On February 13, 2025, Shanghai Hongrun Boyuan School held an important event for the preparation of the spring semester – a one-day teacher training. The training aimed to provide professional development opportunities for all teachers, while also inspiring them to continuously innovate and improve teaching quality in the new semester.

At 9:00 a.m., the training for all faculty members officially began. First, two young Chinese teachers and one foreign teacher shared their work experiences and insights from the past year at SHBS. Reflecting on their teaching journeys, they discussed how they had built deep connections with students and the growth and reflections they had gained along the way. Principal Liu was deeply moved by the teachers' thoughts and then delivered a speech on the theme "Education is about Relationships." As an educator with nearly 40 years of experience, Principal Liu shared her personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of building strong relationships with students. She pointed out that teachers are not only knowledge authorities but also mentors for students on their growth path.

In the following session, Ms. Ma discussed the explosive development of AI infrastructure during the Spring Festival and how the AI wave is transforming today's educational models. She also explored how educators can tackle with this challenge and leverage AI technology to improve teaching efficiency, personalized learning experiences, and the transformation of the teacher's role.

Finally, Principal Chen delivered a summary speech for the morning training. He emphasized that trust, understanding, and emotional connections between teachers and students can truly unlock students' potential. Principal Chen reminded teachers that no matter how technology advances, the emotional connection and interaction between teachers and students will always be the key to educational success. Teachers should inspire students through emotional connections and cultivate their independent thinking and creativity, helping them achieve sustainable personal development.

In the afternoon, teachers were divided into various teaching groups to engage in enthusiastic and thorough discussions on relevant teaching and educational issues.

In the Chinese group discussion, Mr. Wu emphasized the integration of theory and practice, suggesting that both teachers and students should master the skills to communicate with AI and take on the responsibility of passing on Chinese culture. Mr. Wang encouraged students to recognize the practicality of Chinese and cultivate philosophical thinking, advocating for teachers and students to actively harness AI technology. Principal Liu proposed implementing personalized and tiered teaching, focusing on developing students' expressive abilities. She also talked about the application and issues of AI in teaching, suggesting the establishment of positive incentives to motivate students.

The science group discussion emphasized the importance of combining theory and practice in teaching. They proposed reducing reliance on standardized exams and focusing on developing students' practical skills and innovative thinking, sparking students' interest, and improving their ability to learn independently. At the same time, they encouraged struggling students to use AI tools to improve their answering efficiency. For students who had not completed their homework, they suggested encouraging them to actively participate in class discussions. The meeting also emphasized strict classroom management and academic norms to ensure that students adhere to discipline and maintain academic integrity.

In the English and social sciences group, the discussion began with an interesting five-minute writing task. By having teachers retrospect on their experiences in the year 2000 in their writing, Principal Chris reminded everyone that the world today has undergone tremendous changes, especially under the influence of AI technology. Principal Chris encouraged students to use AI positively, such as for brainstorming, reviewing lessons, and information retrieval, but also reminded teachers to cultivate students' ability to use AI ethically, such as by encouraging more student writing in class to develop their creativity without AI assistance.

In the meeting of the arts department, the impact of AI on the arts became a hot topic. Some expressed concerns that AI might replace human artists, while others viewed AI as merely a tool, emphasizing the importance of how it is used. Teachers believed that students should be guided to understand AI correctly, encouraged to think independently and creatively, and to strengthen academic integrity education. In the AI era, the goal of both art and education is to cultivate talent with critical thinking and creativity. Proper use of AI will unlock potential and create a better future.

In the homeroom teachers’ meeting, guiding teachers reminded homeroom teachers of important time points in the semester, introduced key CAS activities, and emphasized the role of homeroom teachers in guiding students through the college admissions process.

As the training activities concluded successfully, the teachers felt enriched. The training not only provided an opportunity to think about the future of education but also strengthened communication and collaboration among teachers across subjects. Through sharing teaching experiences, discussing the impact of AI technology on education, and exchanging teaching methodologies, teachers expressed their determination to continue innovating and improving in the new semester, committed to providing higher quality education for students. In the future, SHBS will continue to promote professional development for teachers, cultivate a more open and creative learning environment, and provide stronger support for the growth and achievements of every student. The teachers, inspired and motivated by this new round of insights, are ready to face the challenges and opportunities of the spring semester.

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Li Nong

Gaby Zhu

Jang