CHEN Xiangming

1
Chinas Basic Education Curriculum Reform
Teacher Development
CHEN Xiangming Peking University
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Contents

• 1. Background
• 2. Curriculum Reform
• 3. Teacher development

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1. Background
Map of China
4
Basic Statistics

• Geographic Area 9.6 million sq km
• Population 1.3 billion
• Administration 23 provinces, 5 autonomous
  regions, 4 municipalities, 2 special
  administrative regions 34 units in total
• No. of students in basic education 200 million
• No. of teachers in basic education 10 million
• No. of universities over 3000
• No. of university students 30 million
• Gross enrolment rate for college 23

5
19961998?
National Survey

• Sample
• 9 provinces cities
• 16,000 students
• 2,000 principals, teachers members of National
  Political Consultation Committee and Committees
  of Education, Science,Culture Health
• Methods
• questionnaires, interviews

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Objectives Achieved Views of head teachers
teachers
7
Objectives reflected in textbooksViews of
teachers principals()
8
Topics frequently discussed among teachers
9
Students learning passively Views of principals
teachers
10
60 of urban primary and rural secondary
schools, and 75 of urban middle schools always
publicize student test scores.
Publicizing test scores ranking students
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70 students felt nervous, afraid or
disgusted about publicizing scores and ranking.
Student Feelings for publicizing test scores
ranking
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Example of difficulty
?

• A Math test item for 6th graders

Some tools are expected to be produced in 7
days. After 2 days, 60 more tools are added. In
order to finish the task in 7 days, the work
efficiency has to increase by 15. The question
is how many were originally expected to produce
each day?
Answer
60 ? ? 5 ? ( 1 15 ) -( 7-2 )?
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?
Example of complexity
A Chinese language test item for 9th graders

• 1. Choose the same sequence as that in the
  original text of Homeland
• (1)I think
• (2)There is no road
• (3)Spreads before my eyes green sands by the sea
• (4)I am in the dark
• (5)The road comes into being after many walkings
• (6)This is like the road
• (7)Hope could exist or non-exist
• (8)Hanging from the dark blue sky a golden full
  moon
• A.(1)(7)(6)(2)(5)(4)(8)(3)
• B.(1)(6)(7)(5)(2)(4)(8)(3)
• C.(4)(3)(8)(1)(6)(7)(5)(2)
• D.(4)(3)(8)(1)(7)(6)(2)(5)

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Example of deviance
?
A political exam item for 9th graders

• ??Filling the blanks
• On May 1st, 1999,China hosted a world garden arts
  exhibition in Kuming city. The number of
  countries international organizations which
  attended this event is .
• On October 1st, 1999,Beijing held a grand parade
  to celebrate the 50 anniversaries of PRC.
  People participated in this event.

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Major Findings

• School education attaches too much importance to
  basic knowledge and skills, neglecting moral
  values, social skills, and creativity
• Curriculum contents are too much, too difficult,
  too obsolete, and divorced from student lives.

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• Boring learning materials methods
• Lacking effective guidance for students to learn
  how to learn lack of self-study time
• Exams became the only means to assess student
  learning
• Student passive learning experiences in school

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Student Development in General

• Advantages
• Basic knowledge
• Basic skills
• Capacity for exams
• Hard working

Weaknesses
Practical skills
Creativity
Self confidence
Moral values
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• 2. Curriculum Reform

Curriculum Reform
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Design
National survey
International comparison
General Outline
Bidding
Research teams
Curriculum standards
Cooperation
Comprehensive projects

• Basic research
• International trends
• Current situation
• Need analysis
• Discipline development
• Student characteristics

Continuous dialogue cooperation between
curriculum experts and project teams members
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Decision
Opinion pool
Education
Enterprise
Academia
2001 42 National experiment sites(0.5-1)
Overall Planning
2002 Provincial experiment sites(10-15)
2003 Expand the score(30)
2004-2005 All starting grades 2004-2007 high
school reform
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Implementation
Mobilization Campaign
Org
Administrators, experts, parents, principals,
teachers, community
Integration of general subject training
Train
Integration of lecturing PA
Outline, textbooks, school-based curriculum
Exp.
Teaching process, evaluation,action research
22
Map of experiment sites in 2001
23
Reform Objectives

1. Function of curriculum
2. Structure of curriculum
3. Contents of curriculum
4. Teaching/learning methods
5. Evaluation
6. Management of curriculum

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Objective 1

• Function of Curriculum
• Change from too much knowledge transmission to
  helping students become active learners, to learn
  how to learn, and to acquire good moral values.

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Examples of integrating three objectives
in curriculum standards

• To collect goods coupons from the past and adds
  in todays newspapers, to get a sense of the
  transition from a command economy to a market
  economy. (History)
• To calculate the number of garbage bags discarded
  by each family each day, so as to experience data
  collection, analysis and presentation, as well as
  understanding the negative impact of plastic
  garbage to human environment.(Math)

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Objective 2
Curriculum Structure Change the
discipline-based curriculum structure with too
many separate subjects, to a more balanced,
integrated selective structure, which meets the
needs of different students from different
regions.
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Course Arrangement

• Integrated courses for primary schools
• Integrated and separate disciplinary courses for
  middle schools
• Separate disciplinary courses for high schools
• Strengthening integrated practical activity
  learning at all levels

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Comparison of Courses
Old Old New New New New
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 1 Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 2
Moral Ed. Moral Ed. Moral Ed. Life Moral Ed. Life Moral Ed. Life Moral Ed. Life
Nature Nature Moral Ed. Life Moral Ed. Life Moral Ed. Life Moral Ed. Life
Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese
Math Math Math Math Math Math
Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training
Music Music Arts Music Arts Music
Fine arts Fine arts Arts Fine arts Arts Fine arts
Activities, local courses Activities, local courses Local school-based courses Local school-based courses Local school-based courses Local school-based courses
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Old Old Old Old New New New New New New New New
3 4 5 6 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6
Morality Morality Morality Morality Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies
Social Studies Social Studies Social Studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies Moral social studies
Nature Nature Nature Nature Science Science Science Science Science Science Science Science
Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese
Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math
Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training Physical training
Music Music Music Music Arts Music Arts Music Arts Music Arts Music
Fine arts Fine arts Fine arts Fine arts Arts Fine arts Arts Fine arts Arts Fine arts Arts Fine arts
Labor Labor Labor Labor Integrated practice Integrated practice Integrated practice Integrated practice Integrated practice Integrated practice Integrated practice Integrated practice
Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language
Activities, local courses Activities, local courses Activities, local courses Activities, local courses Local school-based courses (16-20) Local school-based courses (16-20) Local school-based courses (16-20) Local school-based courses (16-20) Local school-based courses (16-20) Local school-based courses (16-20) Local school-based courses (16-20) Local school-based courses (16-20)
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Old Old Old New New New New New New New New New
7 8 9 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 9 9
Politics ideology Politics ideology Politics ideology Ideology morality Ideology morality Ideology morality Ideology morality Ideology morality Ideology morality Ideology morality Ideology morality Ideology morality
Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese
Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math Math
Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language Foreign Language
History History History Hist. soci. Hist. soci. Hist. Hist. soci. Hist. soci. Hist. Hist. soci. Hist. soci. Hist.
Geography Geography Hist. soci. Hist. soci. Geo. Hist. soci. Hist. soci. Geo. Hist. soci. Hist. soci.
Biology Biology Science Science Biol. Science Science Biol. Science Science
Physics Physics Science Science Science Science Phy. Science Science Phy.
Chemistry Science Science Science Science Science Science Che.
Physical training Physical training Physical training PT health PT health PT health PT health PT health PT health PT health PT health PT health
Music Music Music Arts Music Music Arts Music Music Arts Music Music
Fine arts Fine arts Fine arts Arts FA FA Arts FA FA Arts FA FA
Labor skills Labor skills Labor skills Integ. practice Integ. practice Integ. practice Integ. pract. Integ. pract. Integ. pract. Integ. pract. Integ. pract. Integ. pract.
Activities local courses Activities local courses Activities local courses Local school based courses Local school based courses Local school based courses Local school based courses Local school based courses Local school based courses Local school based courses Local school based courses Local school based courses
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Integrated Practical Activities

• Informational technology
• Inquiry learning
• Community service social practice
• Manual labour technology education
• From the 3rd grade on

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Objective 3

• Curriculum Contents
• Reduce difficulty level complexity, and delete
  obsolete deviant parts
• Strengthen links with student lives interests,
  and latest developments in society, science
  technology
• Select the most basic knowledge skills

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Objective 4

• Learning Style
• Change from passive learning to active inquiry
• Train students capacity for information
  processing, acquiring new knowledge,
  problem-solving, and communication and cooperation

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????????? A Lost Learner with answers to
questions he doesnt know
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Objective 5

• Evaluation
• Change function of evaluation from selection
  ranking only to promoting developments of
  students and teachers
• Application of multiple intelligences

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Objective 6

• Curriculum Management
• Decentralize curriculum management to a 3-level
  management with state, province/city and school
• Purpose to increase curriculums relevance to
  locality, schools and students

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????????????
Local
National
School
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Implications of 3-level management

• Conceptually
• Curriculum is established by joint forces
  with state, locality, school, teachers and
  students

• Managerially
• More selection(integrate or separate)
• More flexible hours from fixed hours to a
  range of hours
• More diversity and choices for textbooks

• Space/time
• 15-20 of the time is in the hands of locality
  school

41
Reform for Senior High School Curriculum
Structure
8 Fields of Study
Subjects
Modules
42
Fiel. Sub. Mod.
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Functions of Fields of Study

• Reflect integration of knowledge, and prevent
  isolation of subject study
• Reflect requirements for the development of the
  whole person
• Require students to take courses in all fields of
  study in each school year

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About Subjects

• Each field of study is composed of a certain
  number of subjects
• General Technology, ICT and Arts are new subjects
• Arts are offered together with music and fine
  arts for schools to choose from
• Schools with sufficient conditions are encouraged
  to offer second foreign languages

45
About Modules

• Each subject is composed of a number of modules
• Each module has its own objectives, integrating
  student experiences and societal development on
  the basis of certain academic contents
• Modules are independent of each other as well as
  reflecting internal logical relations in each
  discipline

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Chinese
?? 1
?? 5
?? 4
?? 3
?? 2
Compul.
?????
? ????
?????
??????
???????
Elective
47
Math

• ??1?????????????I
• ??2??????????????
• ??3?????? ??
• ??4??????II????????????
• ??5?????????

Compulsory
?? 4
?? 5
?? 2
?? 3
?? 1
??2
??1
??3
??4
Electives
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Guidance for Student Learning

• Teaching class discipline issues, learning
  management, evaluation
• Administrative class sense of belonging,
  collectiveness, student activities, CPA
• Provide study consultation tutor system

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• Challenges
• Cultural concernsWestern cultural imperialism?
  
• Reformers replies
• Chinas weaknesses are the strengths of the West
• Chinas advantages are the weaknesses of the West
• From a developmental point of view, we are facing
  bigger challenges

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Ancient Chinese tradition

• Confucius (551-479 B.C.) in Eastern Zhou dynasty
• Reflection while studying
• ???,????

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Educational Concerns

• Relationship between basic knowledge/skills and
  problem-solving strategies
• Relationship between tenacity to learn and
  interest in learning
• Solution to promote learning for understanding

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Inside and outside of the testing place
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Practical Concerns

• Regional differences with different economic
  developments
• Rural and urban divide
• Ethnic difference 55 ethnic minorities
• Physical constraints large classes not enough
  teachers, insufficient quality of teachers lack
  of facilities

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3. Teacher Development

• Old qualification requirements of teachers
• 1) normal school graduation for primary school
  teachers
• 2) associate degree for junior middle school
• 3) bachelor degree for senior high school

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• Upgrade qualification three levels to two levels
  of teacher education institutions
• Teacher ranks senior, 1st, 2nd special
  backbone leading person in subject matter
• Develop standards for teacher qualifications, TE
  curriculum qualifications, TE institution
  qualifications
• Establish teacher qualification accreditation
  system
• Open teachers job market to society

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• Disparity of qualification rate in different
  regions
• Daike (temporary) teachers (community hired) in
  poor rural areas
• Township-based to County-based budget for 9-year
  compulsory education
• Transfer of funds from central and provincial
  governments
• Special post program 59,000 in 2 years
• International support

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Pre-service TE

• 7 MOE governed normal universities, with normal
  colleges in province and cities
• Free-charge normal student program
• New training models 31, 41, 42 etc.
• Offer new majors
• Update old 3 courses
• Increase internship time, on-post internship

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In-Service TT

• 240 hours every 5 years for teacher continuing
  education
• Gardner Project
• National Training Program
• Master degree of teacher education program for
  rural schools
• Intensive concentrated training domestic and
  abroad

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• School-based training1000 county centers,
  district training schools, subject groups, action
  research, apprenticeship
• Long distance training
• U-S collaboration PDS
• Combining teaching research with education
  research, in-service training with pre-service
  education

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Issues and Challenges

• Small-scale participatory methods vs. large
  groups of trainees
• Low training capacity
• Normal universities lagging behind
• Not easy to transfer, deskilled
• Lack of resources
• Regional disparity in overall education
  development

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THANK YOU Questions Are Welcome