Wang Rui

Wang became a teacher because he believes that education is the most powerful way to change the world for the better. His educational work is not limited to classroom teaching, but also involves improving connections and communication between the community and his school. Wang is deeply aware of the opportunities and challenges presented by the digital learning environment: in the digital age, teachers need to constantly adapt and master new technologies in order to better facilitate student learning. He cooperates with other educators to jointly promote development, at the same time spread his teaching philosophy and methods to a wider group of people.  

As part of his teaching approach Wang provides his students with convenient learning methods via mobile hardware devices and MOOC resources, so that they can acquire knowledge and skills more independently. Wang’s school has also launched a tablet-based integrated online and offline education practice model that makes full use of the advantages of traditional learning methods and networked learning. These innovative teaching methods not only improve students' academic performance and learning ability: they also cultivate their interest and their capacity to learn independently. This changes education from "teaching" to "learning", making students truly the main body of learning and cultivating both autonomy and creative thinking. Partly as a result of such methods, Wang’s school won the title of “Apple School” awarded by Apple Inc. 

In 2014, Wang’s project "Building a Mobile Autonomous School in a Digital Learning Environment" won second prize in the First National Basic Education Teaching Awards. For this reason, he was praised by the Ministry of Education and was able to share knowledge at the National Education Informatization Work Conference. Wang has also been named Vice Chairman of the Intelligent Education Technology Professional Committee of the Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence, a member of the Basic Education Teaching Guidance Professional Committee of the Ministry of Education, and a member of the Basic Education Think Tank Committee of "Guangming Daily". Wang considers these honors not just to be for him personally, but also for other educators and the institutions that support them. They inspire him to keep improving and exploring more possibilities in the field of education. 

If Wang wins the Global Teacher Prize, he will use the funds to (a) organise teacher training and promote the development of education reform, (b) engage with international schools and institutions, (c) carry out community service activities to help disadvantaged groups and improve students' sense of public welfare and social responsibility, and (d) improve teaching facilities, purchase new equipment, and increase the number of books in the school library.