Little Free Classes in Rural Libraries: The Combination of Online Resources with Offline Learning for Left-behind Children

Abstract

Online education can not only connect distance learning resources but also allows students to learn in their own way, addressing the problems of inequitable distribution of educational resources between urban and rural areas. To help a large number of left-behind rural children and to activate library service during the social isolation time, a project called LGS Little Free Class was launched in June, 2020 by a research team from Peking University. Little free class is a complex of online resources and offline learning, creating a good environment for left-behind children to communicate and share emotionally and intellectually. In this project, a rural library is regarded as a learning center, whose librarians organize young readers to learn from online videos and practice offline afterwards. There are various educational resources for little free classes and young patrons can engage in both class practicing and after-class extended reading. By the end of 2022，the project has run for six cycles, with 14 rural libraries, 321 activities and 1702 children involved. Due to the small investment, stable sponsorship and a dedicated professional team, this project is sustainable during and after the pandemic. The 7th cycle of this project is on going in 2023.