Stakeholders’ views on programming in Japanese elementary schools: current issues and future perspectives in music

Abstract

Three years after Japan integrated programming into all elementary school subjects, questions remain on how policy is being put into practice in arts education. This article examines the current state of programming – activities addressing a local version of computational thinking – in music, with a focus on Japan’s pending challenges. First, an analysis of 23 activity reports sheds light on the main features of implementation efforts conducted by elementary school teachers from all over the country. Notably, compliance with official guidelines seems to have been prioritized over subject-specific contents, and, in some cases, the mere use of digital technologies in the classroom appears to be more relevant than programming and music-making goals. Following that, two key stakeholders – Japanese professionals engaged in planning and implementing programming in music in elementary schools – provide insights on its present state and future prospects through an open questionnaire. Their often-contrasting answers include perspectives on learning goals, teachers’ skills and assessment, as well as their expectations and concerns. A number of unresolved issues and tensions persist regarding how subject contents and programming should be balanced. Given this situation, final remarks address how music-centered, postdigital views of programming may inform future initiatives in the intersection of computing science and music education.