To gain an indepth understanding of China’s basic education practices and broaden the horizon for international educational cooperation, on May 11, 2026, three faculty members from the College of Teacher Education, Ningbo University – Wang Heyuan, Yao Peiying, and Lin Xiaoyi – accompanied Professor Rao Limin (phonetic) from the Faculty of Education, McGill University, Canada, on a field visit and exchange to Weidou Primary School in Beilun District, Ningbo.

Principal Li Yuping and Vice Principal Sun Feina of Weidou Primary School warmly received the delegation and provided a systematic introduction to the school’s history, educational philosophy, and distinctive approach to student development. The delegation then toured the campus and observed the schoolwide physical activity session during the daily break. The energetic and wellorganized “Sunshine Sports” activity left a deep impression on the visiting teachers; this breaktime program has been featured as a model case by CCTV’s Focus Talk programme, reflecting the school’s solid achievements in promoting holistic development through sports.

The visiting team then entered mathematics classrooms to observe two lessons on the same topic – “Rotation of Figures” – taught by two different teachers to different classes, with differentiated instructional designs that highlighted distinct emphases. In the subsequent discussion, Vice Principal Sun Feina introduced the school’s experience with “same content, different instructional designs” as an important vehicle for schoolbased teaching research. She noted that this approach significantly stimulates teachers’ reflective thinking, broadens their instructional perspectives, and promotes professional growth. Professor Rao Limin carefully observed classroom details and engaged in discussions with the local teachers on differences between Chinese and Canadian mathematics teaching.

After the classroom observations, the visitors also enjoyed piano performances, choral singing, and art displays presented by the students. The children’s confident artistic expression and rich aesthetic accomplishments vividly demonstrated the school’s comprehensive approach to education.

This field visit was an important part of Professor Rao Limin’s intensive exchange activities at the College of Teacher Education, Ningbo University. The event not only deepened the Canadian expert’s understanding of the frontline realities of Chinese primary education, but also provided practical inspiration for future pragmatic cooperation between the two institutions in teacher education and classroom teaching research.