Using innovative methods, rural educator Lin Mao has devoted himself to helping his students put their best foot forward on the path of life, Yang Feiyue reports.

From time to time, Lin Mao makes a point of checking a special folder that has been front and center on his computer's desktop for years.

The 37-year-old junior high school teacher named it "Happy Homeland", and it contains more than 40 files, each one named after students he has taught.

Each of them contains photos, communication and interactions between him and the student the folder is assigned to.

"If a file has very little information, it means that I have not paid enough attention to that student," says Lin, who has spent the past 14 years teaching at a rural school in Beichen district, North China's Tianjin.

He will remind himself to catch up with such students and ensure that they are doing OK.

"Many teachers might unconsciously dedicate most of their time to the top students, while those who are obedient, but are not doing as well do not get as much attention," Lin says, adding that organizing the Happy Homeland folder enables him to provide equal care to all his students.

In addition, such a folder can be used for research purposes, as it is updated with student performance in high school, college and at work.