"Future classroom" opens the window of science and technology (I am in popular science ⑦)

　　Our reporter Liu Yao

　　In the classroom of Wenxian No. 2 Middle School, Longnan City, Gansu Province, a class of "Listening to Sounds and Detecting Cases" is in progress.

More than 30 first-year junior high school students sat around the round table. Under the guidance of the teacher, they compared the sound spectrum to find out the "telecom fraudster" hidden behind the simulation.

　　Different from ordinary classrooms, the nearly 140-square-meter classroom is full of technological elements, from touch screens used by teachers to teaching to 3D printing and virtual reality equipment.

In this "future classroom", hundreds of "mountain children" have learned scientific and technological knowledge, traveled in the world of science, and sowed the seeds of their dreams.

　　Shanliwa fell in love with 3D printing

　　Wen County is located in the Qinba Mountains, at the junction of Gansu, Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces.

It used to be a concentrated contiguous destitute county in the Qinba Mountains and a deeply impoverished county in Gansu Province. The backward teaching conditions could hardly support the learning needs of the children.

In August last year, the China Journalists Association and Tencent donated the "Future Classroom" to Wenxian No. 2 Middle School.

After the classroom was completed and opened recently, courses such as graphical programming and 3D printing have been offered.

　　"Design a model on the software, import it into the 3D printer system, and start printing after the tip of the pen is heated." Talking about the scene of using a 3D printer to make a pen holder for the first time, 12-year-old Liao Wenting talked endlessly.

"I want to learn more about 3D printing technology, and in the future I want to learn programming and make some 'big projects'."

　　According to reports, the "future classroom" of Wenxian No. 2 Middle School includes multimedia teaching systems, Internet and live recording facilities, open source hardware, VR, 3D printing, technology experience equipment, etc., and can set up hardware programming, 3D printing, laser cutting, and educational robots. and interest development courses, AR/VR interaction, eye tracking and other technology experience projects can also be provided.

　　Dong Wenchao, vice principal of Wen County No. 2 Middle School and teacher of information technology class, still remembers the appearance of the "Future Classroom" when it first opened.

"When the classroom was first built, I said that I would take the children to experience it. There was unprecedented cheers in the classroom. From the eyes of the children, I saw their inner desire."

　　Xu Wei, the principal of Wen County No. 2 Middle School, was deeply touched by seeing the children's interest and harvest in the "Future Classroom".

"The younger the children, the more interested they are in technology. After two or three years, they will design very complicated things and programs, which is too important for the growth of students."

　　Educational assistance helps rural revitalization

　　In 2021, Zhang Yeliang of the China Journalists Association will be stationed in Wen County as the deputy county magistrate.

Since 1998 when Wen County started targeted assistance, educational assistance has always been an important focus of the China Journalists Association.

　　"The best way to change the younger generation is to change their lives through education and knowledge." During the school visit and investigation, Zhang Yeliang found that due to the lack of local finances, the teaching facilities of Wenxian No. 2 Middle School are relatively backward.

The existence of the "digital divide" makes teachers and students in Wen County lack of ways to use new technology to learn and improve.

　　"In the past, every time the school participated in science and technology innovation competitions, we would choose the 'cheapest' project." Xu Wei said helplessly, "Sometimes to participate in a competition, it costs tens of thousands of yuan just to buy the competition supplies. The school's financial support No."

　　Also in 2021, Tencent Interactive Entertainment launched the "Smart and Physical Double Hundred" plan, an innovative project for the protection of minors.

This plan aims to provide hardware and software support through the construction of "future classrooms" and "future playgrounds", so as to bring more possibilities to children, and at the same time contribute to quality education and rural revitalization.

　　Soon, the China Journalists Association negotiated with Tencent.

After inspection and evaluation, the "Future Classroom" project finally landed in Wen County No. 2 Middle School.

Zhang Yeliang said that the China Journalists Association has implemented 11 education assistance projects in Wen County in the past two years, and the "Future Classroom" is the largest one.

"The 'Future Classroom' has advanced technical equipment, novel concepts, and strong interaction, which will be of great help to improve the quality education level of the school."

　　In order to leave enough space for the "future classroom", Xu Wei and his colleagues vacated the only conference room in the school.

"Many teachers said that as long as we can bring the latest knowledge to the children, we can fight guerrillas, even if we have a meeting on the playground." Xu Wei said, "Everyone has this kind of enthusiasm, and this thing can be done!"

　　Ignite the fire of technology in the heart

　　Ran Lingli, a teacher at Wenxian No. 2 Middle School, has taught information technology classes for more than 10 years, but this is the first time she has come to a teaching environment like the "Future Classroom".

　　"In the past, information technology courses focused on theoretical knowledge and routine application learning, such as our commonly used office software such as Word and Excel. But now it is different. Teachers need to stimulate students' creativity and let them turn the ideas in their minds into Reality." Ran Lingli said.

　　For technological equipment such as 3D printers, Ran Lingli and her colleagues have never seen it before, let alone taught children.

In response to similar situations, Tencent's "Future Classroom" has carried out 46 teacher training sessions across the country, exporting the courses to rural teachers, making science and technology courses more "village-friendly", and using the three-dimensional structure of "hardware + courses + teacher training + competitions" measures to achieve sustainable operation of the project.

　　Zheng Zhong, senior director of Tencent Growth Guardian, mentioned the motivation behind sustainable operation: "'Future Classroom' needs to train children to use the Internet scientifically, stimulate their imagination, curiosity, and enthusiasm for technology, and requires the guidance of professional teachers. It is also necessary to communicate and collide with children in developed areas and broaden their horizons. We do not want to limit the 'future classroom' to a classroom, but hope that it will become a window for children to face the future."

　　In Xu Wei's view, fully participating in the "Future Classroom" project is more meaningful than building a hardware classroom.

"The iteration of technology is very fast. Through the connection with Tencent, we can bring the most cutting-edge knowledge to children and constantly update the teaching philosophy of teachers."

　　In the past, it only took a few hours to prepare an information technology class, but now it takes several days to prepare and study. Xu Wei can see the changes in the teachers.

One night at around 9:00, Xu Wei went back to school to run some errands and found that the lights in the "Future Classroom" were still on.

　　"I went in and saw that Teacher Ran Lingli and her colleagues were still working on 3D printers." Xu Wei said with a smile, "I am relieved that the teachers have such energy and spirit."

　　He has taught for 23 years and served as the principal of many schools in the county for 15 years. In Xu Wei's view, to achieve educational balance and fairness in rural areas, science and technology education must play a role.

　　"Rural revitalization requires the revitalization of science and technology, and the revitalization of science and technology focuses on education. If the fire of science and technology in children's hearts can be ignited, in the process of rural revitalization, there will be more workers with scientific thinking and scientific literacy." Xu Wei He said that with the help of "Future Classroom", his confidence is even stronger.

Recently, he and Dong Wenchao "thought" about the catalog of science and technology innovation competitions.

　　"I hope to lead the children to participate in the competition within three years, and to win prizes!" Xu Wei said.

(People's Daily Overseas Edition)