UMPI has a new face this year: Wen Han, who is a new, full-time business professor. She is focusing on teaching logistical management and comes from Xi’an Siyuan University. She beat out all other competitors on Feb. 18, 2015, to get the chance to travel to, study and teach in the United States for one year. The overarching purpose of this trip is to study the difference in education between China and the U.S.
The class participation pattern with students is her favorite part of the study on the differences in education between China and the U.S.
Majors and courses are selected by every single student in the U.S. and they can change them according to their interests or experience. Students can choose freely, excepting some required courses. Free choice of various courses ensures the flexibility and suitability of learning in the United States. While in China, college students have an unalterable major from the first year. They also have 80 percent compulsory courses during all their college time, which means that students being able to choose courses according to own interests and hobbies has some limitations. Also it is very hard to transfer to another school.
In China, every class lasts only 45 minutes. Most professors use class participation and test scores to judge each student. Online education is not being used in Chinese universities. “The most interesting I think is the electronic forum for homework. It not only can help students to improve the ability of independent thinking but also can reduce plagiarism. When I go back to China, I will apply it in my classes,” Wen Han said.
U.S. education assesses the results for each student. It emphasizes the ability to analyze and problem-solve, not the ability to memorize or merely describe.
If you have any interests or questions about the difference in education between China and the U.S., please email Wen Han: han.wen@maine.edu
