Two girls face the camera, simulating a ‘live commerce’ session. "Today, we would like to introduce Yunlihe Honey Fragrance Black Tea from Zhenba County, Shaanxi Province. But first, let us share a story about Yunlihe Black Tea ..." In this Year 12 Moral and Society class at Pao School, the classroom has been transformed into a temporary ‘live room’, where students are engaged in a mock commercial promotion experience.
The activity has been crafted in alignment with the Moral and Society course stipulated by the Chinese National Curriculum. It was developed within the set thematic framework of 'Caring for Society - Simulation of Live Commerce, aiding rural revitalization’. It aims to integrate online case studies with simulations of commercial activity. This is a teaching method designed to inculcate a profound comprehension of rural revitalization among students, fostering civic consciousness, social responsibility, and public engagement.
After being divided into small groups, students first completed a series of preparatory projects, involving online research. These included product selection, live broadcast planning, and copywriting. They experimented with various roles required by the simulated 'live commerce' activity, such as anchor, assistant anchor, live broadcast operator, and fixer. During these initial sessions, they discussed China's rural revitalization strategy and social responsibility. They thus represented the ethos of a new generation, committed to societal progress.
“live commerce” session‘s poster
Teachers overseeing these activities were delighted by the students' adept application of theoretical knowledge and remarkable ability to balance a demanding Year 12 application season with a commitment to social progress. The values explored by the students seamlessly connected their academic studies and personal development.
Following the guideline of 'teaching, learning, thinking, using, and doing,' the traditional classroom was expanded, combining Moral and Society classes with field studies into China's rural areas. This approach harmonises well with Pao School values of 'Compassion,' 'Integrity,' and 'Balance.' The commitment to mission and responsibility complements the school's adherence to whole person education.
Student Work
A. Black Peanut – Lorie Li, Mia Liu, Emma Wu, Ningning Xu
Jiaoling Meizhou, located in Guangdong, Southern China, stands as a testament to successful poverty alleviation and rural revitalization through innovative productivity. Once deserted due to challenging farming conditions and scattered terrain, Jiaoling witnessed a remarkable transformation with the implementation of a rural revitalization strategy. The old and scattered houses were revitalized as new ecologically sustainable villages, complete with vegetable gardens and parks, significantly enhancing the well-being of the residents.
As a team, we have chosen black peanuts as our featured product for promotion. Through a 'live commerce' approach, our aim is to raise awareness about this product, addressing the local issue of stagnation in black peanut production while sharing the inspiring story of Jiaoling.
The aim is to assist villagers in overcoming challenges and enhancing their economic sustainability, while offering students an opportunity to engage with rural revitalization through 'live commerce’ simulation, promoting healthy food choices and fostering collaboration to support the development of rural areas in China.
In addition, campus activities will be organized to spread knowledge about healthy food, enabling more students to understand the concept of rural revitalization. The goal is to inspire greater interest and support among young individuals for rural revitalization efforts, fostering a collective contribution to the progress of rural areas in China.
B. Coconut Candy from Hainan – Alan Wang, Bruce Fang, Tony Sun, Mark Zheng, Peter Li
We showcased Hainan's coconut sugar as our featured product, aiming to hone our information retrieval skills and deepen our appreciation of diverse regional cultures. Our primary focus was ‘Hainan Coconut Soft Candy’. Through comprehensive coverage spanning its origins, audience engagement, production process, and societal impact, we not only enriched our understanding of our homeland but also applied this knowledge in practical contexts.
The Golden Coconut Growing Project in Tunchang County is a good example of the ways rural areas can be helped to grow. The project collaborates with a local company to create a large coconut farm, over 4,000 acres in size. This farm helps the local economy by reducing the need for coconuts from other places. It has also improved conditions in 26 poor villages and increased the income of farmers.
There are plans to open a coconut culture park that combines farming and tourism. This will allow visitors to learn about coconuts. By selling more than 500 bags of Hainan Coconut Sugar every month, the project improves the market while helping the local area grow sustainably. This project has taught us about being responsible in business and helping the environment, by pursuing the goal of helping rural areas grow.
C. Yunlihe Honey Scented Black Tea – Mary Wang, Vicky Chen, Marina Zhou, Sylvia Li
In our class, our teacher guided us to apply innovative live streaming to local agricultural goods. We selected a product and planned a 'live commerce' presentation, gaining a better grasp of the challenges faced in rural development and how the 'live commerce' marketing approach can help to sell agricultural products and boost rural growth.
During our 'live commerce' session, we showcased Yunlihe Honey Scented Black Tea from Zhenba County, Shaanxi Province. The live event itself was designed to be engaging and meaningful. Whether we were brewing and tasting black tea in real-time for our classmates, or aligning the benefits of black tea with viewers' daily needs, we experienced firsthand the potential of advancing industrial growth and modernizing agriculture and rural areas through a simple internet connection.
D. Shigu Oil-Paper Umbrella – Eason Pan, Bobby Li, Ken Zhong
We selected the Shigu Oil-Paper Umbrella as our featured product for 'live commerce' due to its captivating backstory. This ancient craft not only embodies traditional Chinese culture and history but also symbolizes the aspirations and endeavors of rural revitalization.
The historical significance of the Shigu Oil-Paper Umbrella struck us deeply. Centuries ago, migrants from Jiangxi introduced the art of crafting paper umbrellas to Xiangtan, offering locals new opportunities for work and entrepreneurship. The craft has endured the test of time, carrying the wisdom and dedication of generations of artisans, and continues to thrive today.
Through the introduction of machine production, villagers have enhanced their productivity and efficiency, allowing this ancient craft to better align with the requirements of the contemporary market. The exceptional skills of the artisans and their commitment to tradition have preserved the products' historical significance while incorporating innovative elements to cater to today’s consumer preferences.
Through the support and advancement of traditional crafts, we can safeguard rural cultural heritage while stimulating local economic growth and enhancing farmers' livelihoods, as evidenced by the flourishing oil-paper umbrella industry in Shigu.
Following this experience, we have gained a profound insight into China's rural revitalization policy and a heightened appreciation for the pivotal role of traditional crafts in rural economic progress.
