Readjusting Design Education for Japanese High School Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Case Study to Investigate Students' Attitude in Using Online Whiteboard for Group Discussions During Design Activities

The purpose of this study is to understand and describe Japanese high school students' perspectives in using online whiteboards during face-to-face group discussions for design activities in the Covid-19 pandemic. Using the SDGs Challenge Project in Fukusho High School in Fukuoka City, a qualitative research approach where the case study which included quantitative and qualitative inputs was adopted. Based on the findings, the following main points can be concluded. Firstly, even though students may feel that they are not competent users of digital devices, they may still think that effective group discussions can be achieved using an online whiteboard during face-to-face group discussions. This may be because real-time social interactions can still be achieved as lessons are conducted face-to-face. Secondly, students' perceptions of achieving effective group discussions and the ease of use of the online whiteboard may influence their motivations in using the online whiteboard in future lessons. This may be due to the perception that as long as the online whiteboard is easy to use and it enhances performance, students may generally feel motivated in using the online whiteboard in future discussions. The findings from this study will provide insights for academics and high school teachers when conducting face-to-face lessons and attempting to use of online tools to mitigate challenges offered by the pandemic.