Abstract
In this study, an 「international exchange curriculum」 using tablet PCs was developed and implemented in an elementary school in Japan and Australia, and the change of desired competencies were examined. The theme of the curriculum was 「mutual understanding between two countries; Australia and Japan」 and the learning process based on inquiry. The online communication using tablet PCs was carried on three times during the curriculum. Pre-survey, and post-survey after each online communication was conducted in both schools. The questionnaire consists of four categories of competencies: 「communication skills」 and 「information utilization ability」 related to the fundamentals of international exchange, and 「motivation for interaction」 and 「the ability of meta cognition of learning」 related to deep international understanding. The result shows that the online communication through tablet PCs in pairs of small groups, sharing cultural matters repeatedly, raised the self estimations of each competency except for 「the ability of meta cognition of learning」 in Australian students because of the ceiling effect.
