Shandan advances education through informatization

Shandan county in Zhangye, Gansu province, has invested 33.95 million yuan ($4.82 milliom) in a digitalization strategy aimed at modernizing the educational system and providing balanced, quality education for all students.

The county has established a solid digital foundation to improve teaching and learning outcomes. Infrastructure development has been key. Over 3 million yuan was allocated to upgrade the educational network to full optical fiber coverage.

Urban schools now have 10-gigabit campus links and gigabit classroom connections. Rural schools operate with gigabit campus and 100-megabit classroom networks. Wireless coverage is provided across all campuses.

Fifteen schools have been recognized as "smart education model schools" at various levels. One provincial and eight municipal-level model schools are currently under development.

To enhance teaching quality, the county has introduced high-quality external resources. These include programs from leading institutions. Partnerships with schools in other provinces help share expertise. This collaboration boosts local teaching standards.

Fifteen sets of interactive recording and broadcasting facilities have been installed. They enable resource sharing and collaborative teaching across different schools.

The county utilizes smart education platforms to connect urban and rural schools. This allows for joint lessons, remote teaching, and collaborative research between teachers.

Artificial intelligence is applied to improve teaching methods and support teacher development. It helps personalize instruction for students.

Teacher training is essential. Over 6,980 teachers have received digital training, with students and teachers having participated in 1,260 related practical activities.

The county encourages student competitions. Participation in events like the World Robot Contest has been successful, with a local school winning a national championship in 2024.

Data-driven teaching and cloud-based research are being promoted. These approaches help create tailored learning plans and promote the sharing of quality educational resources.