Why do NIS Alumni Highlight their Discover China Experience as Impactful?
I have asked many of our visiting alumni from overseas why this experience meant so much to them. It’s funny in a way as I have used the word in my question which they tend to use in their answers – it was an experience, probably more authentic than many of their other China experiences. It’s worth reminding ourselves what our statement about Discover China states:
Discover China is one of NIS’s most anticipated annual events, giving students in Grades 3–12 the chance to connect classroom learning with real-life experiences and deepen their understanding of China. As part of our Burst the Bubble strategy, students step outside their comfort zones to make authentic connections with people, places, and culture, building empathy, responsibility, and skills that last a lifetime.
The programme focuses on three goals: authentic engagement with China’s people and culture, building strong bonds with peers, and stepping outside comfort zones through new challenges.
On the trips teachers wrote daily summaries into a shared document. I then asked AI Copilot to highlight the four main areas highlighted by teachers in their summaries. The response was that experiences were principally designed around:
- Adventure & Challenge – camping, kayaking, climbing, hiking and cycling.
- Collaboration & Community – Team-building, shared problem-solving and group living.
- Cultural Connection – Traditional crafts, local villages, food, heritage.
- Independence & Growth – Leadership, reflection self-management, decision-making.
All of this with our stunning host country as the backdrop. The goals and the outcomes don’t just overlap, there is a match to what we are trying to achieve with students at NIS. No amount of technological advancement will impact the need for these real life skills. In fact, students who have developed these skills will have a profound advantage when leveraging technology to enhance collaboration, developing community and connection through the beauty of diversity. I am left asking myself why school is not more like Discover China, or is it similar just in a different location?
A huge shout-out of appreciation to our teachers who leave their families and homes to stay with the students during these trips. It is another examaple of how dedicated our teachers are to the full learning journey of our students.
Have a noble November,
Laurie McLellan
为何NIS校友始终将探索中国游学周的经历视作影响深远的成长印记？
我曾多次询问从海外返校探访的校友，这段经历为何在他们心中分量如此之重。有趣的是，我提问时用到的“经历”一词，恰恰也是他们回答里反复提及的关键词——或许，这段游学经历比他们在中国的许多其他经历都更为真实，也更贴近当地的生活。在此我们不妨重温“探索中国游学周”项目的理念：
探索中国游学周是NIS年度最受期待的学生活动之一，面向3至12年级全体学生，将课堂所学与真实生活体验深度联结，不断深化学生对中国的认知与理解。作为我校“破茧而出”教育战略的核心组成部分，学生们走出舒适区，与当地的人、土地和文化建立真实联结，逐步培养受益终身的共情力、责任感与综合能力。
该项目始终围绕三大核心目标推进：深度沉浸式接触中国本土人民与文化、与同伴建立深厚的情感联结、通过全新挑战突破个人舒适区边界。
游学期间，老师们每天都会将活动情况整理成简报，记录在一份共享文档中。之后我借助AI Copilot梳理老师们在这些记录中反复提及的重点，并归纳出四个主要方面：
· 探索与挑战：包含露营、皮划艇、攀岩、徒步与骑行等户外实践项目
· 协作与集体：涵盖团队建设、共同解决问题与集体生活体验
· 文化联结：体验传统手工艺、探访当地村落、体验特色美食与探访文化遗产
· 独立与成长：聚焦领导力培养、自我反思、自主管理与决策能力提升
所有这些成长体验，都在我们所在的中国这片秀美绝伦的壮丽土地上展开。值得注意的是，项目设定的目标与最终达成的成长成果并非简单重叠，而是与NIS长期以来对学生的培养方向高度契合。无论技术如何迭代进步，人类对这些真实生活技能的需求永远不会消失。事实上，已经掌握这些核心能力的学生，在借助技术深化协作、构建社群联结、在多元文化之美中建立深度链接时，将拥有无可比拟的显著优势。由此，我不仅思考：为什么学校的日常学习不能更多地呈现出“探索中国游学周”这样的样貌？又或者，二者本就内核相通，只是发生的场域不同而已？
在此向所有暂别家人、全程陪伴学生完成游学行程的教职人员致以最诚挚的谢意。这再次体现了NIS教师对学生完整成长历程的投入与担当。
树树皆秋色，山山唯落晖。愿您的十一月充实而丰盈。
Laurie McLellan