MEXT published the “Analysis of the Research on Educational Effects of Digital Textbooks, etc. for Pupils with Visual Impairments” at the “Study meeting on the future of digital textbooks (10^th meeting)” held on April 26^th, 2021. The survey was conducted by MEXT in 2020 as part of an empirical joint research project on Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM) led by the Administrative Evaluation Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). The purpose of the survey was to compare the effectiveness and smoothness of learning with digital textbooks and with paper textbooks for pupils with visual impairments. The research aimed to verify the most appropriate learning environments for the students from their own perspective.

The survey consisted of web-based questionnaires, school visits or online interviews, and online experiments. The questionnaire was answered by 1,123 pupils and teachers who were using large print paper textbooks at primary schools, junior high schools, and special needs schools. In addition, school visits and online interviews were carried out with 17 pupils and their teachers from 8 schools who were using both digital and large print paper textbooks. In the online experiments, 15 pupils were given writing, reading, and searching tasks using digital textbooks.

According to the analysis, digital textbooks were verified being as effective as large print paper textbooks. In addition, digital textbooks have more advantages than disadvantages. The research concluded that digital textbooks should be considered as effective as large print textbooks, or even better. For more information, please visit the following website (Japanese only).

https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/chousa/shotou/157/giji_list/mext_00726.html

The report is available here (Japanese only).

https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/hyouka/seisaku_n/seisaku_ebpm.html