Special Session on the Curriculum and Assessment of the New Senior Secondary System June 2005

2 Learning Goals for NSS – Learning Better for All to be biliterate and trilingual with adequate proficiency; to acquire a broad knowledge base, and be able to understand contemporary issues that may impact on their daily life at personal, community, national and global levels; to be an informed and responsible citizen with a sense of global and national identity; to respect pluralism of cultures and views, and be a critical, reflective and independent thinker; to acquire IT and other skills as necessary for being a life-long learner; to understand their own career/academic aspirations and develop positive attitudes towards work and learning; to lead a healthy life style with active participation in aesthetic and physical activities.

3 Student Programme - Whole Person Development & Diversification Components of NSS Student Programme % of Time Allocation Core Subjects Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics & Liberal Studies as core subjects for ALL students 45 – 55% Elective Subjects 2 or 3 elective subjects chosen from 20 NSS subjects and a range of COS subjects 20 – 30% Other Learning Experiences moral & civic education, community service, aesthetic & physical activities, career-related experiences 15 – 35%

4 What is Lesson Time? What is Progression of Studies? What are the changes in Mathematics & Science in 2 nd Consultation? What is OLE & Student Learning Profile? What is the latest development of SBA? What are the Professional Development needs of teachers? What are the ambits of Teacher Professional Preparation Grant? Senior Secondary Curriculum Guide 2006 School Leaders Workshop for Planning 334 ( ) Senior Secondary Curriculum Guide 2006 School Leaders Workshop for Planning 334 ( )

5 Close contact with teachers, with clear learning objectives and planned learning activities. Normally in the classroom, but not necessarily so. The 2,700 hours is a balanced consideration (sum total) of the following: 190 school days per year; an average of 5-6 hours of lesson time per day Aesthetic, physical activities and moral and civic education could be built into school time-table and other timeslots (e.g. an afternoon during weekdays, after exam or before long holidays etc.) What is Lesson time? International Data

6 What is Progression of Studies? Through sequencing of themes, induction of students to the subject & flexible time-tabling

7 Examples:

What are the changes in Mathematics & Science in 2 nd Consultation?

9 Curriculum Mathematics (10% - 15%) Compulsory Part (10%) (ALL students): Foundation Topics + Non-foundation Topics (optional) Elective Part (5%) (optional) Module 1 (Calculus & Statistics) Module 2 (Algebra and Calculus) One of 3 combinations: Compulsory Part only (for general purpose) Compulsory Part + Module 1 (knowing more mathematics) Compulsory Part + Module 2 (for further study in math-related field) Compulsory Part and Module are separately reported Mathematics

10 Mathematics Module 1 (Calculus & Statistics) Module 2 (Algebra & Calculus) Compulsory part Elective part Divided into Foundation Topics & Non- Foundation Topics

11 e.g. Under the unit of Basic properties of circles: 10.1 understand the properties of chords and arcs of a circle 10.2 understand the angle properties of a circle 10.3 understand the properties of a cyclic quadrilateral 10.4 understand the tests for concyclic points 10.5 understand the properties of tangents to a circle and angles in the alternate segments 10.6 use the above properties to perform simple geometric proofs Examples: Compulsory part N.B. Topics underlined are non-foundation topics

12 Simple calculus Further probability and simple statistical distributions such as binomial, geometric and normal distributions Examples: Module 1: (Calculus & Statistics) More in-depth treatment of calculus Matrices and systems of linear equation Module 2: (Algebra & Calculus)

13 Science (For students taking another science subject including either Biology, Chemistry or Physics (For students taking one science subject) Science (Integrated) Science (Physics, Chemistry) to complement Biology Science (Biology, Physics) to complement Chemistry Science (Chemistry, Biology) to complement Physics Science (Physics, Chemistry) to complement Biology Science (Biology, Physics) to complement Chemistry Science (Chemistry, Biology) to complement Physics Mode I: Interdisciplinary approach Mode II: Combined approach 1 subject 2 approaches 4 options SS Science – a summary of the proposal

14 Examples of Chemistry: B.Microscopic World II a.Structures and properties of giant covalent substances b.Bonding intermediate between ionic and covalent c.Intermolecular forces d.Structures and properties of molecular crystals e.Comparisons of structures and properties of important types of substances

15 Combined Science (Chemistry Part) B.Microscopic World II a.Structures and properties of giant covalent substances e.Comparisons of structures and properties of important types of substances

16 Students can study 4 elective subjects in SS1 and 2-3 in SS2 & SS3. Progression of Studies Assume a 24-class school with at most 43 forty-minute periods per week in the time-table. Taster year

17 Timetabling for Maths: - Foundation at SS1 - 3 possible arrangements in SS2 & SS3 : For students with the ability but not preferring to take up too much – 4 periods For students with the ability and preferring to pursue Maths further – 7 periods For students with lower ability and in need of slower learning pace – 7 periods Progression of Studies Maths

18 The Myth of 2700 hrs 5 Sep Mar 06 = 120 days 5 Sep June 06 = 165 days (excluding the Sports Day, Swimming Gala etc.) + OLE organized in other time slots throughout the 3 years of SS

19 An Example of Time-table of SS1

20 Diversification of Student Programme – Subject Groups of Elective subjects There are altogether 12 (+1) elective subjects and 1 COS course. Popular subjects will be repeated in different groups (e.g. Physics, Economics) Sci 2

21 Diversification of Student Programme – Subject Groups of Elective subjects There are 4 periods for each elective subject. P1+P2 = Physics as an elective subject P1 = Foundation part of Physics Then, choose Physics from Group 1, and B1, C1 from Group 2, or choose Biology from Group 1, and P1, C1 from Group 2, or choose Chemistry from Group 2, and P1, B1 from Group 1.

22 How about the teaching load? For a 24-class school, there will be 44.4 teachers (12 X X 2 ). Total teaching load for senior secondary classes (based on the no. of lessons in SS1): Core subjects (6 lessons for Chinese Language, 6 lessons for English Language, 6 lessons for Maths & 4 lessons for LS) 22 lessons X 4 classes X 3 years = 264 lessons Elective subjects (5 subjects in Group 1, 5 subjects in Group 2, 3 subjects in Group 3 & 4 subjects in Group 4) ( ) X 4 lessons X 3 years = 204 lessons Other learning experiences : 5 lessons X 4 classes X 3 years = 60 lessons Total no. of lessons : /22.2 = 23.8 lessons Excluding Top-up II provision and SSCSG

23 (Based on information provided at the INCA© Website and other sources as at May 2003)