From "Availability" to "Applicability": The Mechanism of China’s VET Teaching Resource Library Driving Curriculum Teaching Reform in Journalism and Communication Disciplines: A Process Tracing Study
List of Authors
Nurul Aisyah Kamrozzaman1, Yu Lanting
Keyword
Vocational Education and Training (VET), Journalism and Communication Disciplines, Digital Teaching Resource Library, Availability Applicability Gap, Curriculum Reform, Teacher Agency, Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT)
Abstract
China's investment in the Global VET Teaching Resource Library is advancing pedagogical modernization through digital resources. The demand for digital skills, such as short-video production, has increased in journalism and communication as a result of media convergence. Nevertheless, an 'availability-applicability gap' persists: the presence of high-quality digital resources does not automatically translate into improved teaching tailored to local media contexts. This research employs process tracing, utilizing policy documents, platform data, 24 interviews, and 40 classroom observation hours across four Chongqing VET schools to demonstrate how these Libraries facilitate substantive curriculum reform. The process comprises four phases: (1) policy-driven provision, (2) teacher mediation, (3) pedagogical transformation, and (4) feedback and optimization. Teacher agency, defined as the capacity to adapt resources to local industry needs, emerges as a critical factor. This agency is strengthened by targeted professional development and robust feedback mechanisms. The study moves beyond a technology-centric perspective and proposes strategies for VET systems worldwide to bridge the gap between resource provision and effective implementation in media education.