Clarifying the connotations of national qualifications framework： a textual analysis of multiple national/regional qualifications frameworks

Weijun Zheng， Dingming Wang and Lisheng Wang

Despite the call for the development of a national qualifications framework in China's 13th Five-Year Plan， no breakthrough has been made at the national policy level. Failure to reach a consensus on the connotations and importance of the national qualifications framework is a key factor leading to the current scenario. This article intends to clarify the connotations of national qualification frameworks by analyzing multiple national/regional qualifications frameworks from three dimensions， namely the rationale， the textual framework and the implementation path. It is argued that despite disparities in the above three aspects， in essence， qualifications frameworks are a top-level design related to national education reform with the aims of facilitating effective connections between education， training system and labor market， opening up talent development channels， providing human capital for social and economic development， and establishing a fair， high-quality and efficient lifelong learning system for the whole society.

Keywords： qualifications framework; learning society; lifelong learning; education policy; qualification certificate; sustainable development; credit bank; mutual recognition of credit

Open schooling： the case of COLs Open and Innovative Schooling （OIS） model

Tony John Mays

Despite progress towards universal basic education， there are still large numbers of out of school children （OOSC） and not in employment， education or training （NEET） youth. Open schooling may be one way to address this education crisis. Open schooling involves the use of open， distance and e-learning （ODeL） methods both to provide flexible routes to re-engagement for children and youth already out of the system as well as to enrich the traditional classroom experience to improve retention and success among traditional day scholars. This article explores the Commonwealth of Learnings （COLs） most recent work in supporting an open and innovative schooling model in six countries. It identifies the lessons of experience to date which are currently informing engagements in two more countries， regarding content， teachers， managers and technology， the four key pillars of our theory of change. The model is still relatively new， but with most countries now poised to transition from Phase 1 developing to Phase 2 piloting， some useful insights have emerged which may be helpful for other role-players interested in or engaging with open schooling initiatives. Our major lesson has been that despite the urgency of the challenge， it takes time to engage systemically.

Keywords： out-of-school-children （OOSC）; not in education， employment， or training （NEET）; open schooling; Open Schooling portfolio; Open and Innovative Schooling model; open， distance， and eLearning （ODeL）; Commonwealth of Learning （COL）; theory of change

Using adapted RFM and GMDH algorithms to predict MOOC user attrition rate

Ling Wei and Xinyue Guo

Drop-out is a popular phenomenon for MOOCs. Accurate prediction and timely early alert are conducive to retaining and attracting MOOC users. This study develops a model of MOOC user attrition by adapting RFM and GMDH. The model is then tested among learners of a MOOC on the platform of Chinese University MOOCs （icourse）. The results are compared with those of decision tree C5.0 and SVM algorithms， indicating the new model is more accurate and stable， unaffected by data size and intervention of outlier.

Keywords： MOOC; online learning; attrition prediction; early alert; learning crisis; GMDH algorithm; RFM model; learning analytics

Instructional interactions in connectivist learning

Luoying Huang， Li Chen， Hao Tian and Ruixue Wang

Interaction as the foundation， process and result of connectivist learning is key to its success. This study sets out to explore and ascertain the relationships， mechanisms and characteristics of connectivist learning interactions， using the text data generated in Theme 4 of cMOOC 2.0 as sample， and various research instruments. Findings from the study are analyzed in light of the three-tier interaction framework. First， interaction manifests itself mainly in the two-way transformation of Wayfinding interaction and Sensemaking interaction， and the direct unidirectional expansion of Wayfinding interaction by Innovation interaction. Second， the supporting effect of low-level interaction on high-level interaction demonstrates a gradual and progressive feature. Third， high-level interaction has a leapfrogging， complementary and weak recursive effect on the expansion of low-level interaction. Last， higher-level interaction impacts on lower-level interaction in a wider scope and with higher complexity. This research verifies and contributes to the interaction theory of connectivism and has implications for the design and delivery of cMOOCs.

Keywords： interaction; interaction sequence; connectivist learning; lag sequence analysis; expansion; support; cMOOC2.0

Developing community education to revitalize rural culture

Lingyu Wang， Xiaoli Jiang， Yifang Zheng and Yuhua Gao

Revitalizing rural culture is an important component of rural revitalization. The field of rural culture is where it grows， sustains and evolves. The predicament of rural culture revitalization is the disappearance of this field which results in its lack of endogenous motivation to exist and prosper. Drawing on the field theory， the field of rural culture is subdivided into cultural participation， cultural space and cultural habitus. It is argued that community education， rooted in the community and characterized by democracy and modernity， can help re-construct the field of rural culture and stimulate its revitalization. To this end， four approaches are recommended， including integrating into rural communities， involving more participants in rural culture， activating public space for rural culture， and digging out new features of and adding new elements to rural culture. These measures can be implemented through community education.

Keywords： community education; rural community education; rural revitalization; cultural revitalization; cultural participation; cultural space; cultural habitus; rural culture

（英文目次、摘要譯者：肖俊洪）