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

Tongtong Fu

doi:10.70393/6a6574.343235

OPEN ACCESS |Research Article ||4 July 2026

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

Tongtong Fu

International Institute of Management and Business

tongtonggd@gmail.com

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

* Corresponding Author¹: Tongtong Fu, E-Mail: tongtonggd@gmail.com

Publication

Accepted 2026 June 22 ; Published 2026 July 4

Journal of Educational Theory, 2026, 3(2), 3079-5931.

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.

Keywords

China , Development Stage , Digital Transformation , Educational Informatization .

Metadata

DOI:

10.70393/6a6574.343235

ARK:

ark:/40704/JET.v3n2a01

Pages: 1-9

References: 26

Disciplines: Vocational Learning Theory

Subjects: Other

Cite This Article

APA Style

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

Acknowledgments

Not Applicable.

FUNDING

Not Applicable.

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD STATEMENT

Not Applicable.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Not Applicable.

INFORMED CONSENT STATEMENT

Not Applicable.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Not Applicable.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Not application.

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