2 . Aesthetic (审美) education aims to enhance aesthetic perception, experience aesthetic qualities, stimulate aesthetic creativity, and promote aesthetic judgement.

In order for kids to be able to appreciate natural wonders, shapes and pictures, they must be able to first notice them. This is why the development of the ability to notice the beautiful is the primary task of aesthetic education.     1     Kids are incapable of noticing particular shapes if their ability to notice object s and forms is undeveloped. The aesthetic relationship begins with the noticing of aesthetic qualities.

    2     This means that they generate emotional responses like excitement and joy, enriching individuals’ emotional lives and inspiring artistic expression. The ability to experience aesthetically must also be developed. The cognitive (认知的) elements of the processes that we experience during noticing must also include emotional tones with which we form impressions.     3     The aim of this task is, with the aid of aesthetic qualities, to enrich the emotional life of children and young people and the development of a sense for aesthetic values.

It is essential to allow children to participate in activities that will develop their creative abilities.     4     Instead, it is about creativity in the creation of aesthetic values in everyday life. We are not simply born with creative abilities which have to be developed.

Judging or evaluating aesthetic qualities demands formed evaluation criteria. In order for beauty to reveal its true value, we must be familiar with its particularities. Throughout the process of aesthetic education, various types of knowledge, abilities and evaluation criteria must be applied.     5    

3 . When it comes to entrepreneurship (企业家), it seems like a lot of us are fond of the idea of NOT getting more education. Sure, we’ve all heard how Bill Gates and Steve Jobs dropped out of college to found Microsoft and Apple, respectively. A lot of would-be solopreneurs (独立创业者) think this means they should take the same course, putting education by the wayside to chase their business goals.

Now, I’m not saying that you need a college degree to be a successful entrepreneur. But all too often, people take these famous examples a step too far and decide they don’t need to further their education in any way.

The thing is, college isn’t the only place you can get an education. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs learned a lot outside their classroom settings to turn their companies into the global successes they are today. When it comes to entrepreneurship, the most successful people are generally the ones who develop a lifelong love of learning. It’s an feature worth imitating.

When we think of “exercise,” most of us think of sweaty people at the gym running on treadmills and lifting weights. We don’t think of hitting the books. But the brain is actually a muscle too. And just like you need those physical workouts so you don’t start getting saggy (松驰的) around the middle, you need to give your brain regular “workouts” that keep it active and healthy.

Contrary to popular belief, your brain doesn’t stop growing after adolescence. One recent study found that the brain continues to produce new neurons associated with learning, emotion and memory throughout adulthood. Of course, the outcomes of this ongoing development depend in part on your own efforts.

If you’re not feeling motivated to work out your brain, it might be helpful to consider the costs of not continuing to learn. Quite simply, the problems you have now-whether in business or other areas of your life—are going to continue to exist if you don’t find new ways to approach them. The things you learn will help you discover new solutions and think more creatively. When done right, training your brain can become a lifelong habit—just like going for a morning run or hitting the gym at the end of the work day.

5 . On June 6th Columbia University announced that it will no longer co-operate with US News & World Report’s undergraduate rankings. It is the first top-notch institution to do so. Might its departure be the start of a mass departure?

Columbia’s decision follows a rankings scandal last year. In February 2022 one of Columbia’s own maths professors accused the college of fudging its data in several areas. The university later admitted to having used “outdated and/or incorrect methodologies”.

In the 1980s prospective students started to expand their college search beyond their local area, and it was hard to learn about universities and compare them. Hence, US News began ranking America’s top universities in 1983, and has released its findings annually since 1988.

Colleges have gone to great lengths to move up in the ratings. Richard Freeland, Northeastern University’s former president, capped class sizes and hired faculty to improve its spot; it moved from 127th in 2003 to 44th this year. Others went too far. A dean at Temple University’s business school was sentenced to prison and was ordered to pay a $250,000 fine after being found guilty of fraud in relation to artificially inflating his programme’s rankings.

The ranking system used to seem unstoppable. Universities have tried to ditch it before, only to find that doing so can backfire badly. US News still ranks non-participating universities, using publicly available information, and the data often do not go in their favour. Reed College, a liberal-arts college, stopped taking part in 1995. It tumbled from the top quartile to the bottom. Columbia did not submit data for this year’s analysis, citing concerns about Dr Thaddeus’s claims, and its ranking fell from second in 2021-22 (tied with Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology) to 18th in 2022-23 (tied with the University of Notre Dame).

Recently the mood has begun to change, however, especially among graduate schools. In 2022, of the 15 highest-ranked law schools, only the University of Chicago submitted data. Some undergraduate schools have already opted out this year (Rhode Island School of Design, Colorado College, Stillman College), but none are as prestigious as Columbia.

In May US News announced changes to its ranking methodology. It is moving away from metrics that rely on reputation and towards student outcomes. One way or another, the rankings—and universities more broadly—are in a state of constant change.

6 . The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational technology (EdTech) has brought incomparable convenience and efficiency to classrooms worldwide. However, despite these advancements, it is crucial to recognize the challenges these AI-driven tools pose to the autonomy and professional judgment of instructors.

One of its primary concerns is the depersonalization of instruction. These tools often rely on pre-packaged digital content and standardized solutions, leaving insufficient room for instructors to tailor their teaching methods. Each student possesses unique characteristics. Instructors, armed with their wealth of experience and knowledge, are best positioned to tailor their approaches to these individual needs. However, AI-driven tools restrict their ability to do so effectively, resulting in a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to inspire students to reach their maximum potential.

EdTech companies offer step-by-step solutions to textbook problems. These are intended to act as study aids. However, some students employ this feature as a means to merely copy solutions without comprehending concepts. Consequently, instances of cheating on assignments and exams become widespread. While these tools may offer convenience, students may use external resources or cooperate with others during quizzes, affecting the honesty of their learning outcomes.

The implications of this depersonalization and the increase in academic dishonesty are far-reaching. By decreasing the role of instructors as facilitators of meaningful educational interactions, we run the risk of preventing the growth of critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. Education should not only focus on knowledge acquisition, but should also develop the ability to analyze, evaluate, and apply that knowledge in real-world contexts. It should help one’s mind grow, not simply memorize information. Through dynamic classroom discussions, cooperative projects, and hands-on activities, instructors play a crucial role in developing these essential skills.

While AI-driven EdTech tools undeniably have their virtues, we must not lose sight of the importance of preserving instructor autonomy and educational experience. Instead of relying only on pre-packaged content and standardized solutions, these tools should be designed to empower instructors to adapt and customize their approaches while taking full advantage of the benefits of technology.

7 . Within the education system, teachers are often asked to do too much and, in some places for some subjects, there are teacher shortages.    1     . It can free up teachers’ time by providing them assistance to complete labor-intensive activities, such as feedback, grading and even lesson planning.

An AI teaching assistant, for example, can offer students more frequent and immediate feedback on their writing, and can ask them to explain their steps on a math problem.     2    , they learn better. But this is impossible with one teacher and large class sizes.

    3    . It can reduce the amount of time teachers spend on planning by creating lesson plans, brainstorming class activities and drafting quizzes for certain groups of students respectively.

Spending less time on these tasks does not mean we need fewer teachers. It means teachers have more time to build relationships with students. Studies show that strong relationships with teachers and school staff help increase students’ motivation and academic engagement. Teachers help students achieve a sense of belonging in school, see themselves as capable of success, and act as architects of their own future.    4    .

Using AI can shift responsibilities so teachers can focus on the uniquely human things they can do to help students learn and prepare to solve the challenges of tomorrow.    5    .

8 . During my freshman year at Brooklyn College, credit card companies were eager to earn the business of students. _______ by various rewards programs that only told part of the story, many students signed up for one or more cards without understanding the _______ of late payment.

_______ basic financial literacy (金融素养) meant many college students started off their adult lives with poor credit. _______, they faced challenges later in life when they needed to borrow money but couldn’t _______ a low-interest loan.

Poor credit _______ me past college and years into my teaching career. That has fueled my sense of _______ to teach the next generation of students about personal finance. It’s why I helped develop a personal finance course for teens and young adults.

To make the class as _______ as possible, we asked the students what _______ interested them. They were curious to know about buying homes and cars. Our course, intended for those aged between 14 and 21, has them ________ questions: How much do I need to save to make these purchases? Which purchases do I prioritize?

We, educators, can help young people ________ life after graduation, as there are many great ________ and developing our course was ________ than I had expected, which is why I hope more schools and youth organizations will offer financial education.

Financial literacy shouldn’t be optional because it puts those without it at a significant ________. And if my ________ as a student and an educator have taught me anything, it’s that no one should have to learn important financial lessons the hard way.

9 . We believe that there is more to education than preparation for a job. Children must be prepared for all aspects(方面) of their future work, personal relationships, creative activities, dealing with money matters, independence, and parenthood.

But it would be unrealistic(不现实的) to provide an education which took no consideration of the needs of employers.

What type of training does the business world regard as important?

Many young people applying for jobs were, in the employers’ opinions, very weak in the basic skills of handwriting, grammar and spelling. “Though additional education at university level improved the students’ general ability,” a report states, “in basic skills the standards remained stubbornly low.”

There are different opinions about whether standards have gone down in recent years. What is certain is that employers do not believe the standards are now high enough. Do technological changes make greater demands upon the students’ abilities?

We should also remember that the job expectations of young people have increased. Girls who would have once become shop assistants or hairdressers now want to be secretaries. Boys who sought an apprenticeship (学徒工作) 20 years ago now desire to have an engineering degree. But it is still the same girls and boys with the same degree of ability. No wonder there are problems in reaching the “necessary standards” of the business world.

Many employers believe that it is important for teachers to have experience outside the world of college and school. They should work for a while at some other kinds of job “to see how the world of business is different from their own”. The teaching occupation and society in general need a greater understanding of manpower needs and therefore of “the desired” direction of the education system.