Yang Cailin, Computer Science, Xi’an Open University.

I．Giving Priority to Ethical Conduct for Herself and her Students

In her 19 years of teaching, Yang Cailin has always insisted on the importance of political theory and literacy, while doing her best to teach, serve, and undertake research on behalf of the cause of lifelong education.

II.  Focusing on Students and Giving Them Patient Guidance

Adult open-education students are forced to schedule their classes around their work, and one missed class can be particularly detrimental to learning computer skills. In addition, their educational backgrounds can vary widely, and to accommodate this, Yang Cailin has analysed their difficulties in-depth, and uses micro-videos and QQ groups to keep track of their progress, along with daily Q&A on WeChat and Rain Classroom.

III. Concerned about Special-needs Students

Yang Cailin is above all concerned about her disabled and older adult university students. From 2012 to 2020, she taught computer-related courses to students from the OUC School for the Disabled. At the start she faced self-doubt, but by assessing the learning difficulties of each student along with his or her background and study habits, she was able to create personalized learning programs. Over the course of a three-hour class, she ensured that every student mastered the material. One student with cerebral palsy in her 2018 class wrote: "Ms. Yang, thank you for your teaching. It is because of you that I have learned to type, make tables, surf the internet, and open an online store. I no longer feel 'disabled', but a strong person capable of starting her own business."

Appreciation such as this is what has made Yang Cailin determined to give her best to her disabled students.

IV. Bold in Modifying her Approaches to Teaching

Yang Cailin has been bold in making adjustments to her teaching based on the needs of her students. For example, in her Computer Networks course, she takes into account the differing abilities of her students in terms of online instruction, while  in Fundamentals of Computer Application she teaches each student based on the degree to which he or she is already comfortable with the material.

In short, Yang Cailin is "learner-centred" in her approach, and because of this has achieved excellent results, and was named an "Outstanding Teacher" in 2013 by Xi'an Open University, which also awarded her first prize in 2014 for an open video class.

She has also been named a "Xi'an Model of Teacher Ethics" by the Xi'an Municipal Education Bureau and Xi'an Teaching, Science, Culture and Health Trade Union, and in September 2018 the "Xi'an Most Beautiful Teacher" by the CPC Xi'an Municipal Committee and Xi'an Municipal People's Government.

V. Making Use of Information Technology to Develop Resources

Distance teaching requires teachers to have both ordinary face-to-face teaching skills and the ability to use technology to support independent learning. Yang Cailin online course Website Planning and Design is an example of such resourcefulness and adaptability, incorporating video lectures, micro-courses, special lectures, and other learning resources, while using forums and online assessments, and enabling both online and offline learning.

This course came first in the MOE 15th Courseware Competition, and was named a 2015 OUC “Premium Course”.

Yang Cailin also leads teacher teams in designing and producing VR/AR resources to provide learners with a 3D virtual-learning system and enhance their participation.

VI.  Emphasising Research

For teachers, research matters, especially on approaches to teaching adult distance-education students. Yang Cailin has completed five research projects.

She has also presided over three studies, has compiled two textbooks, and in the past five years has published six papers in academic journals, including three in core journals.

In October 2020, her "Applying Big Data to Building a Smart-learning Quality-monitoring System" won the 2019 China Higher Continuing-education and Featured Cases award, while in December 2020, her compilation "Applying Big Data to Building a Smart-learning Quality-monitoring Platform and Enhancing Open University Teaching" came first in the OUC Education IT Innovation Case Competition.

VII. Leading the Struggle Against Covid-19

Bystanders are not welcome when an epidemic is being fought, and when Covid-19 broke out, Yang Cailin led teachers in her department to move classes online with no interruption to teaching.

VIII.  A First-rate Manager

As department head, Yang Cailin is responsible for its enthusiasm and strong  production of resources. It has won several awards.

In 2016, she helped set up the first Security Technology and Management major in the OUC system, and as of October 2020, over 4,000 students have enrolled in it. She has worked to simplify its management and build strong video, tutorial, VR/AR and other resources.

Throughout her open-university teaching, Yang Cailin has been conscientious and persistent in meeting her responsibilities.

By OUC News Network