WEBVTT 00:10.600 --> 00:13.399 Experimental education is flourishing. 00:13.399 --> 00:16.033 In response to the changing times, 00:16.033 --> 00:18.500 numerous schools, from elementary schools 00:18.500 --> 00:20.333 to high schools, are testing various forms 00:20.333 --> 00:22.266 of innovative experimental education, 00:22.266 --> 00:25.899 and providing a wide range of educational options. 00:34.933 --> 00:36.599 This is my class schedule for this week. 00:36.599 --> 00:38.166 The red ones are in-person classes, 00:38.166 --> 00:39.766 and the blue are online classes. 00:39.766 --> 00:42.265 Because this morning's classes are in-person, 00:42.265 --> 00:43.734 I have to go to school. 00:45.734 --> 00:46.700 Today's classes 00:46.700 --> 00:48.700 are aimed at my individual needs, 00:48.700 --> 00:50.666 so they're online asynchronous instruction. 00:53.799 --> 00:56.500 So I don’t need to go to school. 00:56.500 --> 00:57.500 Digital Experimental High School is an all-new school. 00:57.500 --> 00:59.500 We are not in transformation. 00:59.500 --> 01:00.666 We were established from the ground up. 01:00.666 --> 01:02.799 During Covid, 01:02.799 --> 01:04.833 everyone experienced online instruction 01:04.833 --> 01:05.933 or worked from home. 01:05.933 --> 01:07.265 So we wondered 01:07.265 --> 01:09.467 whether 01:09.467 --> 01:12.066 a school could 01:12.066 --> 01:14.000 promote learning via more digital methods, 01:14.000 --> 01:14.567 including online, 01:14.567 --> 01:16.833 in-person, 01:16.833 --> 01:20.333 or integrated virtual/in-person, asynchronous, 01:23.300 --> 01:24.032 and let students choose from more learning options. 01:24.032 --> 01:26.500 When we got in here, 01:26.500 --> 01:28.233 we knew only about the school's principles and methods, 01:28.233 --> 01:29.666 but not about how to apply them. 01:29.666 --> 01:32.133 For my unitary course, 01:32.133 --> 01:33.599 how should I design the 18-week curriculum? 01:33.599 --> 01:35.633 What parts should be synchronous online? 01:35.633 --> 01:37.265 What parts should be asynchronous online? 01:37.265 --> 01:38.800 How to provide the content to students? 01:38.800 --> 01:40.066 What content do they actually need to learn? 01:40.066 --> 01:41.734 This experiment 01:42.833 --> 01:44.099 is a challenge we have always wanted to take on. 01:44.099 --> 01:45.199 Another thing is that 01:45.199 --> 01:46.933 learning 01:46.933 --> 01:47.866 has to be more individualized. 01:47.866 --> 01:49.900 It isn’t the case that everyone 01:49.900 --> 01:51.233 has to take the same courses. 01:51.233 --> 01:53.099 So each student having his or her own class schedule 01:53.833 --> 01:54.900 is one of the school's biggest features. 01:54.900 --> 01:57.366 We offer curricula meeting 01:57.366 --> 01:58.532 students' individual needs. 01:58.532 --> 01:59.400 No matter whether external courses 01:59.400 --> 02:00.300 or your own creative projects, 02:00.300 --> 02:02.933 you can arrange 02:02.933 --> 02:04.300 your own curriculum outline and timetable. 02:04.300 --> 02:05.900 You then hand in an application, 02:05.900 --> 02:08.399 and you can receive credit. 02:08.399 --> 02:10.567 Since I don’t have any elective classes this afternoon, 02:12.233 --> 02:13.367 I can use the time to write my own novel. 02:13.367 --> 02:15.332 In addition to the individualized class schedule, 02:15.332 --> 02:17.166 the approach to class attendance 02:17.166 --> 02:20.100 and the open academic system 02:20.100 --> 02:22.300 gives the students space to 02:22.300 --> 02:23.632 develop their own interests. 02:24.000 --> 02:26.399 A lot of people worry that 02:26.399 --> 02:27.966 we might not have taught them something, 02:27.966 --> 02:29.233 and wonder if the kids can adapt 02:29.233 --> 02:30.632 to suddenly 02:30.632 --> 02:32.500 having so much freedom 02:32.500 --> 02:35.432 or such an wide-open environment. 02:35.432 --> 02:37.166 I've found that with appropriate guidance, 02:37.166 --> 02:39.966 all of the kids 02:40.399 --> 02:41.199 have the potential to make changes. 02:41.567 --> 02:42.733 They may practice halfway 02:42.733 --> 02:44.065 and then not have any inspiration. 02:44.065 --> 02:45.800 But then they need to finish writing 02:45.800 --> 02:47.266 a song within the space of one hour. 02:47.833 --> 02:48.699 That's the kind of difficulty they may face. 02:48.699 --> 02:49.833 In junior high school, 02:50.065 --> 02:51.300 I was in music class. 02:51.300 --> 02:52.600 If you were in music class, 02:52.600 --> 02:53.899 it would probably be the same: 02:53.899 --> 02:55.966 You'd have a major and a minor. 02:55.966 --> 02:57.833 But now that I'm here, 02:57.833 --> 02:59.399 I've begun to explore what resources 02:59.399 --> 03:00.500 I that I can use 03:00.500 --> 03:03.300 to make podcasts, 03:03.300 --> 03:04.500 and I've begun learning musical composition. 03:04.500 --> 03:08.266 I've been gradually discovering 03:08.266 --> 03:10.332 what I want my future to be, 03:11.966 --> 03:13.100 and how I should apply my effort now. 03:13.100 --> 03:14.466 Even though schools 03:14.466 --> 03:16.399 were all cast in the same mold, 03:16.399 --> 03:19.199 when we were little, 03:19.199 --> 03:21.766 it won’t be that way in the future. 03:21.766 --> 03:25.166 You should try to get to know yourself, 03:25.166 --> 03:26.833 find out what your special qualities are, 03:26.833 --> 03:29.800 and what you are good at. 03:29.800 --> 03:32.266 2019 Curriculum Guidelines are already doing this. 03:32.266 --> 03:33.833 Our school and other experimental schools 03:33.833 --> 03:36.533 are removing restrictions 03:36.867 --> 03:38.567 and developing kids' possibilities. 03:38.567 --> 03:39.500 I hope that we can educate 03:39.500 --> 03:42.000 talented, free youngsters 03:48.399 --> 03:49.399 who are able to explore widely. 03:49.399 --> 03:50.500 When the school 03:50.500 --> 03:51.399 was first established in Zhanghu, 03:51.399 --> 03:53.699 we were aware that 03:53.699 --> 03:56.100 the number of children born 03:56.100 --> 03:57.399 in the Zhanghu community might keep dropping. 03:57.399 --> 03:59.934 The second problem was that 03:59.934 --> 04:01.766 it is a relatively remote area 04:01.766 --> 04:02.934 compared with other places. 04:02.934 --> 04:04.567 So if we couldn't manage to 04:04.567 --> 04:06.100 come up with an innovative operating approach, 04:06.100 --> 04:07.899 the school might end up being merger with another school. 04:07.899 --> 04:09.899 We thought that perhaps 04:09.899 --> 04:11.632 experimental education might be able to 04:12.934 --> 04:14.966 reverse these unfavorable conditions. 04:14.966 --> 04:15.867 There are many elementary schools 04:15.867 --> 04:17.333 in isolated parts of Taiwan 04:17.333 --> 04:19.467 that are very small and lonely. 04:19.467 --> 04:21.734 If we could jointly develop teaching materials, 04:21.734 --> 04:23.666 and develop common learning models, 04:23.666 --> 04:24.532 then we would have a chance to 04:24.532 --> 04:26.799 bring these teachers together. 04:26.799 --> 04:28.066 We could then rely on alliances 04:28.066 --> 04:30.032 and group strength 04:30.032 --> 04:31.066 and cooperation 04:31.066 --> 04:32.467 to resolve the complex problems we face. 04:34.165 --> 04:36.132 This would be like a teacher training organization. 04:36.132 --> 04:36.899 It would extend 04:36.899 --> 04:39.766 from operating models 04:39.766 --> 04:41.766 to how teachers could enjoy professional growth. 04:41.766 --> 04:43.100 We've seen how 04:43.100 --> 04:45.165 teachers can renew their enthusiasm, 04:45.165 --> 04:47.766 and see that they are not fighting this battle alone, 04:47.766 --> 04:49.933 but as part of an advancing legion. 04:50.399 --> 04:51.200 At Dongfeng, 04:51.200 --> 04:51.799 first, 04:51.799 --> 04:53.066 the whole way consists of stairways, 04:53.066 --> 04:54.632 and there aren't any nearby trees 04:54.632 --> 04:55.899 to provide shade. 04:55.899 --> 04:57.700 Where you have to be careful going up the mountain… 04:57.700 --> 04:58.967 Do you remember what you have to look out for? 04:59.165 --> 04:59.967 The strong winds 05:00.299 --> 05:02.000 First, the wind is very strong 05:02.000 --> 05:03.500 Textbooks mostly emphasize 05:03.500 --> 05:05.165 knowledge. 05:05.165 --> 05:07.132 But what we care about even more 05:07.132 --> 05:08.000 is the children's character. 05:08.000 --> 05:09.399 That includes their emotional education 05:09.399 --> 05:10.299 and life education. 05:10.299 --> 05:12.799 You don't know how much they are growing inside. 05:12.799 --> 05:15.367 The school's outdoor education classes 05:15.367 --> 05:17.566 try to combine the students' learning with 05:17.566 --> 05:19.734 real situations. 05:22.066 --> 05:22.867 And when you are going downhill, 05:22.867 --> 05:23.532 lift a little higher. 05:24.433 --> 05:25.200 When you hit here, 05:25.200 --> 05:26.333 you then lift it up. 05:26.333 --> 05:27.165 Okay? 05:28.333 --> 05:32.032 We seldom encountered this kind of 05:32.032 --> 05:33.734 team cooperation before, 05:33.734 --> 05:35.066 where we try to accomplish a goal. 05:35.066 --> 05:38.967 I'm trying to communicate with them 05:38.967 --> 05:41.700 and get them to bond as a team. 05:43.700 --> 05:46.165 When I was in the first and second grades, 05:47.700 --> 05:52.066 there were team leaders and deputy team leaders 05:52.066 --> 05:54.265 from the sixth grade who helped to keep us moving along. 05:54.265 --> 05:56.265 Now I'm in the sixth grade, 05:56.265 --> 05:58.333 I'm a team leader, 05:58.333 --> 06:01.867 and have to look after 06:01.867 --> 06:03.000 the other kids. 06:03.000 --> 06:04.632 Next is gloves. 06:04.899 --> 06:07.500 We'll check again on Monday if you don't have them now. 06:09.834 --> 06:11.032 Have you brought water? 06:13.000 --> 06:14.200 It's okay. 06:15.867 --> 06:21.632 As our lives come together, we will help each other, 06:21.632 --> 06:24.799 and we will guard the unspoiled mountain forests with care. 06:24.799 --> 06:25.899 We can see that 06:25.899 --> 06:27.834 when the kids are out mountain climbing, 06:27.834 --> 06:29.967 there are also learning that 06:29.967 --> 06:30.734 they have to communicate 06:30.734 --> 06:32.500 and cooperate with each other. 06:32.500 --> 06:33.132 When mountain climbing, 06:33.132 --> 06:33.867 the kids may get altitude sickness 06:33.867 --> 06:35.132 and may not have enough stamina. 06:35.132 --> 06:38.734 But if they can overcome their own difficulties, 06:38.734 --> 06:41.532 and also reach out a helping hand to others, 06:41.532 --> 06:42.899 they can be altruists; 06:42.899 --> 06:44.333 I believe this will 06:44.333 --> 06:45.000 make the kids feel 06:45.000 --> 06:47.233 a great sense of accomplishment. 06:49.032 --> 06:50.766 Can you still do it? 06:53.734 --> 06:54.967 Today I… 06:54.967 --> 06:57.433 When Hsu Hsin-yue couldn't go any further today, 06:57.433 --> 06:59.000 I stayed with her 06:59.000 --> 07:00.233 and held her hand. 07:00.700 --> 07:02.467 I kept her company on the climb. 07:02.467 --> 07:06.265 On this climb, I'd like to thank heaven, earth, 07:06.265 --> 07:08.100 and all living things for giving us this learning opportunity. 07:08.100 --> 07:08.734 I mean that 07:08.734 --> 07:10.200 no matter whether they let us help others 07:10.200 --> 07:12.467 or let others help me, 07:12.467 --> 07:17.734 I am grateful for their giving me this chance to learn. 07:21.632 --> 07:22.666 I think the next generation 07:22.666 --> 07:24.632 won't be able to go it alone. 07:24.632 --> 07:27.333 Everyone will have to cooperate and apply joint effort. 07:27.333 --> 07:28.700 In these outlying areas, 07:28.700 --> 07:30.399 we've always wanted to find this kind of model, 07:30.399 --> 07:33.367 and ordinary schools can also copy it. 07:33.367 --> 07:36.666 We want lives to meet up with other lives, 07:36.666 --> 07:39.433 schools to influence other schools, 07:39.433 --> 07:42.299 and to popularize our effective teaching model. 07:44.700 --> 07:47.899 Broadening the scope of learning times and places, 07:47.899 --> 07:49.000 and linking elementary schools together 07:49.000 --> 07:51.265 so they can support each other: 07:51.265 --> 07:53.867 These methods are reviewing new possibilities of education. 07:53.867 --> 07:55.299 If our methods work well, 07:55.299 --> 07:56.532 we look forward to giving Taiwan an innovative 07:56.532 --> 08:00.032 alternative educational model. 08:00.032 --> 08:01.899 This is the meaning of experimental education.