preschool children, which often cover a relatively wide range of subjects. The editorial staff of BabyTech.jp interviewed Mr. Tomotaka Imaki, CEO of RISU Japan, the service's provider, via e-mail and asked him about the service's outline, development process and future development.
We spoke with...
RISU Japan Co. REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO
Tomotaka Imaki
RISU KIZU" SPECIALIZES IN "ACQUIRING BASIC MATH SKILLS = THINKING ABILITY".
Editor:Let's get right to it. Please tell us about the features of "RISU KIZU" and how it differs from other educational services for preschool children.
Imaki: RISU KITSU is a tablet-based math learning service that fosters basic math skills by covering the first half of the first grade, including reading numbers, addition and subtraction, and clocks. The first feature that can be mentioned is RISU's unique "Performance Support System". This system provides pinpoint support for stumbling blocks, and is one of the greatest features of RISU KIZU.
In addition, to make it possible for children who are worried about reading hiragana to use the app, the app comes standard with a "support function for reading out loud questions". This makes it possible to study not only math, but also hiragana and words. In addition, many questions are designed to test thinking skills, so that students can acquire "logical thinking skills" and "application skills" that can be used throughout their lives.
RISU KIZU" IS DIFFERENT FROM SIMILAR SERVICES OF OTHER COMPANIES. WE THINK THAT "RISU KIZU" IS NOT A "SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL FOR SCHOOL STUDY" LIKE EXISTING TABLET MATERIALS, BUT A "TEACHING MATERIAL TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ABILITY ITSELF BY LEARNING AHEAD OF TIME AND ASKING QUESTIONS THAT REQUIRE THINKING SKILLS". THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT OUR AIM IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE SERVICES OF OTHER COMPANIES.
TOP PAGE OF "RISU KIZ".
Editor: Can you tell us about RISU's unique "Grade Support System"?
Imaki: RISU Japan uses a unique system to provide personalized support for your child's performance. First, all of your child's learning data is sent from the tablet to RISU Japan. The data is analyzed by our unique system to understand the child's learning status, such as when, which questions, how long, what kind of score, level of proficiency, and areas where the child stumbled. Based on this data, our top university tutors, including students from the University of Tokyo, send lesson videos to the tablet device that are appropriate for the child's situation, and provide pinpoint support for any learning stumbling blocks.
In addition, RISU Japan's university student tutors are always available to support children who need more detailed support or who are concerned about their learning status. In addition to this, inquiries about learning methods are also accepted at any time, so prompt follow-up is possible.
RISU KIZU" ALLOWS CHILDREN TO STUDY ACCORDING TO THEIR LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING.
Aiming to foster the value of "I'm good at learning" at an early age
Editor: Please tell us about the background of the development of "RISU Kiz".
Imaki: The world has changed in many ways in recent years with the development of technology. However, the policy of education has not changed much from the current situation of "everyone using the same materials at the same speed. Given this situation, I decided to provide educational services because I thought there must be something I could do outside of schools. I originally worked for a consulting firm, and as a manager there, I came into contact with a wide range of members and experienced how the degree of growth of a person can change depending on how they are treated. It was from this experience that I became interested in "developing people.
AND THE REASON WHY WE DEVELOPED "RISU KIZU" IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME IN OUR LIFE TO CHANGE OUR SENSE OF VALUES IS IN OUR CHILDHOOD. DURING THIS PERIOD, CHILDREN ACQUIRE A VARIETY OF VALUES THAT WILL GREATLY AFFECT THEIR LIVES. THEREFORE, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN THE "CHILDHOOD" PERIOD WHEN IT IS EASY TO FORM A SENSE OF VALUE THAT "I AM GOOD AT LEARNING", AND STARTED "RISU KIZU".
One of the challenges we faced in developing the materials was deciding what age to target. For example, a three-year-old and a four-year-old have very different levels of experience, which has a big impact on the selection of appropriate materials. Also, at first, we didn't know at what age a child should be able to use a tablet. Under these circumstances, we repeatedly tested and improved the materials to find the most suitable form for children, and finally settled on the current form: .......
SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU CAN LEARN WITH RISU KIZ
The motivation of the child is drawn out when it is adapted to "each learning situation".
Editor: How many people use "RISU Kiz"?
Imaki: We don't disclose the number of users to the outside world, but we have received the following feedback from those who have used our services.
I will encourage them to continue to do even one problem every day."
IN THIS WAY, WE HAVE RECEIVED A GOOD REPUTATION FOR THE "VIDEOS" THAT WE SEND TO CHILDREN WHEN THEY STUMBLE IN THEIR STUDIES OR WHEN THEY DO THEIR BEST. IN ADDITION, RISU IS WELL RECEIVED BY CHILDREN WHO LIKE TO THINK HARD ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE THEY CAN CHALLENGE MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEMS DEPENDING ON THEIR EFFORTS.
RISU KIZ" HAS A VARIETY OF IDEAS TO DRAW OUT CHILDREN'S "MOTIVATION".
Proactively incorporating knowledge from overseas to further improve "online education
Editor:Lastly, please tell us about the future development of RISU KITS.
Imaki: I can't give you any specifics, but RISU is currently working on three business plans at the same time. One of them is likely to be "English," and we may prepare English content for preschoolers. As with our existing services, we intend to use a scientific approach to develop a service that is efficient but also fun for children to learn.
WE ARE CURRENTLY DEVELOPING A SERVICE CALLED "RISU USA" IN SILICON VALLEY, BUT I FEEL THAT WE CAN LEARN MORE FROM OVERSEAS EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THAN WE CAN FROM EXPORTING PRODUCTS OVERSEAS. IN ADDITION TO SILICON VALLEY, CHINA WILL LEAD THE WORLD IN EDUCATION IN THE FUTURE, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO ACTIVELY INCORPORATE KNOWLEDGE FROM CHINA AND EXPLORE NEW FORMS OF "ONLINE EDUCATION" IN JAPAN.
After the interview
AS MENTIONED IN STEAM EDUCATION, WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY ADVOCATED IN RECENT YEARS, A MATHEMATICAL BACKGROUND IS CONSIDERED TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE. FAMILIARIZING CHILDREN WITH ARITHMETIC, WHICH IS THE GATEWAY TO MATHEMATICS, FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD WILL HELP THEM ACQUIRE LOGICAL THINKING SKILLS, THUS KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE. IN FACT, ENGLISH EDUCATION, WHICH IS VERY POPULAR AMONG PARENTS, MAY BECOME LESS IMPORTANT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION TECHNOLOGY, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION, WHICH IS MORE UNIVERSALLY APPLICABLE, MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT. IN PARTICULAR, PARENTS WHO WERE TORMENTED BY "MATHEMATICS" IN THEIR SCHOOL DAYS MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THIS.
RISU Japan Corporation Official website
https://www.risu-japan.com/
RISU KITZ introductory website.
https://www.risu-japan.com/kids.html
