RePlayce Inc. Conducts Corporate PBL in Collaboration with Major Consulting Firm; High School Students Develop App to Solve Social Issues Using Generative AI

RePlayce Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masahiro Yamamoto; hereinafter referred to as RePlayce), an educational startup providing career exploration services for junior and senior high school students, has implemented a corporate PBL (Project Based Learning) program called "Boost with Generative AI! High School Students' Serious Free Research," in collaboration with a major consulting firm. This program challenges students to solve real-world problems using generative AI.

In this program, students utilized generative AI not merely as a search tool, but as a "partner for deepening thought and embodying ideas." Under the guidance of professionals, they completed the process from exploring user needs to developing app prototypes.

Pre- and post-program surveys confirmed improvements in problem-finding skills and self-efficacy, which are essential in the AI era. For instance, the percentage of students who answered they were "good at thinking of good questions" increased from 40.5% to 62.1%. We report on the outcomes as a new human resource development model for the generative AI era.

Click here for scenes from the achievement presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4nul8CvBNk

Background of this Initiative

With the rapid spread of generative AI, the importance of "asking questions" and "creating value by utilizing technology" is increasing in society, alongside knowledge memorization and information gathering.

However, traditional inquiry-based learning has often been limited to research and idea generation, with few opportunities to actually develop products and experience social implementation.

HR High School, as a progressive school that balances "a learning foundation for acquiring credits necessary for high school graduation" with "practical learning open to society," promotes practical education through collaboration with companies.

This time, in collaboration with a major consulting firm that handles new business creation and startup support for companies, we conducted a corporate PBL program that practices everything from problem discovery to product development using AI.

Program Overview

Program Name

Boost with Generative AI! High School Students' Serious Free Research

Implementation Period

Total of 7 days

Target Audience

Students enrolled in HR High School

Supervision and Guest Judges

Senior Manager, Major Consulting Firm

Curriculum Content

DAY 1-3

Learned the basics of generative AI and prompt design. Extracted over 50 discussion points from personal interests and discomforts, and delved deeper into "questions."

DAY 4-6

Conducted service design using tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Developed app prototypes using HTML/CSS/JavaScript and Google Apps Script (GAS).

DAY 7

Held an achievement presentation at the collaborating company's office. Presented prototypes and delivered presentations.

Main Apps Developed by Students

CosmeClear: An AI app that analyzes cosmetic ingredients and diagnoses their compatibility with one's skin.

Insight (Problem Discovery):

The problem stemmed from personal experience: spending about 40,000 yen per month on cosmetics, only to find that products recommended on social media or by influencers didn't suit my skin at all. I discovered that the root cause of this problem was "choosing products based solely on others' subjective opinions (reviews) without having my own skin standards."

Solution Approach (AI Utilization and Specifications):

Instead of just "diagnosing and finishing" like existing skin diagnostic apps, this app supports objective choices based on "understanding skin type x scientific basis of ingredients." Skin Diagnosis Function: Features a unique skin diagnosis function that can be easily performed based on the skin's condition after washing, with AI proposing optimal products based on ingredients suitable for the user's skin type. Ingredient Explanation Function: AI gently explains the effects of ingredients like retinol and vitamin C derivatives in terms understandable to junior high school students. Skin Diary Function: Records daily skin condition. AI analyzes the diary and provides personalized advice and product recommendations, such as "Be careful, this ingredient might worsen acne for oily skin." A prototype (in HTML format) was built independently.

Outlook (Social Impact):

We envision a future where "holding up a smartphone to the drugstore shelves instantly displays in AR which ingredients suit my skin and which products are incompatible with my current serums." By enabling consumers to proactively read ingredient labels, we aim to create a society where companies that prioritize quality and sincere manufacturing are fairly evaluated, free from the influence of excessive advertising.

Goals of this Initiative

The distinguishing feature of this program is that it was not just an AI utilization lecture, but a comprehensive practice from "setting questions" to "prototype development."

Students experienced the following practical activities:

Switching to browser-based development instead of smartphone apps.

Building a unique database to improve AI accuracy.

Developing as a team through role allocation.

Development proceeded with practical feedback unobtainable in educational settings, thanks to the guidance of professionals from collaborating companies. This was also a significant feature.

Furthermore, comparative analysis using surveys was conducted before and after the program implementation.

◆ Increased Confidence in "Ability to Ask Questions"

The percentage of students who answered they were "good at thinking of good questions" increased from 40.5% to 62.1%. Notably, those who answered "very good" increased from 10.8% to 31.0%.

◆ Reduced Psychological Barrier to Challenge

89.7% of students answered that the "barrier to challenge" had "decreased or significantly decreased" by utilizing AI. Among them, those who answered "significantly decreased" increased from 18.9% to 41.4%.

◆ Increased Sense of Ownership in Social Issues

The percentage of students who answered they were "very interested in solving social issues" increased from 16.2% to 31.0%. Those who responded "want to actually do something about it" reached 86.2%.

◆ Improved Clarity on Career Paths

The percentage of students who could "imagine working in a job where companies think of new businesses" increased from 64.9% to 72.4%. Interacting with active business professionals provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of future careers.

Future Outlook

RePlayce will systematize the knowledge gained through this corporate collaborative PBL and develop it as a model for inquiry-based learning utilizing generative AI.

Moving forward, we will further strengthen collaborations with companies and local governments, and expand opportunities for students to learn while connecting with society nationwide, thereby promoting the development of "individuals who create value by utilizing AI," rather than just "individuals who use AI."

Student Comments

"My skills improved significantly through this PBL. My way of using AI became completely different before and after the PBL. I was able to create an app myself, and I clearly felt my ideas being refined through conversations with AI. Since I was working alone, I struggled with how to shape my ideas, but in the end, I was able to produce an output that I was satisfied with. Instead of relying too much on AI, I want to leverage AI to multiply my own abilities and then pursue social implementation and entrepreneurship. Above all, the fact that I "saw it through to the end" has boosted my confidence."

RePlayce Inc.

Founded in April 2024, spun off from NTT Docomo Inc.'s career exploration service for junior and senior high school students, "Hataraku Bu." In 2025, HR High School will open, and with the mission to "update the current state of education," the company is engaged in businesses to foster self-realization in children and develop human resources to support Japan's future society. "Hataraku Bu" will be rebranded as "TANQ BASE" in December 2025.

Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo CEO: Masahiro Yamamoto Business Activities: Operation of the online career exploration school for junior and senior high school students "TANQ BASE," operation of the correspondence high school support school HR High School, development of inquiry-based learning materials, dispatch of adult instructors, online school business operations, etc. Mission: "To update the current state of education." Official Website: https://replayce.co.jp - New type of correspondence support school opening in Spring 2025: https://hr-highschool.com - Online career exploration school for junior and senior high school students "TANQ BASE": https://tanqbase.com *"Hataraku Bu" was rebranded and relaunched as "TANQ BASE" from December 2025.