To further strengthen the skillset and quality of teachers in preparation for a key evaluation of universities in Beijing, the Open University of China (OUC) organised the 2nd OUC Teaching Skills Competition on 10 May 2023.
The OUC invited Zhang Lei, researcher from the Beijing Institute of Technology, and Cao Yanmei, associate professor from Beijing Jiaotong University, to provide training sessions to teachers on design, planning and writing skills. Gu Xiaohua, director of Academic Affairs Department at the OUC, presided over the event. The stated aim was to judge the "quality of undergraduate teaching plans”.
Zhang Lei and Cao Yanmei were both awarded the 2022 Beijing "Quality Undergraduate Teaching Plan". After receiving the awards, they shared their plans for two courses: "Principles and Application of Technology for New Energy Vehicles" and "Structural Mechanics". The teachers discussed course content, the ideas behind the design, and concerns that should be addressed when putting together an effective teaching plan.
Zhang Lei said an effective plan should be designed with the pre-, during and post- class contexts in mind. He emphasized that all teaching plans must feature clear objectives while appropriate teaching methods need to consider the learning capabilities of students, as well as their interests, habits and academic background. He said the significance of each class should be illustrated, the teaching process adjusted accordingly, and any possible difficulties and challenges considered.
Cao emphasized the importance of innovation when writing teaching plans. She said a good teaching plan needs to reflect on how to achieve innovation in teaching philosophy as well as the mode, strategy, methods and political and ideological ideas embedded within the course. She said political ideology should be integrated into the curriculum through the values of empathy, resonance and unity.
The participating teachers interacted with the two experts on issues such as teaching design and the distribution of awards. Gu Xiaohua said we should sharpen our fundamental teaching skills and improve our teaching quality. The participating teachers said the training was rich in practical content and they learned a lot from it.
By OUC Academic Affairs Department