Conclusion:"Means become Ends"

Concluding the seminar, Professor Lee Wing-on from the University of Sydney raised some profound questions for reflection – whether the interactive teaching model in civic education, where the "means" of teaching emphasising discussions and activities, can become the "ends". This model does not look into whether the teaching outcome will lead to the preferred answers for the questions probed, rather the answers come from both the students and teachers. This process engages young people to critically review current issues and participate in reconstructing social ideals, with educators and students working together to improve society. However, Professor Lee and seminar participants have not ruled out the value of the traditional transmission pedagogies, pointing out that there is no need to explore the best pedagogy by dichotomising different teaching strategies.