Post#1 -- brainstorming about topics

Possible topics:


1. E-classroom / E-learning

- online academic discussion board & forum

- online homework submission, quizzes and tests

- internet-dependent

- the trend of e-learning & traditional methods (e.g. books, hand-written notes, in-class exams, etc.) --- effectiveness in stimulating students' learning motivation / academic performance?

- e-learning 100% replacing traditional teaching?

2. Classroom interactive learning

- discussion sessions

- group activities, group projects, group presentations

- calling for volunteers during class (teachers)

- interactive learning & chalk-and-talk ----effectiveness in helping students learn?

3. TV talent show

- very young participants --- too young, parents should/should not encourage them?

- fairness --- different (sometimes opposing) opinions of judges and the audience due to subjectivity

- lots of youngsters (students) participate (whether or not they have real talents) --- school v.s. dream?

4. Tutorial classes (academic)

- students depend on tutorial classes outside school, instead of teachers in school

- a belief: if you don't join tutorial classes, you score lower than those who do

- the "tutors" --- mostly for commercial purposes, instead of educational (e.g. ads on TV, buses, newspaper, etc.)

- are these "tutors" really that qualified to attract such a crowd?

- are these classes truly effective? (e.g. kumon)

- more money spent on tutorial classes (which are rather expensive) v.s. study harder at school

- causes of such a trend?

5. Tutorial classes (non-academic)

- instrumental classes (e.g. piano, guitar, violin, etc.), drawing classes, dancing classes, etc.

- many parents 'push' their children to these classes when they are still small, regardless of the children's interests --- should they or should they not?

- is this 'investment' on the children worthwhile?

- causes of this trend?