What is Shanghai Doing That the US is Not!

Shanghai High School

Shanghai, China toped off all of the PISA test so it is only fitting to take a peek inside of their educational system. I began my research at asiasociety.org where there was information not only on the present, but their journey to get there. This begins with the well known fact that in China there are not only family pressures to do well in school, but their society demands it. The students in Shanghai are aware that they must keep up with the rate of change in society, They are taught to have a forward thinking midst when thinking of society, economy, and education. Shanghai is the largest city in China and is at the very forefront of the reform. Shanghai was the first to achieve one hundred percent attendance for not only primary school but also junior high as well as being one of the first to achieve almost universal enrollment in secondary school. 

All of those things are wonderful, but how did they do it? They started by moving away from exam-based system, this eliminates the need for students to simply memorize information. They have now began to use tests that focus on applying real-life skills. Another interesting change that was made was the removal of multiple choice questions on the exams. Not only did they change their ways of testing, they changed their schooling. By moving away from high-pressure exams they have increased the quality of educating. Allowing students to take elective courses, and simply began focusing on encouraging their students to learn rather than accumulation of knowledge. The new curriculum is inquiry-based, this means that students independently explore and research topics of interest to promote social wellbeing, creative and critical thinking, and simply learning how to learn. Schools were encouraged to build their own curriculum with the use of outside groups (ex.museums). This reform lead to the eight learning domains language and literature, mathematics, natural science, social sciences, technology, arts, physical education, and practicum. 

Teachers began to need new certifications, they must now complete 240 hours of professional development in five years. Teachers also have access to a database which provides them to design and implement the curriculum, research papers and to find the best practice examples. In Shanghai teachers are also encouraged to give students time for activities in the class room rather than to solely rely on teacher presentations. 

Shanghai also uses what is called The Commissioned Education Program, in this program a top perfuming school is assigned a lesser or weak school to administer. A team of teachers and a principle from the higher performing school are sent to the weak school where they will lead the school with the goal of improving.