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Teacher training in China and a practical model: e‐Training Community (eTC)

Hanbing Yan (Distance Education College, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China)

Campus-Wide Information Systems

ISSN: 1065-0741

Article publication date: 27 March 2009

1504

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to introduce the overall situation of online teacher training in China, and then to analyze some typical state level e‐training projects; second, to describe the problems that most teacher training agencies (TTAs) have. Also, this article presents the background, process and achievement of a practical model – e‐Training Community (eTC) – which integrates the advantages of professional organizations and TTAs.

Design/methodology/approach

This article reviews literature related to Ministry of Education (MOE) policies and general reviews or reports about China's teacher e‐training. The case study approach is applied in this study. The e‐Training Community is a particular cooperative model developed by the Distance Education College of East China Normal University. A survey and interview are applied to gain deep understanding of this model.

Findings

E‐learning is an effective way for teacher education in China to meet the challenge of massive and routine training. The recent projects initiated by MOE show that the trend of e‐training is on the right track. However, China's teacher e‐training still has a long way to go because most TTAs still do not have the ability to implement e‐training by themselves. The eTC model presented in this article shows its strength in solving this problem.

Practical implications

The development of distance education needs professional guidance. How to integrate professional strength of universities and practical strength of local agencies is key to improving the overall quality of teacher e‐training.

Originality/value

This article introduces and analyzes the eTC model, which is a creative model in the field of distance education in China. This model is a good example for professional organizations to push the e‐learning practice.

Keywords

Citation

Yan, H. (2009), "Teacher training in China and a practical model: e‐Training Community (eTC)", Campus-Wide Information Systems, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 114-121. https://doi.org/10.1108/10650740910946837

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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