This Is How We Cultivate Students! The Academic Week with Stanford University Concluded Successfully

At the beginning of 2019, the Faculty of Education of East China Normal University and the School of Education of Stanford University formally established a mechanism for exchange and visits between graduate students and signed an agreement on academic week exchange and cooperation. From March 25 to 29, Geoffrey Cox, vice president of School of Education, Stanford University, led 15 teachers and students to East China Normal University for the first time, and carry out the first international academic week exchange activities with teachers and students of ICI. Teachers and students of the two schools conducted in-depth discussions on six major themes: teacher education, basic education, principal training, out-of-school education, vocational education and educational technology innovation.

△Professor Geoffrey Cox, Vice President of the School of Education, Stanford University, Delivered an Opening Speach

△Professor Dai Ruihua, Deputy Director of the Faculty of Education, ECNU, Extended His Warm Welcome to the Coming Students

Professor Ke Zheng, chairman of ICI, introduced the construction and development of ICI, and explained the arrangement of the thematic activities of this academic week in detail.

△Professor Chen Shuanye and Associate Professor Xiao Sihan presided over the round table forum.

☞‍Discussion on Teacher Education

The teachers and students of the two schools fully exchange and in-depth discussion around the following issues:

(1) How to offer help for the internship of normal school students? How can teaching and research staff help to improve the quality of education?

(2) Analyzed differences between China and the United States based on the current situation of teacher education between the two countries.

(3) Based on the learning and teaching situation of China and the United States, discussed how to better carry out the reconstruction and implementation of the teaching and research system.

☞Discussion on Basic Education

How to enrich school curriculum, promote the development of students, and broaden the international vision of students?

Based on the different cultural backgrounds of China and the United States, the teachers and students of the two schools discuss the differences, advantages and disadvantages and experiences of basic education.

Combined with the teaching situation of Hongqiao Middle School, the teachers and students of the two schools have a glimpse of the current situation of basic education in Shanghai and carry out in-depth exchanges around the development and changes of classroom teaching in Shanghai. Professor Wu Gangping and Professor Chen Shuangye of ICI made supplementary shares on the internationalization of curriculum, teaching and education, while Professor Geoffrey Cox of Stanford briefly introduced the general situation of basic education in the United States.

☞ Discussion on Principal Training

From local and international perspectives, the teachers and students of the two schools discussed the advantages and disadvantages of principal training in China and the United States.

Based on the current situation of principal training, focusing on policy development and theoretical research, the teachers and students at the meeting made full exchanges on the pressure and difficulties that the principals of the two countries confronted.

The inter-school dialogue further demonstrated the significance and value of cross-cultural exchanges. Professor Dai Ruihua made a supplementary share of the training experience of Chinese principals based on national conditions, school conditions, and learning conditions.

△ Professor Dai Ruihua

☞ Discussion on Out-of-school Education

What are the differences in out-of-school education between China and the United States? What is the trend?

Based on the current situation of the vigorous development of out-of-school education, the teachers and students of the two schools discussed how to better feed the in-school education.

How to view the relationship structure between current school education and out-of-school education?

The topic of out-of-school education has aroused great concern of Stanford teachers and students. Around the above questions, the teachers and students of the two schools have launched an active discussion. Professor Zhang Wei of ICI gave a brief introduction to the two models of market-oriented and teacher-school-oriented out-of-school education in China. Mark Bray, an outstanding lecturer of the Faculty of Education, attended the seminar.

☞ Discussion on Vocational Education

Based on the different educational backgrounds of China and the United States, they discussed and shared the differences, role orientation and complementary relationship between vocational education and general education of the two countries.

Compared with the educational models of the two countries, they further discussed curriculum design, teacher selection, student employment and policy support.

Teachers and students of the two schools carried out in-depth discussions and exchanges around the above topics, and organized a visit to Shanghai Yangpu Vocational and Technical School to experience vocational education with Chinese characteristics.

☞Discussion on Educational Technology and Innovation

What is the influence of the innovation of educational technology on teachers' teaching methods and students' learning methods?

What role can educational NGO play in educational innovation?

The increasing impact of Internet technology on education is an opportunity and a challenge. What are the positive measures taken by China and the United States?

What obstacles will STEM encounter in the development trend of springing up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain in China? How to carry out curriculum design based on the national conditions of our country?

Around the above topics, teachers and students of the two schools launched a positive discussion and exchange.

The week-long academic exchange with Stanford University teachers and students came to a successful conclusion. Apart from the interaction, the students of the two universities enhanced their mutual understanding and established a profound friendship, which laid the foundation for the subsequent exchange of visits and exchanges during the academic week. ICI will always uphold the professional belief of "for the curriculum, for the students, for the future", persist in building an international academic exchange platform, and deepen the implementation of the strategy of scientific research and education. We will continue to create more opportunities for graduate students to interact face-to-face with world-renowned universities, and first-class scientific research institutes.