30 Under 30 – EdTech Disruptors: Teaching Beyond the Gaokao
How Li Na, a 23-year-old innovator, is reshaping education with VR classrooms and breaking the mold of exam-focused learning.
📝 By Sophia Wang | Education & Innovation Correspondent
A Childhood Defined by Exams
Li Na (23) grew up in Shandong province, where the Gaokao (China’s national college entrance exam) dominates student life. She remembers 12-hour school days filled with test drills and practice papers. “Exams became our world,” she recalls. “But education should be bigger than that.”
At university, Li studied computer science and education technology. While her peers prepared for corporate jobs, she decided to explore how virtual reality (VR) could expand learning beyond the traditional classroom.
Creating VR Classrooms
At just 22, Li Na founded VisionClass, an EdTech startup that develops VR-based educational experiences. Her app allows students to conduct virtual chemistry experiments, explore 3D maps of the Silk Road, or practice English with AI avatars.
Unlike most online platforms focused on test prep, VisionClass emphasizes creative and experiential learning. “We’re not abandoning the Gaokao,” she explains. “But we’re proving education can inspire curiosity, not just test scores.”
Inspiring Rural Schools
VisionClass has already reached 60 schools across Shandong, Henan, and Gansu. In rural classrooms lacking lab equipment, students can now perform VR experiments that were once impossible. Teachers report higher engagement, while parents note their children are more motivated to learn.
One rural teacher put it simply: “For the first time, my students are not just memorizing answers—they are asking questions.”
Recognition and Cultural Significance
In 2023, Li Na was named to Forbes China 30 Under 30 – Education Sector. Her startup also won support from the Ministry of Education’s Smart Learning Program, which promotes digital tools in schools.
Her work embodies China’s broader goal of 教育公平 (education equity), ensuring that rural students have access to the same resources as those in major cities.
Challenges in the EdTech Journey
Li Na admits the road is tough. Some parents worry VR is just “玩游戏 (playing games),” while schools struggle with costs of equipment. She counters this by creating low-cost smartphone-compatible VR kits, ensuring affordability.
Another challenge is convincing traditional teachers to embrace new methods. “Teachers grew up in a Gaokao system themselves,” Li explains. “Change takes time and trust.”
Looking Ahead
Li’s next step is expanding VisionClass into history and cultural modules, allowing students to “walk through” ancient Chinese sites like the Forbidden City or the Terracotta Army. She also hopes to integrate AI tutors, giving personalized feedback to each student.
Her long-term dream is bold: to make VR a second classroom for every child in China.
A Gen Z Educator’s MissionOn her desk, Li Na keeps a scroll with a quote from Confucius: “学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆 (Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous).” She smiles: “VR gives students both—learning and thinking together.”
