From June 10th to 11th, 2017, Institute of "Life·Practice" Educology, The Institute of Schooling Reform and Development as the key research base of humanities and social science in Ministry of Education and the Department of Education jointly hosted the international academic conference “Educational Research: Target, Object, Methods and Its Specificity” at East China Normal University.
Prof. Yuan Zhenguo as the Dean of The Faculty of Education, ECNU, Prof. Yang Xiaowei as the Chair of The Institute of Schooling Reform and Development, Prof. Li Zhengtao as the Chair of Institute of Life·Practice Educology, Prof. Huang Zhongjing as the Chair of The Department of Education, Prof. Christoph Wulf from the Free University of Berlin, German, etc. attended the opening ceremony and made speeches. Prof. Bu Yuhua as the Deputy Chair of The Department of Education presided the opening ceremony.
There were about 130 people attended the conference, included the representatives from universities at home and abroad, research institutes, publishing houses, journals and journalistic circle and some other specialists and scholars. The famous scholar of educational anthropology Prof. Christoph Wolf from Free University of Berlin, German, the famous scholar of educational narration research Prof. Cheryl Craig from Texas A&M University of America，Prof. Su Zhixing from California State University of America, Prof. Rita Karam from the world-famous think tank RAND Corporation, Prof. Xia Qing from Fu Jen Catholic University of Taiwan, Prof. Jian Chengxi from National Pingtung University of Taiwan, etc. were invited to attend the conference. Moreover, the academician Wei Yu as former Vice-director of National Ministry of Education was also invited to attend and made the plenary speech. Prof. Ye Lan as the Honorary President of Institute of Life·Practice Educology and The Institute of Schooling Reform and Development attended the full conference.
During the two days, there were 7 topics discussed around the subject of conference, which referred to the research of macro policy, relationship of theory and practice, school reform, neuro-education, multidisciplinary, choice of methodology and specific research methods. The thoughts of scholars gather to communicate deeply with high lights.
In the morning of June 10th, the meeting included two topics which were presided by Prof. Bu Yuhua and Prof. Zhu Yiming.
In the topic of “Value, Method and Action”, Prof. Yang Xiaowei from East China Normal University, Prof. Christoph Wulf from Free University and Pro. Rita Karam from RAND Corporation did reports. Prof. Yang started from policy analysis to discuss the index and value dimension of regional education modernization. Prof. Christoph Wuff took an example of his 12-year research about school, family and society in Berlin and discussed the important function of the Unknowning and Silent Knowledge in sign, preform and physical diversion in the view of educational anthropology. Prof. Rita Karam introduced the methodology of using system measure to evaluate school reform and took a project of RAND Corporation as example which was about the CTAI evaluation of teachers in middle school, and showed the concrete implement process.
In the topic of “Narration, Diversity and Education Research”, Prof. Huang Shuguang reported Redefine the Double Attribute of Educational Research and Its Mission. He thought, although the educational research need mathematic and objective scientific verification, it can’t do without relatively subjective value introspection of humanity, even should seek help from the enlightenment of life intuition. In the age of globalization, Big Date strengthens the scientific attribute of educational research,f but it can’t replace the humanistic dimension of educational research. Prof. Cheryl Craig made a speech of Curriculum, Culture, STEM Educational Narration Research: Along the Way of Study. She thought, experiential learning isn’t only a process of cognition, also refers to an action of physical and mental emotion which is well planned. Prof. Su Zhixin reported The Mixed Method of America Explore Research: Revelation of American Teacher Education Research for China。He introduced the guiding ideology and theoretical framework of American teacher education, research design, usage of mixed methods and their application and effects of the comparative study of Chinese and American teacher education which leading by the author. He also assessed its beneficial inspiration and the long-term effect for Chinese education study and reform.
In the afternoon of June 10th, there were two topics presided by Prof. Huang Zhongjing as Chair of The Department of Education at East China Normal University and Prof. Hu Huaiyin from Shanxi University. For the topic of “Theory, Practice and Education Research”, Prof. Hu Huaiyin reported The Education Research Method in China--- An Investigate Focus on the Republic of China, elaborated the process, development and enlightenment of the educational research method in the Republic of China. Prof. Jian Chengxi from National Pintung University of Taiwan reported a topic about the argument of qualitative research and quantitative research. He thought the educational phenomenon is complicated, it’s applicable to find the research method which both includes the observation and reason, the validation logic and discovery logic. Prof. Cheng Liang from the Department of Education at East China Normal University reported the topic The Practical Turn of Educational Research. He reviewed and rethought three dilemmas of educational research orientation and its methodology which guided by practice.
In the topic The Educational Research of “Life and Practice”, Prof. Li Zhengtao reported The Methodology of “Life and Practice” Education: Rebuild and Breakthrough. He elaborated the value, feature, formation, and groundbreaking of the “Life and Practice” education, and put forward explanations of more communication in the future. Prof. Bu Yuhua reported The Teaching Method of New Basic Education and Its Certification. She explained the transform of curriculum reform method of New Basic Education, the inherent characteristics and certification of the practice-based method. Prof. Li Jiacheng explored the research about “the Class, Head Teacher and Class Establishment” and its contribution for Chinese Education Development. Prof. Sun Yuantao from Zhejiang University elaborated his opinion about teacher's professional development which based on the theory of New Basic Education. He supported that the theory study and independent research are the internal support of teacher professional development, and the partner research based on U-S frame is an important assistant for the improvement of teacher’s teaching. Prof. Wu Honglin from Huaiyin Normal University explored the peculiarity of the development and method of In-depth interventional research.
The two topics in the morning of June 11th were presided by Prof. Yang Xiaowei and Prof. Cheng Liang. About the subject of “Psychology, Mental Science and Educational Research”, Mr. Ren Weiyu as the academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, the former Vice-director of National Ministry of Education, the Director of Learning Sciences Research Institute of Southeast University, reported The Discipline Foundation, Research Method and Function of Neuro-education. He started from the development history of Chinese Neuro-education, elaborated its definition, research method and significance of educational practice. He noted particularly the Neuro-education is a transforming discipline, and put forward many new opinions for the research. Prof. Li Xiaowen from East China Normal University reported The Research of Developmental Psychology from Chinese Education Practice. She elaborated how she did the research of developmental psychology in education practice and the discovery and understanding of the two forms of development.
Prof. Zhou Jiaxian from East China Normal University reported New Front of Educational Research: Establish the Bind of Mind, Brain and Education, and further the topic of Neuro-education. In the topic Educational Research Method and Methodology Introspection, Prof. Xia Linqing reported Educators in the Transposition, Displacement, and Action of School Reform. She thought in our experiential world, social relationship is an experiential field with multi-level and permeation. She put forward the concept of Chinese boxes. School is in the multi-level social system, and the educators also in a specific situation. Development means a process of realizing and breaking through the limitation. Prof. Ju Yucui from East China Normal University reported The Usage of Mixed-Method in the Research of School Mental Atmosphere. She took an example of her research about school mental atmosphere, and elaborated the usage and practice of mixed-method. Prof. Qi Wunian from Jiangxi Educational Science Institute elaborated his understanding about Chinese educational research. Associate Prof. Wang Zhankui from East China Normal University proceed from the relationship of theory and practice to elaborate his opinion about the unity of theory and practice.
In the afternoon of June 11th, there were two parts included the topic “Data, Macroscopic Problem and Educational Research” and free speech. The first part was presided by Prof. Li Jiacheng and six scholars made reports. First, Prof. Huang Zhongjing reports How Far Away did China Achieve the Goal of 2030 Sustainable Development Education? He made a comparative analysis of policy and legal texts of Chinese sustainable education in the view of educational policy text analysis, and put forward his opinion. Prof. Wang Lu elaborated the research situation of how to use big data to analyze class teaching in the forms of case and video. Prof. Zhu Yiming reported The Method of Educational Policy Research, and made an inquiry and exposition about the era challenge, content and method of policy research.
Prof. Dong Xiuhua from Shanghai Educational Science Institute took an example of the research of higher education planning in Macao to reported The Method and Element of Macroscopic Decision and Consultation Research. Prof. Hu Ling from Shanghai Educational Science Institute took an example of the reform of supervision and evaluation of education for all-round development in Chinese elementary and high schools, and reported The Research of School Supervision and Evaluation System Reform. Associate Prof. Dong Xuan from the Department of Education reported The Special Function and Introspection of Self-shots in the Ethnography Research. The part of free speech was presided by Prof. Ye Lan. The graduate student Zhang Lei, the doctor student Qi Shan, Prof. Ning Bentao, Lecturer Wang Lijia and Pro. Jin Meifu from the Teacher Education College of Tianjin Normal University made free speeches.
At the end of the conference, Prof. Ye Lan made closing remark. She thought this was a quality and fruitful academic conference, and pointed out that the educational research should not only focus on the applicableness of research target, object and method, but also should not separate the qualitative and quantify research. It is necessary to discuss the specificity of educational research method, especially the important function of educational researchers. Because it is educational researchers who establish the target, object and method, the professional improvement of educational research depends on every researcher. Finally, she said: “Teacher others by your example” as the principle of “Life and Practice” Education School to encourage participants.
The two-day conference finished in a variety of communications. This is an academic communication with focused subject and multiple dimensionalities, a minds-meeting of cross-cultures and cross-disciplines, and a deeply conversation among the scholars who have sincere emotions for educational research.
