While the topic of differences in education concepts and practices between China and the United States has sparked widespread discussion, there has not been sufficient amount of comparative study focusing on its impact on student's thinking patterns. Hence this article will analyze the impact, the characteristics, and the factors contributing to the differences between the two countries. The analysis finds that differences in educational approach create varied impacts on student's critical thinking ability in terms of creativity, problem-solving skills, and communication ability, whereas while US students shows advantages in terms of creativity and verbal communication ability supported by student-centered teaching approach in the classroom, Chinese students shows advantages in terms of problem-solving and written communication skills supported by solid knowledge foundation and repeated practice. The article also found that various environmental and sociocultural factors, including differences in school environment, family, social and political ideologies also significantly contribute to shaping the different thinking modes of the students in China and the US. Based on the above findings, this paper proposes that contemporary education in China and the US can make progress by drawing on each other's successful experiences while catering to each country's unique sociocultural backgrounds.
Research Article
Open Access