According to a report by Xing Wen, new classrooms equipped with cutting-edge technology are encouraging creative thinking and scientific curiosity among high-school students across the country. This trend has given rise to a new wave of educational approaches that seek to integrate technology with traditional learning methods.
One such school is the Wenxian No. 2 High School, located in Bikou town of Wenxian county, in the remote northwest region of China’s Gansu province. The school has recently built a high-tech classroom covering an area of 137 square meters, which features multimedia teaching systems, virtual reality headsets, 3D printing equipment, and other high-tech gadgets.
For 12-year-old Liao Wenting, a student at Wenxian No. 2 High School, the new classroom has been a revelation. Growing up in a remote town in Gansu province, Liao had only seen cutting-edge technology in sci-fi films. But now, she can experience it firsthand in her school. The head-mounted displays and robotics that once seemed like distant dreams are now within arms’ reach.
The classroom has been designed to provide a range of educational experiences to students, including augmented reality, laser cutting, and educational robotics. Its construction was completed in December 2022, and since then, the school has opened two elective courses: graphical programming and 3D printing. These courses have attracted 120 and 20 students, respectively, who are eager to explore the possibilities of technology in education.
The use of technology in education is not new, but the integration of cutting-edge technology into classrooms is a relatively recent phenomenon. These new classrooms are part of a broader trend in education that seeks to create a more engaging and interactive learning environment for students. By using technology to enhance traditional learning methods, educators hope to spark students’ interest in the sciences and encourage creative thinking.
In China, the government has been investing heavily in education, and the construction of high-tech classrooms is part of this broader initiative. The government hopes that by providing students with access to cutting-edge technology, they will be better equipped to compete in a global economy. This investment in education is not only benefiting students but is also helping to create a more skilled and innovative workforce.
the new high-tech classrooms in schools like Wenxian No. 2 High School are transforming the way students learn and think about science and technology. By creating an immersive and interactive learning environment, educators hope to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. With continued investment in education and technology, the future looks bright for students across the country.
The first high-tech-empowered classroom in Gansu has been donated to Wenxian No. 2 High School by the All-China Journalists Association and tech giant Tencent. The facility will offer students an immersive and interactive learning environment that allows for a more hands-on experience with high-tech equipment.
In addition to the classroom itself, Tencent will offer free training services to the school’s information technology teachers and organize regular scientific and technological competitions to motivate and inspire young people to explore the field of technology continuously. This support from Tencent will help to ensure that the students receive the best possible education in this field.
According to information technology teacher Ran Lingli, the new classroom will provide students with the opportunity to explore their creativity and turn their ideas into reality. In the past, the focus had been on teaching students how to use software such as Word and Excel. However, the new high-tech classroom will encourage students to be more imaginative, and with access to resources like the 3D printer, they can bring their ideas to life.
The high-tech classroom will also benefit the school’s information technology teachers, who will receive free training services from Tencent. This training will enable the teachers to stay up to date with the latest technology and teaching methods, which they can then pass on to their students.
Moreover, Tencent will organize regular scientific and technological competitions to motivate and inspire the students. These competitions will provide students with the opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity, and may even open doors to future career opportunities.
The high-tech-empowered classroom donated by the All-China Journalists Association and Tencent is an excellent example of the private sector working with educational institutions to provide students with the best possible learning experience. With access to cutting-edge technology and the support of Tencent, students at Wenxian No. 2 High School are well-positioned to become the next generation of technology leaders.
Ma Feiya, a 12-year-old student at Wenxian No. 2 High School, recently had the opportunity to use the 3D printer in the high-tech-empowered classroom to create a pencil case with intricate designs. She was thrilled to see her model come to life and is eager to continue exploring the possibilities of this field in the classroom. Ma’s experience highlights the impact that the high-tech classroom is having on students’ interest in science and technology.
For Xu Wei, the president of Wenxian No. 2 High School, the improved hardware facilities in the classroom and the free online educational resources provided by Tencent are a timely boost for the school’s development. Xu has been working in the county’s education sector for the past 23 years and has successively been the president of three schools in Wenxian. He believes that improved science and technology education can facilitate further development of the school.
As an alumnus of Wenxian No. 2 High School, Xu has a special emotional bond with the school. He is determined to narrow the gap in education development between urban and rural areas. The advanced facilities in the high-tech-empowered classroom can spark students’ interest in science and technology, and the available educational resources provided by Tencent will enable both students and teachers to keep improving themselves.
Xu also plans to share the benefits of the high-tech-empowered classroom with nearby schools that are interested in science and technology. This will allow more students to experience the benefits of the latest technology and help to narrow the education development gap between urban and rural areas.
The experience of Ma Feiya and the dedication of Xu Wei demonstrate the positive impact that this initiative is having on the school and the wider community.
The construction of the “future classroom” is an important step towards addressing the uneven distribution of education resources between urban and rural areas, says Zhang Yeliang, deputy county head of Wenxian. Zhang previously worked with the All-China Journalists Association, which has been supporting Wenxian county since 1998 in its poverty alleviation efforts. In 2021, Zhang was dispatched by the association to aid the county’s development.
Over the past 25 years, the association has been focusing on improving education in Wenxian. According to Zhang, the association has initiated 11 projects to enhance access to quality education in the area over the past two years alone, covering 15 kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools across the county.
Zhang discovered that many schools in the county had not upgraded their teaching equipment due to financial limitations. For instance, local schools often have outdated computers with slower processing speeds than those found in urban schools. Additionally, local students’ awareness of utilizing modern technologies for the improvement of their academic performance is relatively lower than their urban counterparts.
“We’re making continuous efforts to bridge the digital divide between local teachers and students and their counterparts in more well-developed cities in East China,” says Zhang. He explains that the children in Wenxian have limited exposure to the outside world since they live deep in the mountains. Thus, Zhang hopes that advancements in education can transform their lives. This is why they decided to collaborate with Tencent to build the high-tech-empowered classroom.
Zhang believes that the high-tech-empowered classroom will be a crucial tool in encouraging local students’ interest in science and technology, and it will help to bridge the gap between urban and rural education development. Furthermore, he emphasizes that the classroom will be open to students from nearby schools who are interested in science and technology.
The collaboration with Tencent will enable the school to offer free training services to its information technology teachers, as well as organize regular scientific and technological competitions to motivate students and inspire continuous exploration in the field of technology. For Xu Wei, the president of Wenxian No 2 High School, the improved hardware facilities in the classroom and the free online educational resources provided by Tencent are a timely boost for the school’s development.
Tencent’s “Future Classroom” project, which was launched two years ago, aims to provide rural schools in China with free access to online educational resources and upgrade their hardware facilities. According to Zheng Zhong, the director of Tencent Minors Guidance Center, it is an essential part of Tencent’s innovative minors guidance system. Currently, 36 such “classrooms” have been constructed and put into use across the country in cities such as Enshi in Hubei province, Ya’an in Sichuan province, and Shaoguan in Guangdong province. These classrooms have provided access to technology to over 169,800 students, with 5,623 students participating in various programming competitions.
The project has had a significant impact on the lives of rural students such as Yu Jinghui, a 12-year-old student from Ruyuan Yao autonomous county in Shaoguan. After a classroom equipped with computers loaded with programming software, 3D printers, circuit boards, and chips was built in his school, Yu began learning programming. Four months later, during his summer holidays, he coded a game called “Girl’s Smart Wardrobe.” The game helps users choose a desired destination or a specific occasion, after which the wardrobe offers clothes for the girl in the game to wear. The project allowed him to win the first prize in a provincial network originality competition last year.
According to Yu, coding has helped him realize his dreams in the virtual world, bringing him a strong sense of achievement, honing his logical thinking, and enhancing his hands-on abilities. To connect project beneficiaries like Yu, Tencent has launched a WeChat mini-program as an online platform for teachers and students to share advancements they have made in learning science and technology-related subjects. They can also discuss and brainstorm solutions to problems they might encounter. The platform has attracted nearly 40,000 users to date.
Zhang Yeliang, the deputy county head of Wenxian, notes that the construction of the “future classroom” is an effort to address the unequal distribution of education resources between urban and rural areas. Many schools in Wenxian and other parts of the country haven’t upgraded their teaching equipment due to limited finances, resulting in old computers with outdated hardware components and slower processing speeds. Additionally, local students’ awareness of utilizing modern technologies for the improvement of their academic performance is relatively lower than their urban counterparts.
Zhang, who previously worked with the All-China Journalists Association, has been involved in the area’s poverty alleviation efforts. He found that advancements in education could transform the lives of children in rural areas, and initiatives such as the “future classroom” project could bridge the digital divide between local teachers and students and their counterparts in more well-developed cities in East China.
Xu Wei, president of Wenxian No 2 High School, believes that an improved science and technology education can facilitate further development of the school. The improved hardware facilities in the classroom and the free online educational resources provided by Tencent are a timely boost for the school’s development. He is determined to narrow the gap between urban and rural education by opening the classroom to students from nearby schools interested in science and technology.
In conclusion, Tencent’s “Future Classroom” project has been instrumental in providing rural students with access to technology and online educational resources. Students like Yu Jinghui have benefited from the project, which has allowed them to realize their dreams and enhance their logical thinking and hands-on abilities. The project’s WeChat mini-program has also enabled students and teachers to share advancements they’ve made in learning science and technology-related subjects and discuss solutions to problems they might encounter. The project is an essential step in bridging the digital divide between rural and urban education in China.