On July 24, 2021, an important document(文件) called “Double Reduction”(“双减”) policy was carried out by the Chinese government. It refers to a reduction in the amount and time required by school homework and after-school training programs about subjects.

Some parents worry that the policy (政策) will lead to worse grades because students will have less time to study and get less help from after-school training classes. And they can no longer see the rankings (排名) after each exam. It makes them guess and worried about what level their children are at.

Most students and their parents support the policy because it can lower students’ learning stress. However, parents should help with the students to deal with the new challenge of making the best use of their time after school when they get home.

Here are some ways to help students get used to this big change. To start with, students had better make full use of the time at school. They should concentrate on their lessons and solve all the problems just in time. What’s more, making a good plan at the start of the day can help students better manage their time. In this way, they will be able to finish doing their homework faster and better. Thirdly, they should take up some hobbies, but remember to make sure they won’t influence their study and health. Finally, it’s a good idea to offer help around the house or in the community. Because doing chores and volunteer work can also help improve their life skills, responsibilities as well as confidence.

ChatGPT, a smart AI chatbot（聊天机器人） tool, has swept the education world in the past months. According to a US survey of 1,000 students, over 89 percent of them have used ChatGPT to help with their homework.

Developed by the US company OpenAI, ChatGPT is powerful. You can ask it to write stories and e-mails, create recipes and answer all kinds of questions.

Some schools in the US, Australia and France have banned the use of ChatGPT. In the US, for example. New York City public schools stopped students and teachers from using ChatGPT on the district’s networks and devices.

The move comes out of worries that the tool could make it easier for students to cheat on assignments. Some also worry that ChatGPT could be used to spread wrong information. Apart from bans, teachers are making changes to their classes to prevent the use of ChatGPT. Some college teachers in the US try to include more speaking exams and handwritten papers instead of typed ones.

However, not all educators say “no” to ChatGPT. Some Canadian universities are making policies on its use, for both students and teachers. They have no plans to completely ban the tool so far.

Bhaskar Vira, the headmaster at Cambridge University in the UK, said that bans on AI software like ChatGPT are not wise. “We have to know that AI is a tool people will use,” he told the school newspaper of the university. What we need to do is adapt（使适合） our learning, teaching and examinations. That way, we can have honesty while recognizing the use of the tool.

Distance(远程) learning has been around for at least 200 years in one form or another. And this form of education is now another choice to face-to-face learning. Which is the better kind of education? Here are the differences and similarities of the two forms of educations.

When comparing the two methods, the most obvious(明显的) difference lies in the way that lessons are given. Distance learning is heavily dependent on technology, particularly the internet. It can happen at any time and in any place. And it may mean that learners have to be well organized. This also means that students may be better able to learn at their own speed. While face-to-face learning must take place in real time and in one place. Finally, with face-to-face learning, the teacher and students have the chance to develop a personal relationship. Distance learning, however, the teacher may seldom or never actually meet the student. This may make it hard for teachers to understand their students.

Although the teacher-student relationship may be different in the two methods, they do share something in common, just as a teacher is the knower in a classroom, he or she is the one responsible (负责) for helping students understand the lessons. It is difficult to say whether one form of learning is better than another. There are strong similarities between the two methods, which can both produce positive results. A student who has the choice should think about the advantages and disadvantages of each method before deciding to take a course.