Challenges of Liberal Studies Curriculum: Leading your students to learn effectively throughout the journey of Independent Enquiry Studies (IES) 7 th March 2009 Dr Hue Ming Tak Department of Educational Psychology Counselling, and Learning Needs The Hong Kong Institute of Education

Aims Aims To affirm that all students are gifted. To affirm that all students are gifted. To understand the trend of “Shift”, and make it start in your Liberal Studies (LS) classroom. To understand the trend of “Shift”, and make it start in your Liberal Studies (LS) classroom. To understand the rationale of learning underlying LS Curriculum and Independent Enquiry Studies (IES). To understand the rationale of learning underlying LS Curriculum and Independent Enquiry Studies (IES). To lead your students to pass through the journey of “learning to learn” when engaging in the learning of IES. To lead your students to pass through the journey of “learning to learn” when engaging in the learning of IES. To understand basic principles of effective learning. To understand basic principles of effective learning.

Why LS? Why IES? Looking closely: All students are gifted! Expectation and motivation Expectation and motivation Judging a book by it’s cover Judging a book by it’s cover Students engaging the teachers Students engaging the teachers Failing in school-passing in life Failing in school-passing in life

Why Liberal Studies? Why IES? Taking a broader view: Did You Know? Shift Happens At:

A new mission of education? The top ten jobs that will be in demand in 2010 didn’t exit in The top ten jobs that will be in demand in 2010 didn’t exit in We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist; using technology that haven’t yet been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet. We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist; using technology that haven’t yet been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.

A new identity of IT citizen? There are over 106 million registered users of MySpace (as of September 2006) There are over 106 million registered users of MySpace (as of September 2006) If MySpace were a country, it would be the 11 th -largest in the world (between Japan and Mexico). If MySpace were a country, it would be the 11 th -largest in the world (between Japan and Mexico).

A new mode of learning? The amount of new technical information doubling every 2 years. The amount of new technical information doubling every 2 years. For students starting a four-year technical or college degree, this means that half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study. For students starting a four-year technical or college degree, this means that half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study.

Back to where we start: Learning to Learn Back to where we start: Learning to Learn Learning to Learn: The way forward in curriculum development Learning to Learn: The way forward in curriculum development Eight Key Learning Areas Eight Key Learning Areas Subject curriculum Guides Subject curriculum Guides Basic Education Curriculum Guide: Building on Strengths Basic Education Curriculum Guide: Building on Strengths Student-centre learning Student-centre learning An issue-enquiry approach to teaching and learning An issue-enquiry approach to teaching and learning students actively construct knowledge for themselves students actively construct knowledge for themselves knowledge comes from everyday life. knowledge comes from everyday life.

Liberal Studies Curriculum

Ares of Study Self & Personal Development – –Module 1: Personal Development & Interpersonal Relationships Society & Culture – –Module 2: Hong Kong Today – –Module 3: Modern China – –Module 4: Globalization Science, Technology & the Environment – –Module 5: Public Health – –Module 6: Energy Technology & the Environment

Independent Enquiry Study Use of the knowledge and perspectives gained from the three Areas of Study and extending them to new issues or contexts. The themes suggested are: – –Media – –Education – –Religion – –Sports – –Art – –Information and Communication Technology

The Journey of “Learning to Learn”

Action-Learning Approaches to Effective teaching and learning

Effective teaching and learning in LS classroom Effective teaching and learning in LS classroom Cycle of Action Learning Examples of Questions Do Which subject am I most interested in? How much do I know about the subject? How do others or textbooks say about it? Review What do I need to know more about this subject? What additional learning materials do I need to enhance my understanding of this subject? Learn What do I expect to learn? What have I learned? Apply How will I apply what I have learned to other subjects? To my daily lives? To my next projects? What new questions do I have following my inquiry?

Dweck (1986) identified different motivational styles and their characteristics. Dweck (1986) identified different motivational styles and their characteristics. Dweck (1986), “motivational processes affecting learning”, American Psychologist, 41: Learning Orientation Performance Orientation a belief that effort leads to success a belief that effort leads to success a belief that ability leads to success a belief that ability leads to success a belief in one’s ability to improve and learn a belief in one’s ability to improve and learn a concern to be judged as able, and a concern to perform a concern to be judged as able, and a concern to perform a performance for challenging tasks a performance for challenging tasks satisfaction from doing better than others or succeeding with little effort. satisfaction from doing better than others or succeeding with little effort. derives satisfaction from personal success at difficult tasks derives satisfaction from personal success at difficult tasks emphasis on interpersonal competition normative standards and public evaluation emphasis on interpersonal competition normative standards and public evaluation applies problem-solving and self instructions when engaged in task applies problem-solving and self instructions when engaged in task helplessness: evaluates self negatively when task is difficult helplessness: evaluates self negatively when task is difficult

Some Principles of Effective Learning The determinant of learning is internal to the learner. The determinant of learning is internal to the learner. The determinant of learning is existing knowledge. The determinant of learning is existing knowledge. Learning is an ongoing, continuous and active process. Learning is an ongoing, continuous and active process. Learners have responsibility for their learning. Learners have responsibility for their learning. Constructed meanings share common characteristics. Constructed meanings share common characteristics.

Make “Shift” Happen in Your Classroom Let’s start from your LS Classroom: Let’s start from your LS Classroom: A new mission of education A new identity of IT citizens A new mode of learning