Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture Officially Adopts AI Drill Functionality of 'tomoLinks' for School Education

The AI drill functionality of 'tomoLinks', an educational solution provided by Konica Minolta Japan, has been officially adopted by Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. Implementation began in February 2026 across nine public junior high schools and one compulsory education school in the city.

Simultaneous with this implementation, the city realized an integration between the AI drill functionality and 'Minna no Gakushu Club', a digital textbook service by Nihon Cosmotopia, compliant with the LTI international standard. This marks a first step toward strengthening system and data interoperability. With this enhancement, students can access 'Minna no Gakushu Club' by logging into 'tomoLinks' just once, eliminating the need for additional ID/password entry and automatically handling annual updates, which contributes to reducing the operational burden on the front lines.

[About Implementation in Ogaki City]
The Ogaki City Board of Education is actively pursuing initiatives to leverage ICT effectively, aiming for both teacher work-style reform and personalized learning optimized for each student. Junior high schools in Ogaki City have long utilized 'Minna no Gakushu Club', which has become a staple educational tool for both students and teachers.

By introducing 'tomoLinks', teachers and students can now access 'Minna no Gakushu Club' materials directly from the AI drill function within the service. 'tomoLinks' also allows for AI-driven analysis of academic achievement independent of specific teaching materials. By cross-analyzing various data—such as results from academic surveys and learning data from various digital materials, including 'Minna no Gakushu Club'—the AI proposes materials tailored to individual students across a wide range of difficulty levels and question formats. This capability to promote personalized learning while utilizing familiar materials was the key factor in Ogaki City's decision to adopt the system.

[Comments from Ogaki City Board of Education]
"With the 'GIGA School Concept' promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) leading to one device per student, and the computer-based testing (CBT) of national academic surveys, schools are facing a wave of digitalization. While considering digital drills, the board heard cautious opinions from school staff concerned about digital test operation and situations where handwriting on paper remains more effective. Conversely, there were also expectations regarding reduced parental costs for paper workbooks, lower risk of loss, and the ability for students to focus on their weak areas at home."

"Many schools in our city have historically used 'Minna no Gakushu Club', and it was well-established. The ability to integrate this tool when starting 'tomoLinks' became a major factor in encouraging school adoption. The hybrid operational model—where materials can be output on paper when necessary—has been well received, and as the city covers the introduction costs, financial burdens on parents have been reduced, leading to steady growth in usage. Furthermore, the LTI integration has streamlined study sessions by removing repetitive login requirements, greatly reducing the burden on both teachers and students."

"While retaining the benefits of 'good old paper' to alleviate anxieties, school staff are increasingly understanding the unique advantages of digital tools—such as 'personalized learning', 'accumulation and visualization of learning logs', and 'planned delivery scheduling during long holidays'. We hope this system will continue to spread, contributing to both the academic growth of each student and teacher work-style reform."

[Value of LTI Integration between 'tomoLinks' and 'Minna no Gakushu Club']
In recent educational settings, the GIGA School Concept has driven digital tool utilization, but the requirement to register accounts and manage information for each content provider has caused friction due to constant logins and screen switching. The 'tomoLinks' AI drill feature is characterized by its ability to utilize drills and learning videos from various publishers, offering 'Minna no Gakushu Club' as a paid optional supplement. With this LTI-compliant integration, students can now use 'Minna no Gakushu Club' immediately upon logging into 'tomoLinks' without needing additional credentials.