Visit Activities

From 28 - 31 August 2024, Dr Yang Xuting and Dr An Chuanying, associate professors from the Faculty of Education of Henan University, led a team of 20 postgraduate students to Hong Kong for an exchange and study visit. During their visit, Professor Ko Po Yuk and the center's staff organized workshops for the students. The topics covered included the “Hong Kong Education System”, “Self-Directed Learning”, “Learning Study”, “STEAM Education”, “Cooperative Learning”, “e-Learning and AI”, as well as “Career & Life Planning Education”.

This exchange activity deepened the Henan students' understanding of primary and secondary education in Hong Kong, facilitated the exchange of educational ideas and experiences, and provided new opportunities for the development and cooperation of education between the two regions.

Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai selected 33 distinguished high school teachers of arts discipline who have participated in the "Millions of Talents Training Project" for primary and secondary schools in Guangdong Province to Hong Kong for an exchange programme from 11 – 20 March 2024. Professor Ko Po Yuk and the Centre team warmly received the mainland colleagues, organized workshops with different themes, and arranged lesson observations and school visits in four local secondary schools for professional exchanges between teachers from both places.

The topics of the workshops covered “The Education System in Hong Kong”, “Learning Study”, “Self-Directed Learning”, “Small Class Teaching”, “Career & Life Planning Education” and “Assessment”, which are the current and future educational foci in Hong Kong. The delegation visited ELCHK Lutheran Secondary School, Henrietta Secondary School, Sacred Heart Canossian College, and TWGHs Chen Zao Men College. Based on the learning culture and the abilities of their students, each of the four schools visited has developed their school-based teaching strategies to meet the learning needs of their students. Teachers from both places discussed the teaching and learning effectiveness in the post-lesson observation meetings, thus facilitating more in-depth professional exchanges.

This exchange programme has deepened the mutual understanding of teachers of Hong Kong and mainland, promoted the exchange of educational philosophy and experiences, and provided new opportunities for the future collaboration of the two places. The Mainland teacher participants expressed their appreciation, and would share the experience and knowledge of the visit with colleagues.

Professor Gao Wei, Dean of School of Education Science and School of Teacher Education of Jiangsu Normal University, led a team of 20 undergraduate students for a study trip in Hong Kong on 8 to 14 May, 2023. During their visit, Prof Ko Po Yuk and the staff of CELT had conducted workshops and organized lesson observations at two primary schools. The themes of workshops were Learning Study, Hong Kong Education system, Cooperative Learning and STEM Education. In addition, the Centre had provided a platform for the students of EdUHK and Jiangsu to exchange their study experience at their region. Each of the two schools visited, namely Yuen Long Government Primary School and Buddhist Chan Wing Kan Memorial School has its unique experience in STEM education and e-learning in classroom. The post-lesson conferences provided a platform for the Jiangsu students to discuss the teaching effectiveness and student learning outcome of the lessons. It has also helped them to have a deeper understanding of primary school education in Hong Kong.

The Vice-Principal of Southview Primary School, Singapore, led a team of teachers to Hong Kong on 19 – 20 November, 2018, for a study trip on Learning Study. During their 2-day visit, Dr. Ko Po Yuk and the staff of CELT conducted two workshops on Learning Study to help the Singaporean teachers understand that the Theory of Variation differentiates Learning Study from Lesson Study. Feedback on their Learning Study project proposals of four core subjects (Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics, and Science) was provided. In addition, school visits and Learning Study lesson observation were arranged at Henrietta Secondary School and C.C.C. But San Primary School. The post-lesson conferences provided a platform for the teachers of two places to discuss the teaching effectiveness and student learning outcome of the lessons. It has also helped the Singaporean teachers gain a deeper understanding of Learning Study and fosters the collaboration between the teachers of the two regions.

A team of teachers from Southview Primary School, Singapore, accompanied by their Principal had a study trip in Hong Kong on 21 – 23 November, 2016. During their 3-day visit, Dr. Ko Po Yuk and the staff of CELT had conducted three workshops on Learning Study and organized lesson observations at three different schools, including both primary and secondary levels, for the Singaporean teachers. Each of the three schools visited, namely Fanling Kau Yan College, SKH St. Simon’s Lui Ming Choi Secondary School, and Canossa School (Hong Kong), has its unique experience in self-regulated learning and Learning Study. The post-lesson conferences have provided not only a platform for collegial sharing between the teachers of Hong Kong and Singapore but also contributed to the possibilities of future collaboration between schools of the two regions.  

Dr. Ko Po-yuk, the Director of the Centre, and five of her colleagues went on a five-day study trip to Taiwan in March, 2016, for a better understanding of how self-directed learning practices are implemented in Taipei.

The CELT team visited five schools, including primary and secondary, each with its unique features in developing students’ self-directed learning through classroom teaching and school-based self-directed learning curriculum design. Altogether eight lessons of various subjects (Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics, and Project-based Learning) had been observed and followed by post-lesson observation conferences. The interactive discussion covered the challenges encountered, the types of professional support required, and different implementation practices of self-directed learning in places like Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, and USA.

The visit has not only provided the CELT team a brief overview of the self-directed learning practices adopted in Taiwan, but also facilitated professional sharing and the possibilities of future collaboration among the practitioners of the two regions. 

Professor Wu Yongjun, Head of Department of Primary Education of Nanjing Normal University, and four of his colleagues visited the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) on 20 January, 2016.  Dr. Ko Po Yuk, the Director, Professor Chiu Chi Shing, Co-Director, and staff of CELT introduced the major scope of work and the ongoing projects of the Centre to them.  The issues discussed in the meeting covered the teacher training of primary school teachers, the continuous teacher professional development, and future collaboration between Nanjing and Hong Kong in enhancing the quality of learning and teaching. The visit has provided the visitors a better understanding of the work of CELT and strengthened the bonding between the two institutions.

With the aim of understanding the teaching practices on the theme of “Self-regulated Learning” in China, four representatives from the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching went on a 5-day study trip to Nanjing and Hangzhou in early December, 2015.  

A series of activities had taken place during the trip. A representative of CELT attended “The 6th Teaching Competency Competition of Primary Schools in China” which was held on November 28-30, 2015 in Nanjing, exploring the possibilities for future collaboration or encouraging the teachers of Hong Kong to participate in the future competitions.

The Director of CELT, Dr Ko Po Yuk, and her colleagues conducted a seminar on the self-regulated learning theories illustrated with case studies and practices in Hong Kong for the teachers in Nanjing. About a hundred participants, including the officers from the Education Department of Nanjing, school principals and teachers, attended the event. Two primary schools and two secondary schools had been visited. Altogether fourteen lessons of subjects including Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Life Education had been observed. Post-lesson observation conferences for professional sharing had been conducted with the teachers concerned.

The study trip was fruitful and inspiring. The insight can be integrated in the school support services and future programmes of the Centre.

The 6th Teaching Competency Competition of Primary Schools in China was held on November 28-30, 2015 in Nanjing. Altogether 29 competitors shortlisted from different provinces and 6000 participants took part in the event.

There were 5 major themes of the competition, including solo verse, calligraphy, performing arts, classroom teaching and common knowledge. The competition was assessed by a panel of judges.

A representative of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) participated in the event aiming for future collaboration or encourging HK teachers to participate in the future competitions.

The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) was established in June 2015 under FEHD with a vision to become a major professional development centre in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region for nurturing highly competent teachers and developing effective pedagogies. A launch ceremony of CELT cum the Featured Case Studies Sharing Session was held on 3 July, 2015 with a participation of over 200 participants from the Education Bureau, higher education institutions, and secondary and primary schools in Hong Kong and Macau.

PHOTOS
PRESS RELEASE