Source: China Education Daily
Education moving towards universal teaching instruments under the new global situation
The 2015 Davos Forum Annual Meeting focused on the theme of "New Global Situation" and evaluated and discussed the short-term and long-term impacts of major trends. On the Davos Forum blog, education professionals also expressed their views on the development of education under the current situation. This issue of the International Education Edition has summarized some of the viewpoints for readers' reference.
The 45th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting with the theme of "New Global Situation" was held in the Swiss town of Davos from January 21st to 24th. More than 300 political leaders from over 70 countries and over 2500 leaders from various sectors from 140 countries attended the conference and discussed global issues such as political situation, economy, climate, and society. Where will education go in the new global situation? In the forum blog, educators have also expressed their views on the impact and development trends of globalization, networking, and technology on future education.
Nicholas Dirkos, President of the University of California, Berkeley:
How can universities adapt to economic globalization?
In recent years, the impact of economic globalization on various fields has reached an unprecedented level. Driven by economic globalization, universities have also begun to shift their thinking, and we are seeing more and more cross-border education and research. For example, American universities have recruited a large number of international students, offered more international courses, and supported cross-border learning and research projects.
However, in the context of economic globalization, there is still no consensus among universities on how to educate students, how to interact with each other, and how to cooperate with governments and businesses. Moreover, there have been no appropriate adjustments made to educational content and methods in response to the development of economic globalization.
Therefore, the University of California is preparing to build a Berkeley Global Campus near the campus. International universities and high-tech enterprises will research and work together here. This will also provide courses for domestic and foreign students to jointly solve global issues related to ethnicity, economy, culture, international relations, and more.
Future universities must learn to solve cross-border and interdisciplinary problems. At the same time, only cross disciplinary and cross regional learning, research, information sharing, and mutual cooperation between universities can make significant breakthroughs in international issues.
Natalia Guzkova, lecturer in developmental psychology at the Open University of the UK:
Can e-books promote children's learning?
Nowadays, e-books are becoming increasingly popular. Interactive e-books and educational software display entertaining and educational functions, and some can even replace parents in telling stories to their children.
According to data from the UK Communications Authority, 39% of children aged 3 to 4 use tablets at home. Moreover, many parents are convinced that educational software on tablets can help their children learn. In a survey of 457 parents, 96% of them believe that their children can learn knowledge from educational software.
It should be noted that educational software with scene reproduction function can enhance children's reading experience, but at the same time, it also affects children's imagination; Various forms of e-books can promote children's enthusiasm for reading, but they may also affect their concentration. A nationwide reading survey in the UK shows that alternating between e-books and paper books is more helpful for children's learning and vocabulary acquisition.
Marcos Nikias, President of Southern California State University:
What will the future university look like?
One of the most hotly discussed topics in higher education is the role and future of online education. Is the rise of online education a threat or an opportunity for traditional universities?
Online education provides greater flexibility, and people do not have to make difficult career or life sacrifices for learning. On the computer at home, practicing accountants can learn complex knowledge about corporate taxation; Occupational therapists can learn how to modify rooms; Middle school teachers can learn differentiated courses to help students fully unleash their potential. The variety of online courses is increasing and the content is becoming more refined, which brings more opportunities for people's careers.
However, will the booming development of online education impact traditional physical universities? I don't think so. Traditional universities are the longest standing social institutions, unique and vibrant places, locations of intellectual capital and physical infrastructure, platforms for various discoveries and innovations, and thus driving human progress.
Nicola Yeland, Professor of Education at the University of Victoria in Australia:
Do toys really have educational value?
Children love games, and games are often considered an effective way for children to learn. With the development of technology, toys that accompany children have more educational functions, such as intellectual development, ability development, or memory development. Therefore, more and more parents are buying educational toys for their children, allowing them to learn while playing.
However, it is worth noting that parents cannot simply assume that their children will be able to learn independently while playing. The companionship of adults, especially teachers or parents, is very important. The interaction between parents and children in games not only trains their communication skills in specific environments, but also demonstrates their thinking and language skills, promotes their language use, and enhances their understanding of language.
Parents should consciously create some learning situations when playing games with their children. Parents can ask their children some questions appropriately, such as what color it is, what it is doing, can you perform for me, can you think of other ways, and so on. Interactions like this not only promote children's understanding of things, but also provide a specific environment for them to think or explore.
The educational function of toys depends more on the way they are played. Therefore, while purchasing toys, parents should also learn how to create an open and exploratory environment for their children, and learn how to guide them in learning through play.
