Beacons of distinction

A self-confessed geek who plays the Nintendo Switch while on the bus to work every day, Ecklesdafer has leveraged his passion for tech and games to help his students learn better. In fact, he was the teacher who first pioneered the use of iPads in the classroom. The initiative was so successful in making learning more engaging that the school will soon add another 25 iPads to the classrooms.

The key benefit of using technology, he explained, is that it makes the learning process more interesting for the children.

"Using technology makes learning more interactive and fun. This iPad initiative has demonstrated that technology and games can help children expand their vocabulary quicker and more effectively," he said.

"When you get the kids engaged, there are no limits to what they can learn."

This focus on making learning engaging, he said, stems from Mrs Maggie, the teacher who taught him in fourth grade.

"I was one of those students that most teachers might not like because I was always restless, talking to people and fidgeting all the time. Mrs Maggie was someone who treated me differently. She saw me as an individual who had potential to thrive if I was engaged a different way. And I take this approach in the classroom today," he said.

While the Chinese education system has at times drawn criticism from the Western world for its focus on rote memorization, Ecklesdafer explains that it is all about finding a balance. In fact, that is exactly why he loves working at the Soong Ching Ling School, which uses both Chinese and Western learning approaches in its curriculum.

"I think there are good things from both styles. For topics like math and science, rote learning helps with building the foundation. And when you've built a solid foundation, you can go on to do more creative things," he explained.

"I feel that there's room for more memorization. There's also room for more collaborative and creative learning. Combining the best of the two styles would lead to a better learning experience for the kids."