Editor’s Note

Guidelines of Curriculum Reform for Basic Education (Trial) issued in 2001 marks the beginning of curriculum reform of Chinese basic education in the 21^st century. To commemorate this important historical event, Global Education established a special column entitled “The Two Decades of Curriculum Reform”. In order to better meet the strategic needs of our nation, and provide better educational impetus for realizing national rejuvenation and promoting the development of each student. Experts comprehensively sorted out and explored the theoretical progress, practical experience and future challenges of China’s basic education curriculum reform in the past two decades. They also conducted discussion on the topics of curriculum policy, curriculum standards, curriculum theory, teaching material research, teaching design, school-based research, school-based curriculum development, comprehensive practical activity curriculum, cases of school curriculum development, etc.

The Goal of Academic Attainment and Classroom Transformation: The Cognitive Psychology Foundation of “New Curriculum Reform”

Prof. Zhong Qiquan

Emeritus Director of ICI

Abstract: Once the nutrition of contemporary learning science, especially cognitive psychology, is injected into the body of educational practice, it will produce great energy. Since the new curriculum reform in 2001， the discourse system in the field of education in China has changed quietly. Core competencies, contextual learning, lesson study, deep learning, reflective teaching and learning community have become common terms. This article focuses on the related topics of classroom transformation, such as real academic attainment, inquiry classroom, and growing teacher. It specifically examines what kind of critical weapon the context of cognitive psychology provides for our innovative teachers and how it truly affects the practice of curriculum reform in China.

Keywords: new curriculum reform; cognitive psychology; the goal of academic attainment; teaching paradigm; teacher image