Utilizing Traditional Japanese Mathematics, Wasan, as an Aid for Programming Education: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Following the global trend toward mandatory programming education, Japan also made programming education mandatory in elementary schools in 2020. According to Japanese government teaching guidelines, children should be encouraged to develop problem-finding and -solving skills through learning activities that allow them to acquire the logical thinking skills necessary to make the computer perform their intended process based on hands-on programming experiences. In junior high schools, programming education has already been mandatory since 2021, and in high schools, it also become mandatory in 2022 in Japan. However, programming learning materials are inadequate in both quantity and quality aspects, thus the enhancement of these materials has become an urgent priority. On the other hand, the Subcommittee on Mathematics Education of the Science Council of Japan (2020) pointed out that the concept of algorithms, which is the foundation of programming education, can be fostered through mathematics education in elementary, junior high, and high schools, and recommended enhancing mathematics education as part of general education. In this study, therefore, we developed prototype programming teaching materials using traditional Japanese mathematics, wasan, as its theme and conducted an interview survey with a student who used the materials. The purpose of our study is to examine the possibility of utilizing wasan as an aid for programming education.