Investigating ‘collective individualism model of learning’: From Chinese context of classroom culture

Abstract

In the current global push to examine the diverse and complex approach in which classroom culture contributes to the shaping of students’ learning cultural identity. Classroom culture plays a fundamental role in constructing students’ learning competencies, perceptions and behaviors. Thus, this study conceptualizes and contextualizes a collective individualism learning model to explicate a specific learning model in classroom culture at Chinese particular context historically and traditionally. The collective individualism model is identified as the individualized learning style of students in Chinese classroom culture characterized by nine symbolic objects, including a textbook, an exercise book, a pen, a blackboard, a screen, a computer, a table, a chair and platform in a Chinese collective class. In addition, two core components of formal collectivism and substantive individualism derived from constructive learning theory, social learning theory, Mezirow’s transformative learning theory and Kolb’s experiential learning theory. The implications for examining the collective individualism model of Chinese classroom culture are likewise linked to innovative talent cultivation and fulfillment of ‘Four Good Teachers’ goal. Both the discussion and conclusion led to the construction of promising classroom culture at Chinese context practically.

Keywords:

• Classroom culture
• collective individualism-learning model
• Chinese classroom culture
• Chinese schooling
• cultural competency

Acknowledgement

Prof. Xudong, Zhu and Dr. Jian Li serve as co-first author in this article and they contribute equally in this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This work was funded by the International Joint Research Project of Faculty of Education, BNU (No. ICER 201906).

Notes on contributors

Zhu Xudong is a Professor, Dean in the Faculty of Education at the Beijing Normal University, China.

Jian Li is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at the Beijing Normal University, China.