Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai

Students from Xiangzhou District in Zhuhai, Guangdong province have benefited from the application of internet-based teaching and will soon experience virtual reality (VR) technology in the classroom.

The latest cutting-edge technology was demonstrated at a conference on education achievements held by the Education Bureau of Xiangzhou District at Xiangzhou's center of education sciences on Dec 9.

A conference aimed to demonstrate Xiangzhou's education achievements is held by the Education Bureau of Xiangzhou District at Xiangzhou's center of education sciences on Dec 9. [Photo / zhxz.gov.cn]

Principals and vice-principals of middle and primary schools, education experts and delegates from cities in Guangdong were among the attendees. 

More than 800 teachers and representatives got an inside look at innovative education applications at Xiangzhou's Cuiwei Primary School, Zhenxian Primary School and Guangsheng Elementary School.

Live demonstrations were also screened at schools in Yangchun city in Guangdong and Yancheng city in Jiangsu.

Teachers experience innovative lesson with VR technology. [Photo / zh.southcn.com]

According to Li Yong, director of Xiangzhou's education equipment and information center, since the "smart school" concept was put forward last December, Xiangzhou has provided remote teaching and research, micro-lessons, online classes, and an online smart assignment analysis system. 

Schools in Xiangzhou have expressed a desire to integrate 3D and VR technology into classroom lessons.

Interactive class taught remotely is one thing that Xiangzhou has explored to make its education provision more innovative.  

"Students in different classes can have lessons together on synchronized video projection. Teachers are also able to interact with students from other classes," said Liu Qiang, principal of Zhenxian Primary School.

Liu spoke highly of the remote teaching method because it breaks limitations of space and subjects, arousing great interest among students.

Xiangzhou has been an education pioneer using internet technology. [Photo / Zhuhai Daily]

The method has also been applied to education resources sharing with schools in underdeveloped areas. The first case study took place between Xiangzhou's Cuiwei Primary School and Chuncheng Primary School in Guangdong's Yangchun city in October.

"It is our country's only place carrying out such a well-round and in-depth integration of education and internet," said Chen Xinghuo, director of Mirco-lesson Research Center of the Beijing Normal University.

Chen Hui, deputy director of the Education Bureau of Xiangzhou District acknowledged the achievements and urged greater recognition in internet technology-utilized education. He also stressed on developing professional staff capable of teaching and R&D.

There will be 15 fully-fledged "smart schools" in Xiangzhou next year, according to Chen.