Educational technology at the intersection of East meets West: China's globalization in the digital age

Abstract

China has discovered that emerging educational technologies are a critical tool in educating and training its workforce. This article examines the growth of China's knowledge economy through the agency of educational technology. Three areas of engagement with educational technology are presented: K-12 education, higher education, and corporate training. The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) advancement in K- 12 curricula, new models of e-learning such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and other technological innovations in higher education, as well as high-tech corporate training academies are among the many examples highlighted throughout the article. Keeping in mind China's size, political diversity, and history, the authors focused their research on Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Taipei as representative areas for urban development in the 21st Century.