Editor's Notes: The Open University of China (OUC) has initiated a programme to nurture candidates for the inaugural session of "Outstanding Young Teachers," resulting in 104 teachers being bestowed with the esteemed title of "OUC Outstanding Young Teachers."
By sharing the stories of some of these young teachers and highlighting their experiences of learning and personal growth, our aim is to showcase the dedication and enthusiasm of all OUC teachers who are devoted to contributing to the establishment of a lifelong learning society for all.
Su Yonghong, an associate professor, joined Shanxi Open University (OU) in May 2013. She has been twice awarded the third prize in Shanxi Province's Competition of Basic Teaching Skills for College Young Teachers. In 2021, she was honoured with the title of Outstanding Party Member by the Education Committee of the Shanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). She also received the second prize for Excellent Digital Learning Resources from the National Digital Learning Resources Centre in 2021. Furthermore, she achieved the first prize in the Engineering Group for the First Teaching Skills Competition hosted by the Open University of China (OUC). In 2022, she was recognized with the title of Excellent Teacher by the OUC. Additionally, she won the first prize for the Micro-Course Competition in the Shanxi Open University System for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022). She received the first prize for the Second Outstanding Research Achievements of Shanxi Open University and has been acknowledged as an Outstanding Teacher and Outstanding Party Member of Shanxi OU.
The training and learning period of the OUC Outstanding Young Teachers Training Programme is coming to a close. After three years of training and learning, I have fostered a stronger enthusiasm for distance education and have built a solid foundation of disciplinary knowledge. My proficiency in information technology, remote education teaching skills, research capabilities, and innovative service mindset have all been enhanced.
I. Promoting Teaching Through Development to Enhance the Quality of Distance Education
Focusing on unleashing the full potential of distance education involves continuous improvement in the development of teaching resources, updating and refining teaching content, transforming teaching methods, and embracing information technology's advantages in distance education. Throughout the three-year training period, I devoted myself to studying new theories and information technology in modern science and technology, effectively applying these advancements to enhance and enrich the development of teaching resources. This allowed me to gain valuable experience and make significant progress in distance education teaching. I successfully completed the construction of the core online course, Mechanical CAD/CAM, as part of the OUC's series of micro-courses for practical training, which has been officially launched. Additionally, I actively participated in the OUC system's micro-course competition organised by the university, receiving the first prize for two consecutive years in 2021 and 2022. Furthermore, the video learning resource I created, titled "Conditions for Mechanisms with Determinate Motion," was awarded the second prize in the selection of outstanding digital learning resources conducted by the National Digital Learning Resources Centre in 2021.
II. Advancing in Teaching to Refine Fundamental Instructional Skills
Basic teaching skills encompass the application of pedagogical theories and knowledge by teachers, which are then practiced and refined to establish a scientifically grounded teaching methodology. A strong command of these foundational skills directly impacts the level of teaching proficiency and quality among college educators. In 2020, I was chosen by the university to represent the engineering department in Shanxi Province's Competition of Basic Teaching Skills for College Young Teachers for the second time. I proudly secured the third prize in the final round of the engineering group competition, bringing honour to our university.
III. Focusing on Exploration to Enhance Research Competence
Research projects serve as a vital pathway for the professional development of young teachers. By engaging in research, they can continuously update their knowledge, enhance their expertise, and bolster their overall comprehensive abilities. Throughout the Programme, I led a research project titled Practical Study on the Building of Network-Based Open Education Course Teaching Teams sponsored by the Shanxi Distance Education Association. Additionally, I actively participated in three research projects, authored a monograph, obtained one practical invention patent, and contributed to six papers published by Shanxi OU. Notably, the paper titled "CFD Simulation of Load-carrying Characteristics of Air Cushion Unit in Air Suspension Transportation System" was included in a core journal at Peking University and received the first prize in the 2021 Shanxi Open University's Second Research Achievements selection. Furthermore, the paper titled Design and Development of Course Resources Based on the WeChat Public Platform was awarded the second prize in the 2021 Shanxi Distance Education Association's Research Achievements selection.
In my future endeavors, I am committed to deepening my theoretical knowledge, continuously improving my proficiency in information technology, and enhancing my understanding of incorporating ideological and political education into my courses. I will steadfastly uphold my ideals and beliefs, cultivate my moral values, and fulfill my responsibility as an educator. With every class, I will strive to promote character development and contribute to the comprehensive and high-quality growth of the OUC, embracing the new responsibilities of the new generation in this era.
By OUC News Network