New Year New Perspectives:
Seminar on Fostering Information Literacy for PGDE, MEd, MTeach and BEd Students
Echoing the EDB’s “Information Literacy for Hong Kong Students” learning framework (2018) and the rising importance of Reading and Information Literacy as a learning goal in both primary and secondary curricula, a seminar titled “Media and Information Literacy: Implementation of 21st Century Curricula” was hosted as part of CUI5046 Curriculum and Assessment. On 25th January 2024, over 200 preservice and in-service teachers on the PGDE, MEd, MTeach and BEd programmes participated in this comprehensive sharing at Caritas Fanling Chan Chun Ha Secondary School (CFCCHSS).
To set the scene, representatives from the Crime Support Division, the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau, the Narcotics Bureau, and the Family Conflict and Sexual Violence Policy Unit of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) explained trends in adolescent online crimes as well as the risks the internet can bring in their keynote speech “Enhancing Digital Literacy: Guiding Our Youth in Becoming Responsible Digital Citizens”.
Following the informative sharing from the HKPF, attendees then heard from CFCCHSS and Po Leung Kuk Riverain Primary School who shared their attempts at instilling the correct values and fostering information literacy in students through school-based curricula and home-school partnerships. Mr Ho Ying Hon and Mr Chan Lap Lai, Principal and Vice Principal of CFCCHSS respectively, spoke on their STEAM competition “From AI (artificial intelligence) to SI (synthetic intelligence)” which has encouraged students all over Hong Kong to promote AI literacy and make a positive impact on our community through responsible use of the technology. Ms Choi Man Kwan, Principal of PLK Riverain Primary School, then introduced their latest “Child Protection” initiative which keeps parents and students up-to-date with issues surrounding sexting and internet scams. Student ambassadors also produced short films to raise awareness about the traps and risks online among their peers, highlighting values of self-respect and self-love as internet users.
As the afternoon drew to a close, our PGDE lecturers (Dr Ambrose Chong, Dr Raymond Kong, Dr Suria Kong, and Dr Wong Lam) formed a discussion panel with the two principals, taking questions from the floor and addressing common issues and difficulties in curriculum implementation. Our students caught a glimpse of how vital it is to nurture young people and educate their caregivers to truly protect children and adolescents on the internet, as well as ways in which this can be done at the school level. The topic of information literacy, and underlying values and morals, will no doubt be of utmost significance at the frontlines of education. Penned by Dr Raymond Kong, this educational seminar was published to Master-Insight which can be accessed here.
