The Development History, Characteristics and Trends of Educational Technology in China

Authors

  • Tongtong Fu International Institute of Management and Business

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70393/6a6574.343235

ARK:

https://n2t.net/ark:/40704/JET.v3n2a01

Disciplines:

Vocational Learning Theory

Subjects:

Other

References:

26

Keywords:

China, Development Stage, Digital Transformation, Educational Informatization

Abstract

After a century of exploration, China's educational technology has forged a unique development path, transforming from electronic education to digital and intelligent education. This article systematically reviews its development history, stage characteristics, and future trends. Historically, the period from the 1920s to 1985 was the exploratory phase of electronic education; the period from 1986 to 2017 was the formation of the educational technology discipline system and the development of educational informatization; since 2018, marked by the "Education Informatization 2.0 Action Plan," it has entered a new 2.0 era. The National Education Digitalization Strategy Action was launched in 2022, and the "Outline of the Plan for Building a Strong Education Nation (2024-2035)" further places educational digitalization in a key position for opening up new development tracks. In terms of development characteristics, China's educational technology exhibits a distinct policy-driven nature, currently undergoing four major transformations: from localized scarcity of resources to nationwide sharing; from standardized teaching to personalized learning; from tool-assisted learning to scenario integration; and from experience-based governance to data-driven approaches.

Author Biography

Tongtong Fu, International Institute of Management and Business

International Institute of Management and Business, BY, tongtonggd@gmail.com.

References

[1] Ministry of Education of the People‘s Republic of China. (2018). Education informatization 2.0 action plan (Document No. Jiaoji [2018] 6). https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2018-04/18/content_5283882.htm

[2] Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. (2022). National digital education strategy. In Ministry of Education 2022 key work priorities.

[3] Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, & State Council of the People‘s Republic of China. (2025). Outline of the plan for building a strong education nation (2024—2035).

[4] China National Academy of Educational Sciences. (2025). Global digital education development index report.

[5] Li, C. L., & Dong, X. Y. (2025). Stage characteristics and overall transition patterns of China’s education informatization policies: An analysis based on policy texts from 1993 to 2024. Journal of Chengdu University (Social Sciences Edition), (5), 11-26.

[6] Wang, Y. W., Huang, R. H., Peng, Z. H., Zhang, Y., & Li, Y. X. (2020). Opening up a new era of educational technology development path with Chinese characteristics. e-Education Research, 41(3), 40-47.

[7] Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, & State Council of the People's Republic of China. (2019). China’s education modernization 2035.

[8] Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2025). Press conference on the progress and effectiveness of education digitalization during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period. Ministry of Education Official Website. http://www.moe.gov.cn/fbh/live/2025/77791/

[9] Wang, W., Jiang, Y. Y., & Han, X. B. (2024). Preferences and implications of global education digitalization policies: A two-dimensional analysis of policy themes and instruments based on 101 documents. Journal of National Academy of Education Administration, (7), 55-64.

[10] Li, N., & Huang, Q. X. (2009). A review of the development of modern Chinese audio-visual education. Heilongjiang History Gazette, (4).

[11] Wang, K. (2012). Research on the development of academic institutions of audio-visual education (educational technology) in China [Master‘s thesis, Henan University].

[12] Alunna. (2006). Chronicle of China’s audio-visual education (educational technology) (Part I). e-Education Research, (11), 78-80.

[13] China Education. (2001). The booming development of educational technology: 50 years of educational technology (Part I). http://www.edu.cn

[14] Zhang, Z. (2017). Evolutionary process and trend analysis of education informatization equipment technology. China Ethnic Education, (Z1).

[15] Zhang, Y. C., et al. (2021). History of educational technology and academic development. Fujian Education Press.

[16] Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2012). Ten-year development plan for education informatization (2011—2020) (Document No. Jiaoji [2012] 5).

[17] Nan, G. N. (2013). History of audio-visual education (educational technology) in China. People‘s Education Press.

[18] Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, & State Council of the People’s Republic of China. (1993). Outline of China‘s education reform and development.

[19] Dai, L., & Zhu, Z. T. (2023). Connotative characteristics, basic principles, and policy elements of education digital transformation. e-Education Research, 44(4), 53-56, 71.

[20] Zhu, Z. T., Lu, L. M., Wang, X. Y., & Gu, X. Q. (2023). The development of smart education theory and practice in China: A decade review and near-future prospect. China Distance Education, (12), 21-33.

[21] China National Academy of Educational Sciences. (2023). China smart education development report (2022): China‘s education digital transformation toward smart education. Educational Science Publishing House.

[22] Guangming Daily. (2025). The Chinese paradigm of education digitalization strategic upgrading [Newspaper article].

[23] Dengzhou Municipal People’s Government. (2024). The evolution of education informatization and its intelligentization trends. https://www.dengzhou.gov.cn

[24] Zhang, Y. C., Wang, R. Z., & Yang, Y. Q. (2023). An analysis of the evolution mechanism of China's education informatization policy since reform and opening up: 45 years. Digital Education, (5).

[25] People's Daily Online. (2025). Ministry of Education: China has firmly established itself in the first tier of global digital education development. http://www.moe.gov.cn

[26] Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2024). Global digital education development index and China smart education development report 2023 released. Ministry of Education Official Website. http://www.moe.gov.cn

Published

2026-07-04

How to Cite

Fu, T. (2026). The Development History, Characteristics and Trends of Educational Technology in China. Journal of Educational Theory, 3(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.70393/6a6574.343235

Issue

Section

Research Article

ARK