Nov.24th -27th, Ms. Sharon Todd, the chair of Department of Education, Maynooth University, was invited by our department to make two academic presentations and a workshop about the writing of English thesis. The chair of our department Mr. Huang Zhongjing, Ms. Bu Yuhua, Mr. Cheng Liang, Mr. Dong Xuan, Mr. Wang Zhankui, Ms. Wang Lijia, Mr. Du Mingfeng, and over 30 graduates and Ph.D. students attended.
In the morning of 24th, the topic of presentation was Creating spaces for thought: some reflections on the relationship between research and teacher education. It was hosted by Mr. Cheng Liang.
The presentation focused on the interaction problem of theory and practice. By analyzing the relationship of educational research and professional identity of teaching, it showed how to develop the critical thinking and promote the teacher training and the professional development of teachers. Finally, Ms. Todd indicated that we need to rethink what is research and why we do research. She shared the practical experience of workspace about promoting educational research in Maynooth University. They imitated the workspace of artists to do research and concerned the creativity and process of research.
In the morning of 27th, the topic of presentation was Education beyond Instrumentalism: Reframing Education in Terms of Relational Aesthetics. It was hosted by Ms. Bu Yuhua.
The main content of presentation was emphasis on reducing the instrumental tendency of education, but taking education as an aesthetic subject. First, Ms. Todd explained the difference and relationship between education and art, and focused on experience and relation. Then, by using the “experience” of Dewey’s educational philosophy, she explained the relationship of education and experience. She thought, experience is a kind of relevance of person and world. People gain the perception of world by aesthetics, and the experience is not private, but exists in the relationship with others.
In the afternoon of 27th, Ms. Todd organized a workshop about the writing of English thesis. She explained the writing skills of abstract, outline, main body, conclusion and some other problems that we need to pay attention. She emphasized when we write an article in foreign language, we should be confidence and invite other scholars to read the article and modify the content and construct. On this way, the main parts and views of article would be clearer.
The presentations of Ms. Sharon Todd had both theory depth and practical meaning. The visiting prolonged and depended the understanding and identification between Chinese and foreign educational scholars, and also laid a groundwork for the long-term cooperation in the future.
