Media literacy at all levels: making the humanities more inclusive

The decline of the humanities, combined with the arrival of students focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), represent an opportunity for the development of innovative approaches to teaching languages and literatures. Expanding the instructional focus from traditional humanities students, who are naturally more text-focused, to address the needs of more application-oriented STEM learners ensures that language instructors prepare all students to become analytical and critical consumers and producers of digital media. Training students to question motives both in their own and authentic media messages and to justify their own interpretations results in more sophisticated second language (L2) communication. Even where institutional structures impede comprehensive curriculum reform, individual instructors can integrate media literacy training into their own classes. Tis article demonstrates ways of reaching and retaining larger numbers of students at all levels—if necessary, one course at a time.Published versio

Trialing project-based learning in a new EAP ESP course: A collaborative reflective practice of three college English teachers

Currently in many Chinese universities, the traditional College English course is facing the risk of being ‘marginalized’, replaced or even removed, and many hours previously allocated to the course are now being taken by EAP or ESP. At X University in northern China, a curriculum reform as such is taking place, as a result of which a new course has been created called ‘xue ke’ English. Despite the fact that ‘xue ke’ means subject literally, the course designer has made it clear that subject content is not the target, nor is the course the same as EAP or ESP. This curriculum initiative, while possibly having been justified with a rationale of some kind (e.g. to meet with changing social and/or academic needs of students and/or institutions), this is posing a great challenge for, as well as considerable pressure on, a number of College English teachers who have taught this single course for almost their entire teaching career. In such a context, three teachers formed a peer support group in Semester One this year, to work collaboratively co-tackling the challenge, and they chose Project-Based Learning (PBL) for the new course. This presentation will report on the implementation of this project, including the overall designing, operational procedure, and the teachers’ reflections. Based on discussion, pre-agreement was reached on the purpose and manner of collaboration as offering peer support for more effective teaching and learning and fulfilling and pleasant professional development. A WeChat group was set up as the chief platform for messaging, idea-sharing, and resource-exchanging. Physical meetings were supplementary, with sound agenda but flexible time, and venues. Mosoteach cloud class (lan mo yun ban ke) was established as a tool for virtual learning, employed both in and after class. Discussions were held at the beginning of the semester which determined only brief outlines for PBL implementation and allowed space for everyone to autonomously explore in their own way. Constant further discussions followed, which generated a great deal of opportunities for peer learning and lesson plan modifications. A reflective journal, in a greater or lesser detailed manner, was also kept by each teacher to record the journey of the collaboration. At the end of the semester, it was commonly recognized that, although challenges existed, the collaboration was overall a success and they were all willing to continue with it and endeavor to refine it to be a more professional and productive approach

Creative design education research on multi-dimensional integration of visual communication design under the driving force of digital design

In 2022, a new era was born - “meta universe”, the concept of the rapid potential to penetrate into all walks of life, and with the arrival of the “meta universe” era, its transformation and change also bring new opportunities to the fi eld of visual communication design. In the more than 40 years of reform and opening up, visual communication design has undergone several periods of educational development from the change of discipline names: Decoration design, graphic design and visual communication design period, from the name change, it is not diffi cult to see that visual communication design is changing step by step towards the integration of all media, especially in the “new liberal arts”, “digital design”, “meta-universe” driven by this big change, visual communication design has further become a cross-border design integration professional

The Evolution of Student Engagement: Writing Improves Teaching in Introductory Biology

In response to calls for pedagogical reforms in undergraduate biology courses to decrease student attrition rates and increase active learning, this article describes one faculty member’s conversion from traditional teaching methods to more engaging forms of practice. Partially told as a narrative, this article illustrates a.) the way many faculty initially learn to teach by modeling the pedagogy from their own undergraduate programs; b.) the kind of support biology faculty may need to break out of traditional molds; c.) how writing can promote active learning; and d.) the impact of reformed pedagogy on student levels of engagement. The latter will be demonstrated through assessment results gathered from student surveys, reflective writing, and focus group interview. Ultimately, the study challenges misunderstandings some faculty might have regarding the value of writing in science classes and offers inspiration, urging critical reflection and persistence

Can the University of Maine afford to concede to its regional competitors? A 21st century road map for postsecondary language education

The University of Maine Flagship Match program is designed to recruit students from neighboring states and offset enrollment declines. However, language faculty retrenchment at the university a decade ago, combined with the effective double-degree programs with languages, STEM, and other subjects that other regional flagships offer and recent changes in New England’s K–12 graduation options, makes it harder for UMaine to attract high-performing students. If the university wants to compete with others in New England and attract students who focus on global professional issues, it has an opportunity it cannot afford to miss. Adapting one of the language education models other universities have successfully implemented may be the way to move forward in the twenty-first century, making the University of Maine an important regional player.Accepted manuscrip

Preparing Tomorrow’s World Language Teacher Today: The Case for Seamless Induction

This essay is a call to action. It offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing world language (WL) teacher educators and their employers, the K-12 schools, during the teacher induction period. We propose a new paradigm for WL teacher education based on national accreditation standards, best-practice pedagogy, insights from the professional literature on methods education, and the enhanced role of the methods instructor/supervisor. In order to become successful in the classroom, the pre-service educator undergoes a seamless period of induction that is student-centered and college/university-supported beyond the classroom arena

Research on the reform of accounting curriculum system in Higher Vocational Colleges under the new professional catalog

the new professional catalog issued by the Ministry of education renamed the accounting major in Higher Vocational Colleges as big data and accounting. The connotation of accounting major has changed significantly, which also puts forward new requirements for the training of accounting talents in higher vocational colleges. The curriculum system is the core of talent training, and the reform of accounting curriculum system in higher vocational colleges is imperative under the new professional catalog. Firstly, the paper analyzes the connotation of the new major, and then points out the shortcomings of the current curriculum system of accounting major in higher vocational colleges. Finally, it puts forward the idea of constructing the curriculum system of big data and accounting major

Paths of Bridging the Gap Between Academic and Media Practice: The Professors’ Vision in Media Faculties

The article aims to explore paths for bridging the gap between academic qualification in media faculties, departments, and institutes, and media practice from the point of view of media professors in Jordanian universities. A descriptive approach has been adopted to achieve the articles aim, using a survey questionnaire of 50 practitioners of media institutions, and conducting 15 interviews with professors in media faculties and departments at Jordanian universities. The results indicated a gap between academic qualification and media practice. This gap had been due to the different requirements of the market, and the sufficiency of media institutions in terms of media professionals, besides the absence of criteria for accepting students in media faculties, and the academic plans focusing on theoretical aspects more than practical aspects. The results finally concluded that six paths might bridge the gap between the academic media path and media practice: applying the mechanism for accepting students in media majors, developing curricula and plans to keep pace with the requirements of the digital age and the needs of the labor market, recruiting experienced and competent professors and involving professionals in the teaching process, preparing advanced training programs for students; and developing training centers in media faculties

New Requirements for English Majors in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Foreign Trade Industry in the New Era

In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has shown a unique advantage in the treatment and recovery of infected patients, coupled with the gratifying situation of the import and export of traditional Chinese medicine products, and the vibrant prospects of the traditional Chinese medicine foreign trade market, the current situation of the traditional Chinese medicine foreign trade industry is quite promising. Therefore, the demand for Chinese medicine foreign trade talents by Chinese medicine foreign trade enterprises has greatly risen, which also puts forward new requirements for English majors. This paper analyzes the development trend of Chinese medicine cross-border e-commerce industry and the new requirements for English talents in the current era, discusses the necessary working ability and quality that English professionals engaged in Chinese medicine foreign trade must have in the current context, and expounds the main strategies and ways to improve the professional ability and work quality of Chinese medicine foreign trade professionals in the new era from multiple directions based on the practice of the project. This paper hopes to promote the development of the foreign trade industry of traditional Chinese medicine, and at the same time provide certain references for the cultivation of English professionals, and explore a new direction for the employment of English majors