Cardboard robot kit "M-Bot

Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, has signed a memorandum of understanding with TOMY and NTT DoCoMo regarding programming education in elementary schools, etc. The "e-Craft Series embot," a cardboard robot kit developed by NTT DoCoMo and manufactured and sold by TOMY, will be used in classes. It will be introduced to elementary schools and special needs schools in the ward after 2020, when programming education in elementary schools will become compulsory. The ward has allocated 14 million yen for the purchase of the kit and other expenses in the third supplementary budget plan for fiscal 2007. The classes using the kit are for 5th graders. During the fiscal year 2007, lessons for teachers and preliminary lessons will be held at some elementary schools. The results of the classes will be used as feedback for future product development. The ward plans to collaborate with the two companies in fields other than programming education. Photo taken on November 21, 2019, credit: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun / Kyodo News Images