Delivering Education when Schools Are Closed: Lessons from China

With COVID-19 bringing forth one of the largest experiments in education - 200 million students attending “School” online. February 2020 brought with it alot to learn. Three guests from three different perspectives come in to share their experiences. 

Shuangye Chen, Professor at East China Normal University in Shanghai, shares research findings at the national level, discussing models, policies and practices. Running a school from afar: Spencer Fowler, CEO & Superintendent of the Affiliated High School of Peking University’s Dalton Academy, shares his experience of providing education with a staff forced to be distributed around the world. While Mina Dunstan, Principal of Quarry Bay Primary School in Hong Kong, will reflect on the opportunities and challenges to deliver high quality online experiences to young children at the primary level.

Guests’ Bios:

Dr. Shuangye Chen is Professor and Associate Director of the Institute of Curriculum and Teaching at East China Normal University, Executive Editor of the ECNU Review of Education. Professor Chen received her PhD in Educational Policy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is committed to furthering the development of educational theory and internationalization within Chinese education. Her areas of interest include curriculum policy, curriculum leadership, social change and educational development, and educational policy research methods.

Dr. Spencer Fowler is a former professional athlete, firefighter, and educational leader who presently serves as the CEO and Superintendent of The Affiliated High School of Peking University’s Dalton Academy. Spencer’s academic career began at Queen’s University where he earned a Bachelor’s (Hons) in Film Studies and a Bachelor’s (Hons) in Education. Spencer spent the past 15 years working in international education as a K-12 teacher and administrator in Chile, Egypt, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Vietnam and China, earning his Master’s and Doctorate of Educational Leadership along the way. Much of Spencer’s research concentrates on educational reform practices, bridging the gap between education and industry by connecting teachers and students to resources that tackle universal issues. His leadership style empowers teachers and students to have a voice and reach their true potential. This approach has led to the development of China’s first Access Scholarship, which aids marginalized and displaced youth from the Middle East to complete their high school education in Beijing and obtain full funding to attend universities overseas. The approach has also led to numerous patents, businesses, and publications – academic and otherwise.