Editor's Note: General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasised at the National Conference on Education that the national education digitalisation initiative should be fully implemented, with efforts to expand the coverage of high-quality education resources and improve public services for lifelong learning.
The Open University of China (OUC) has thoroughly implemented the educational digitalisation strategy, actively promoted the deep integration of digital technology and education, and been committed to building a ubiquitous and accessible lifelong education system. It has carried out numerous beneficial explorations in digital empowerment for lifelong learning, achieving tangible results.
Focusing on the high-quality development and talent cultivation needs of the Open University of China (OUC), the university has been actively implementing teaching reforms and innovations by leveraging digital technology to empower a new model of practical talent cultivation. This includes the introduction of virtual simulation training, digital textbooks, and other new forms of course resources for teaching practices, effectively fostering students' innovation awareness, teamwork skills, and problem-solving abilities.
The virtual simulation experiment and training leverages modern digital technologies such as virtual reality, multimedia, and human-computer interaction to create highly simulated virtual experiment environments and objects. Students conduct experiments in these virtual settings to achieve the teaching effects required by the syllabus. Initially, the OUC's Department of Digitalisation, in collaboration with the Learning Resources Department and various academic schools, explored the integration of virtual simulation systems across disciplines such as science and engineering, education, and economics, and formed the specification instruction for the integration technology of virtual simulation experiment and training.
Virtual Simulation Cases of “Comprehensive Training (Mechatronics)”
Virtual Simulation Cases of “Construction Technology”
Virtual Simulation Cases of “Kindergarten Game Area Design”
In the field of science and engineering, the virtual simulation experiment and training systems are integrated into courses such as "Comprehensive Training (Mechatronics)" and "Construction Technology", allowing students to engage in immersive practical operations and skills training in a highly simulated mechanical simulation environment. In the field of education, the course "Comprehensive Virtual Practice in Preschool Education" integrates virtual simulation experiment and training systems, enabling students to repeatedly practice preschool education skills in the simulated real-world kindergarten scenarios, thereby enhancing their emergency response capabilities and professional qualities.
Financial Sharing Experiment Example
In the field of economics, the course "Accounting Information Systems (Undergraduate)" introduces financial sharing experiments, facilitating students to hone their accounting skills in practices.
Digital Textbook Case of “Clinical Pharmacology”
Additionally, the Department of Digitalisation, in cooperation with the Publishing Group and other departments, is advancing the integration of digital textbooks with online courses. Currently, over 20 courses, including "Clinical Pharmacology", have incorporated digital textbooks on the learning network, providing students with a richer array of educational resources.
Looking ahead, virtual simulation experiment and training is set to become a key trend in innovative talent cultivation, overcoming the constraints of time and space. Students can conduct various experiment and training projects anytime and anywhere, deepen their understanding of theoretical knowledge through practice, increase their interest in learning, and enhance the effectiveness of teaching practice.
By Department of Digitalisation