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Jiao Ji
Research topic
Museum Education/Science Education
Faculty
Research supervisor(s)
Home Town
Chongqing
Country
China
Selected Award(s)
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I hope to teach in a university and obtaining a doctoral degree is a requirement.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
Museums in Vancouver have done an outstanding job in integrating with universities and their communities. The Faculty of Education at UBC has also devoted many intellectual and practical contributions to the museum education field within a cultural perspective. I believe that studying at UBC will provide a meaningful and impressive experience.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The best surprise for me was definitely the rain! I lived in Beijing for seven years where there is a lack of rain and water. I missed rain so much in those seven years. When I arrived in Vancouver, the rain seemed to be an ever-present part of life. I was quite happy to experience the rain when I first moved here, but then I realized it rains more in Vancouver than I ever wanted!
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
Especially for new international graduate students, there are many problems that can arise like language barriers, insurance issues, course pressures, and teacher and student relationships. The most important thing to remember is that we are not alone. If you have an issue, try to talk with somebody, try to reach out, and try to understand that "we are comfortable that we are uncomfortable" (cited from one of my course instructors).
Learn more about Jiao's research
My research is concerned with Chinese science museum educators' self-perception of professional development. The function of education in science museums in China is quite important since learning in these museums can provide citizens with unique opportunities to pursue lifelong learning. China has constructed more than 1204 science museums with areas of 500 square meters or more. Yet, the number of qualified museum educators is quite low. Furthermore, few empirical studies have explored the Chinese museum educators' professionalism. Therefore, within an ethnographic and phenomenological approach, my study will explore how the current Chinese science museum staff perceive their roles as educators, understand their aspirations for professional development in respect of education, and figure out the opportunities/obstacles they have met during the past professional development experience.