Friday, February 2nd, 2007
“Knowledge Community in Project-based Learning”
New GDLN AP Regional Program to Start in Western China
Schools in China are participating in a new GDLN regional program “Knowledge Community in Project-based Learning” led by the TDLC. In collaboration with the China Development Distance Learning Network (CDDLN), an inaugural videoconference was held on February 2, 2007, connecting 300 primary and junior middle school teachers in Western China with Beijing. Over the school year, teachers will receive training to conduct project-based learning sessions incorporating various information and communication technologies.
Project-based learning, as part of “Integrated Studies” in the school curriculum, has become an important feature of China’s education reform. It emphasizes higher-order thinking, encouraging students to move into inter-disciplinary studies. Introducing technology and monitoring each child’s progress, however, have proven to be a challenge for many schools, particularly in less developed areas such as the western region.
The new GDLN program seeks to assist these efforts through action learning of teachers. China’s State Council Western Region Development Leading Office (WRDO) which governs the CDDLN, and the National Curriculum and Textbook Development Center (NCCT) of China’s Ministry of Education has issued an official document to support the project. Tsinghua University’s Educational Network for Poverty Reduction will also join the program to recruit teachers from remote counties in the Western provinces.
Through videoconference sessions, teachers will be trained in the use of “Knowledge Community (KC)”, a web-based collaborative learning tool. They will return to their schools to conduct classes using their newly acquired skills from March till May, while continuing to share experiences through on-line discussions. About 6 schools from Eastern China that have prior experience using KC will be paired with 9 Western schools. Additional videoconference sessions are scheduled in March and June for further teacher training and discussions on outstanding issues. All schools will submit a written report and students will play a large role in reporting what they have learned.
At the inaugural videoconference connecting Distance Learning Centers in Beijing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Xinjiang, Yunnan as well as 12 centers within the Tsinghua University Network, representatives from China’s WRDO, NCCT, Tsinghua University and the TDLC opened the session. A keynote speech was given by Professor Liu Jian, Director of the Program Office at NCCT, introducing the new course and teacher online training. Jiping Zhang, TDLC Senior Distance Learning Specialist moderated this session and explained the implementation plan of the program, followed by a training session on using KC and facilitating project-based learning in schools by Dr.Christopher Tan, who developed the KC platform, and other teachers.
