On Saturday, September 13, as part of the Junior High WOW (Wonder of the World) program, we held a “Disaster Preparedness Programming WOW” workshop. We invited Mr. Kunihiro Nakahara, a graduate student at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, as our guest lecturer. Using Scratch, students tackled programming with the theme of "Creating a Tsunami Evacuation Simulation."

For many students, this was their first time experiencing programming. With Mr. Nakahara’s careful guidance, they successfully created simulations in which characters automatically traveled from their homes to designated evacuation shelters. Students eagerly experimented with ways to make their simulations faster and safer, and all were able to complete their original programs.

On Thursday, October 2, Mr. Nakahara returned to deliver a special lecture in a Grade 7 social studies class. In this class, students used the simulation they created during WOW and input data such as evacuation routes and walking speeds gathered from local community interviews. They then analyzed how to safely evacuate in the event of a tsunami based on this data. By recreating and analyzing local disaster response using their own hands, students experienced the real-world relevance of their learning.

The Junior High WOW Program stands for "Wonder of the World" and is our school’s original inquiry-based learning initiative designed to let students encounter the wonders of the world and expand the joy of learning. It is an extracurricular program for interested junior high students who take on themes not covered in regular classes, with guidance from professionals from universities, research institutions, and companies. Covering a wide range of fields including science, culture, society, and the arts, WOW emphasizes fostering students’ ability to ask questions, think critically, and take initiative.

The WOW Program also values giving back to society through what students learn. As seen in this disaster preparedness programming workshop, learning centered around local issues allows students to truly feel how learning connects to society. Through encounters with experts and hands-on experiences, students deepen their learning for their future selves.

This disaster preparedness programming experience helped students raise their awareness of “protecting community safety with their own hands.” Ritsumeikan Uji Junior High School will continue to collaborate with the local community and provide learning opportunities that empower each student to contribute to both the world and their local society.