Study Of Optimizing Strategies Of Program For Modern Distance Education In Primary And Secondary Schools In Rural China

For a long time, the dual system of urban and rural areas has led to the unbalanceddevelopment of education in China. In order to solve the problem, "Program for Modern DistanceEducation in Primary and Secondary Schools in Rural Areas", beginning in 2003, targets at sharingexcellent educational resources between urban and rural areas, improving quality and benefit of ruraleducation, and making education equal. The achievements of this program will have great impact on therealization of decreasing gaps between urban and rural areas and building a harmonious society.Therefore, it is necessary to study the strategies to optimize the program.Guided by modern distance education theories, learning theories and system theory, thisdissertation aims at analyzing and expounding current situation of the program and main factorswhich affect its performance through literature review, investigation, interview and othermethodologies. On the basis, the author suggests several strategies for optimizing modern distanceeducation project in rural schools with special comments on how to select instructional strategiesaccording to the features of the three kinds of hardware configurations in this program.This dissertation starts with the general overview of "Program for Modern Distance Educationin Primary and Secondary Schools in Rural Areas" and its achievements. Then it analyzes vital factorswhich restrict the development of this program, including matters of teaching and learning resources,insufficiency and incompetence of teachers, low adaptability of students in informational environmentand lack of scientificity in management and evaluation of the program. Finally, the author suggests thestrategies to optimize the program: The application performance can be achieved only by making full useof hardware settings, improving software resources, promoting the quality of rural teachers, studying theteaching strategies in different distance learning environments and strengthening the management andevaluation of the program.