Xiong
Xiaodong's Education Paper——
New
Idea of Theory Towards Education in the Information Era ——A
thematic speech about the Education of the Information
Era on the Oriental
International Education Forum
Just
a few years ago, the word "Internet" was still new to some people, but now they
are precisely those who are complaining about the low speed of Internet surfing.
Those who use the Internet all instinctively discover that what we are experiencing
now is not the advancement of technology, but a new way of thinking, conducting
things and living, featured by information.
We
have, over centuries, been so proud of our Four Inventions, but now, we come to
full awareness that we can no longer indulge ourselves in the self-contentment
over the past. Instead, we must go beyond our own culture to try to know the whole
world, including the aspects of politics, economy, the development of technology
and so on. We used to feel satisfied with the smooth implementation of the planned
economy, but now we know only too well that clinging to the old-fashioned management
is not the way out and to keep people living in poverty will lead us nowhere.
At present, we are fully engaged in the implementation of the market economy,
in the forthcoming entry into the WTO, in a revolution for new method of management
and, most importantly, in the notion that technological innovation will help enhance
productivity and that the revolution in economic system will bring about changes
to the relations of productivity.
Information
and technology have brought us new perceptions and values. We have stridden into
a new century in which everything in our life is to be influenced by new technology.
Education is no exception. We are challenged by the irresistible arrival of the
information age.
Student-Oriented
Development Is Our New Concept towards Education
In
the age of information, classrooms are bigger than ever. Facing the students is
not just the blackboard, but also a spectacular world of Internet with nothing
impossible. On the one hand, what keeps flushing in is the news about drugs, AIDS,
evil cult, the description of crimes and the disclosure about the corruption of
government officials; on the other hand, what is presented over the Internet is
the development of cloning, the prosperity of nanometre technology, the construction
of broadband information highway and the magnetic levitation high speed trains.
The ever-changing circumstances require sound judgment from the students to tell
the true from the false, the benevolence from the malevolence, the noble from
the evil.
What are the right
world outlook, the value and attitudes towards life? What goal and objective should
the youngster aim at? How to educate the next generation to make them capable
of carrying out the Socialist Modernization with Chinese Characteristics? Schools
undoubtedly should take up these responsibilities. Therefore, we chinese education
brings forward the Quality-based Education which includs the core is the moral
edcation and the focus is on the cultivation of creativity and practical capabilities.
Pondering
over the disadvantages of our educational system, we find that the grade-oriented
criterion in the evaluation of a student is out of step with time, but it has,
unfortunately, taken root. The highly-appreciated obedience not only deserted
many students of striking personality, stifled their creativity, but also severely
hampered the development of the educational reform.
We
now place the emphasis on the strategy of stage-skipping development which requires
the adoption of a student-oriented concept. This brand new theory embodies the
cultivation of students' learning ability, creativity and research capability.
A consensus has been reached among the Chinese educational community that the
ultimate goal of this new notion is to tap fully students' potentiality and creativity.
Bearing this new concept in
mind, we will no longer regard ourselves as "educators" who used to criticize
the students for one thing or another, nor will we put the blame on students whenever
problems arise in teaching. Instead, we shall be more than willing to know the
students' opinions, to understand their puzzles, trouble, and from students' angle,
to design courses and improve our teaching quality. We will create a better environment
to encourage a more lively and more active way of learning. We will take greater
efforts than ever to protect and encourage students' creativity. Thus, the relationship
between students and teachers will take a new form. They will be friends and partners.
During their communication, their individuality and personality will be cultivated
and will reach a culmination. With the support of all this, our education will
achieve an unprecedented success.
To
Make a Powerful Magnetic Field of Education Is a Significant Revolution
In
the world of the Internet, the campus walls of schools no longer exist, even the
boundary defining countries will become obscure. Students will not be interested
in wordy lectures. Bowing out of the stage is the education of formalism; while
coming in time is a significant revolution of education, which highly emphasizes
the coordination between schools, families and the society and will fully develop
the potentiality of comprehensive education.
All
the people, including teachers, parents and students, are living in a free society
that is tangible and visible. The society can be either orderly and vigorous or
otherwise. The key is to make a powerful magnetic field, in which forced education
will be replaced by the pursuit of effectiveness and a modern education style
based on the development of students as the value of the principle part. What
a beautiful landscape this magnetic field is to present! Though they come from
different places, children will work towards a mutual objective of the community.
This magnetic field of education will not only bring the potential of each child
into full play, but will also immensely benefit the whole community as well.
Needless
to say, this magnetic field must be a Learning-based Organization.
We
need to Set a Common Aspriation. Teachers and students need to set a common goal
and weave their dreams together. They know what they are going to create and to
pursue. It is their mutual objective that draws them close together.
We
encourage Group Study. Teachers and students will learn new knowledge and skill
together. Moreover, they will hold discussions which will enhance creativity and
improve research skills. Whoever wins the debate does not really count. The significance
lies in the positive changes in their way of thinking. The progress made by each
member combined will drive the entire group forward.
We
should Improve our Psychological and Intellectual Modes. We believe that every
child is gifted. In order to develop their talents to the full, we will not cast
our eyes only on their disadvantages. Instead, we will reflect on ourselves and
will constantly search for better solutions. We will learn to be faithful to facts,
to truth and to the law of nature, which, in other words, is to be faithful to
science.
We need to adopt Systematic
Thinking. Confronted with complicated problems, we must segment them into workable
parts and piece them together. We have to find out what is behind the problems,
what circumstances we are in, what causes the problem and how to make changes
to achieve a breakthrough.
We
call for Surpass the Self. The self-transcendence is from teachers, students and
our community. This is a limit-breaking self- improvement, which not only concern
one's morality, but also one's skills, knowledge and personality. Both teachers
and students need to realize that self-transcendence is a lofty goal that demands
full commitment to realizing it. China should stand at the forefront of the world
development. Chinese enterprises should catch up with the rest of the world and
China's education should be of the first-class in the world. The realization of
everything all comes from the cultivation of self-transcendence.
Information
and technology have broken the monopoly of the traditional mainstream culture.
The task of the education of this age is to shape a new and positive mainstream
culture. Needless to say, it is a significant revolution to form a powerful magnetic
field of education that is embodied by new concepts and new methods. The new practice
of our education demands our deep and full awareness of our objective, our task
and the characteristics of our education. We have to be equipped with advanced
theory of education. We must master the latest managerial method of education.
And more importantly, we need to search for the education that will touch the
heart of the students.
Adapt
Ourselves to the Advancement of Time in Pursuit of Life of Creativity
In
the new century, in the age of information, the best education is what will encourage
students' creativity, the most successful education is what can push students
forward.
We have learned the
knowledge in algebra that the maximum (or minimum) of a function relies on its
analytic expression. We have known that the top point of parabolas represents
the maximum (or minimum) of quadric function. What is the final maximum of a group
(or an individual)? It is not an unknown number. The maximum depends on the principles
about decision-making, in other words, it relies on its "analytic expression".
So long as we examine the "analytic expression" of a group, we may know its maximum.
To
change the maximum, the "analytic expression" must be changed. It is blind to
expect to change the maximum of the potential achievements of a group without
changing its principles, just as to expect to change the maximum of a function
without changing its analytic expression.
How
to find out the best "analytic expression" of our group and change it? Here I
want to introduce parameters that decide the maximum of a function. We must find
out what is the parameters which influce the position of the top point of a parabola.
It is useless changing the parameter, the coefficient of quadratic term, which
influces the width of the open-mouth of a parabola, while the position of the
top point not changing. Therefore, it is of extreme significance to find out the
right parameter that decides the maximum of the function.
We
should lead a more creative life by constantly changing our own analytic expressions.
We established our own principles which applied as standards to explain behaviors,
understandings, objectives and regulations. Our own analytic expressions of functions
are also not steady. If a maximum of our expression is obtained, we have to change
it to realize the new maximum. In fact, we even have produced a new opinion that
if each stage during the course of our growth is looked on as a dot on a parabola;
we need not to change the expression after we have obtained the maximum, on the
contrary, we may change it every day, so that the position of the top point changes
every day and the maximum of the function grows every day. Consequently before
we reach the top point of each parabola, the analytic expression has already changed,
and the maximum of the new function is higher.
The
rapid development of information and technology is not only influencing other
aspects of science, but also is dramatically changing our mindset. The modern
education based on the development of students as the value of the principle part
also embodys the sustainable development and always pursuing excellence of students.
A creator should firstly create himself. We were then able to conclude that concepts'
change and intelligence improvement and principle are the bases of all inventions.
In
the future, students may take full advantage of computer software and the Internet
to study important issues of society, economy, nature, math, physics and so on.
They may discuss with their peers about topics that even baffle experts. They
will study by raising questions, solving problems, collecting materials, reading
reference books and doing experiments. Needless to say, the future belongs to
these talented young people.
The
new age calls for a new concept on education. China and the whole world will see
a brighter and more promising future of her education. |
