Digital Arts Adds Two New Features for Schools to Its Web Security Product, i-FILTER Series, to Provide a More Comfortable Online Investigative Learning Environment for GIGA School Program Phase 2
— —Allowing teachers to turn filtering rules on/off— —

Information security solutions provider Digital Arts Inc. (headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; CEO: Toshio Dogu; hereinafter referred to as "Digital Arts"; Code 2326) is pleased to announce that its web security products i-FILTER and i-FILTER@Cloud GIGA School Edition (hereinafter referred to as "i-FILTER" series) will be updated with features that support a comfortable and safe online investigative learning environment on August 13, 2024.

Striving for a More Comfortable, Safer Online Investigative Learning Environment Under the GIGA School Program's One Device per Student Initiative　

According to the "KPI trend for Digital Transformation in Education" announced and discussed at the 3rd Special Committee on Digital Learning Infrastructure held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in February 2024, a goal was set to raise the number of students using devices for online investigative learning at least three times a week to 100% by the end of FY2024. For GIGA School Program Phase 2, which will see devices at schools updated starting FY2024, one of the key challenges in promoting online investigative learning using school devices is how to safely and effectively change students' access permissions and filters for websites.
Some boards of education also found that while trying to undertake online investigative learning in class, some websites were blocked by web filters and even the teachers themselves were unable to flexibly change them due to not being given admin rights.

To combat this, Digital Arts has implemented two new features* to make it easier and safer for students to do online investigative learning. The first is Filter Switch for Class that allow teachers to switch filter rules on and off for online investigative learning, and the second is Access Requests that allow students to request teachers for access rights to previously filtered websites. Both of these will be available in the new Simplified Settings for Teachers.

Allowing Teachers to Turn On/Off Filtering Rules and Provide Website Access Rights

The Filter Switch for Class feature allows teachers to turn filtering rules on and off during class for online investigative learning. Filtering rules for online investigative learning can be switched by simply selecting the preset
rules for online investigative learning provided by Digital Arts, which can be freely changed or added by the Board of Education, and entering the access code on the students' devices.

The Access Requests feature allows teachers to temporarily allow students to access websites they have applied for. In addition to limiting the categories of websites for which access can be requested, the system also supports mass approval, enabling smooth, easy management with minimal burden on teachers. The feature allows for browsing settings to be tailored to each class, eliminating the anxiety that often comes with implementing new filters.

These features can be accessed in the upcoming new Simplified Settings for Teachers.
Previously, administrators, such as boards of education, had to review and implement filter change requests from teachers on a case-by-case basis, but with this new settings screen, teachers can hope for an even smoother, more user-friendly experience. This will help teachers quickly switch filtering rules as needed, making online investigative learning easier than ever and promoting the use of devices in class as well.

The new features enable seamless, flexible, and detailed rule settings in the i-FILTER series and provide a safe and comfortable environment for online investigative learning. Digital Arts will continue to improve its product features to further promote online investigative learning in GIGA School Program Phase 2 and to make access to the Internet safer and more secure.

*As of August 2024, the new features are not available to Chrome Agent users.