On September 26, 2012, the Community Education “i-Sing” Laboratory Construction Workshop was held in the OUC classroom building for distance education. Present at the workshop were Vice Secretary Zhang Shaogang of the OUC Party Committee, Vice Secretary Zeng Liyan of the Shenyang Community University (Shenyang RTVU)

Party Committee, and related staff of the two universities.

Zhang Shaogang noted that the Community Education “i-Sing” Laboratory will focus on the family unit, promote the concept of family and foster a home-like intimacy. The design of the website platform will highlight special features such as music and singing. The teaching model must integrate online and offline learning; besides providing excellent online teaching interaction, the laboratory must also support offline teaching activities in each tutorial center. A publicity campaign should be effectively conducted to gather the enthusiastic support of government departments and encourage the input of communities and other parties in creating an innovative operating model for the project.

Shenyang Community University staff members presented a report on the planning and progress of the construction of the “i-Sing” Laboratory. The teaching philosophy for the laboratory is described as “experience – interaction – learning – assessment”. The laboratory will make use of Shenyang RTVU's existing resources, such as the programme to have 100 professors teach communities, the “menu-style” curriculum geared to residents and the “University for Seniors” video courses currently under construction. The OUC will also share some of its teaching resources. Construction of the website platform for the project is currently under way.

Attendees of the workshop discussed the construction of “i-Sing” Laboratory and offered suggestions such as creating a virtual website host, developing new software with functions to record and upload songs, using real-name registration to prepare for future certification of community education “i-Sing” learning outcomes and credit transfer, introducing a “music coin” incentive mechanism for members, and adding content related to music and health.

The Ministry of Eduation Community Education Research Training Center (the OUC) launched the “i-Experiment” programme in Chengdu on April 23-24, 2012, which includes i-Calligraphy, i-Financial Management, i-Creative Design, and so on. The training center and Shenyang Community University are in charge of the 1st National Community Education Scrap Re-Use DIY Contest (already launched) and the “i-Sing” Laboratory, respectively.

By Song Wenyi, Ministry of Education Community Education Research Training Center