New Senior Secondary Liberal Studies (LS)

1
New Senior SecondaryLiberal Studies(LS)

• James YIU
• Curriculum Development Institute
• EDB

2
A subject for everyone

• What makes LS essential to every senior secondary
  student?

3
LS helps students

• A deepen their awareness of contemporary issues,
  and develop positive values
• B broaden their knowledge base and perspectives
• C connect knowledge of different disciplines and
  strengthen their critical thinking skills

4
Curriculum Framework
5
Curriculum Framework
Independent Enquiry Study
6
Self and Personal Development
Themes Key Questions for Enquiry
Understanding oneself What challenges and opportunities does a person have during adolescence?
Interpersonal relationships What interpersonal factors facilitate adolescents to reflect upon and prepare for the transition to adulthood?
7
Hong Kong Today
Themes Key Questions for Enquiry
Quality of life Which directions might be chosen in maintaining and improving Hong Kong residents quality of life?
Rule of law and socio-political participation How do Hong Kong residents participate in political and social affairs and come to grips with rights and responsibilities with respect to the rule of law?
3. Identity How are the identities of Hong Kong residents developed?
8
Modern China
Themes Key Questions for Enquiry
1. Chinas reform opening-up What impact has reform and opening-up had on the overall development of the country and on peoples life?
2. Chinese culture modern life With respect to the evolution of concepts of the family, what kind of relationship between traditional culture and modern life has been manifested?
2. Chinese culture modern life To what extent are traditional customs compatible with modern Chinese society?
9
Globalization
Theme Key Questions for Enquiry
Impact of globalization and related responses Why do people from different parts of the world react differently to the opportunities and challenges brought by globalization?
10
Public Health
Themes Key Questions for Enquiry
Understanding of public health How is peoples understanding of disease and public health affected by different factors?
Science, technology and public health To what extent does science and technology enhance the development of public health?
11
Energy Technology the Environment
Themes Key Questions for Enquiry
The influences of energy technology How do energy technology and environmental problems relate to each other?
The environment and sustainable development Why has sustainable development become an important contemporary issue? What is the relationship between its occurrence and the development of science and technology?
12
An example
13
Independent Enquiry Study

• Each student conducts an IES making use of the
  knowledge and perspectives gained from one or
  more Areas of Study and extending them to new
  issues or contexts
• An integral part of the curriculum, with 90 hours
  of curriculum time
• To be conducted during S5 S6
• The School-based Assessment (SBA) component of
  public assessment

14
Three stages of the IES

• Stage 1 Project Proposal
• Select a study area / theme
• Collect background information
• Formulate the question for enquiry
• Design work plan and schedule
• Stage 2 Data Collection
• Collect organise data / information
• Stage 3 Product
• Analyse data / information
• Evaluate different points of view
• Present IES results, amend according to feedback
• Write report to show the results of the study in
  suitable ways

15
The Product of IES

• Written Form
• Project presentation of 1,500 to 4,000 words
• Non-written Form
• Computer presentation, webpage, movie, etc.
• The main body itself is self-explanatory
• The viewing time should be within 20 minutes
• Accompanied by a short text (300-1,000 words)
  explaining main ideas and showing personal
  reflections

16
An Examination Subject

• Why does Liberal Studies have to be an
  examination subject in the NSS curriculum?
• Recognition by local universities
• International recognition
• Students achievements should be properly
  assessed, recognised and reported

17
Design of Public Assessment
Paper 1 Data-response questions (50)
Paper 2 Extended-response questions (30)
School-based assessment IES (20)
18
Design of public assessment

• In accordance with the curriculum design
• Enquiry and issue-based
• Cross-modular
• Candidates are required to apply relevant
  concepts and knowledge to analyse various issues
  using appropriate thinking skills

19
Marking of Examination

• Marking guidelines provided for each question,
  suggesting acceptable approaches with sample
  responses
• Descriptions of the basic requirements and expect
  performance of candidates for each level
• Marks to be awarded according to the level of
  criteria a candidates performance meets

20
A sample question

• Referring to the above information, why did
  Premier Wen Jiabao propose low-pollution, high
  safety as the way in which energy should be
  developed? Explain (8 marks)

21
Suggested marking guidelines Marks
The candidate
6-8
3-5
1-2
0
22
Suggested marking guidelines Marks
The candidate
explains precisely the meaning of low pollution (e.g. reduction of emission of pollutants) and high safety (e.g. various aspects for promoting miners safety) Explains precisely the present situation of energy extraction and use on the Mainland, e.g. heavy reliance on coal burning and on the other hand, a huge demand for energy as a result of rapid economic growth 6-8
23
Suggested marking guidelines Marks
The candidate
explains approximately either the meaing of low pollution or high safety or the explanation is not accurate enough explains approximately the present situation of energy extraction and use on the Mainland 1-2
fails to explain the reason why Premier We propose that low-pollution, high safety should be the way in which energy supply should be developed provides an irrelevant answer 0
24
Ensuring reliability

• On-screen Marking System of HKEAA
• Markers meeting to arrive at professional
  consensus
• Markers go through training and a qualifying test
  before actually marking
• Systematic checkmarking by Chief Examiner or
  Assistant Examiner
• Double-marking

25
How can students prepare for NSSLiberal Studies
(LS) at junior secondary (JS) level?
26
Foundation from Basic Education
27
Strengthen Foundation Knowledge at JS level

• When knowledge is forsaken, LS foundations are
  shaken
• For example, NSS LS requires students to ask
  What is the relationship between the occurrence
  of sustainable development and the development of
  science of technology?

28
Strengthen Foundation Knowledge at JS level

• This question of enquiry assumes students
  mastery of relevant knowledge
• Geography oceans, rainforests, power resources,
  rich and poor
• Science energy sources, water pollution,
  biodiversity
• Technology Education technology and society,
  reuse and recycling of resources

29
Strengthen Foundation Knowledge at JS level

• The three KLAs most relevant to NSS LS are
• Personal, Social Humanities Education
• Science Education
• Technology Education

30
Broaden Knowledge Base Horizons

• Reading allows students to savour life
  experiences of others, broadening their horizons
• Develop habits of reading materials across
  various disciplines
• Read materials of different formats, not limiting
  oneself to comics, romance novels
• Balanced participation in co-curricular /
  extra-curricular activities, giving priority to
  quality rather than quantity sports, arts,
  service, academic

31
Maintain Civic Awareness

• Read newspapers magazines frequently
• News-reading is not limited to sports,
  entertainment, etc. include local, national and
  global news
• Be concerned about developments in the
  neighbourhood

32
Develop Skills Through Project Learning

• Give priority not only to the product, but also
  the performance during the process
• Dont just copy paste online materials
• Ask questions about the materials their relation
  to the question for enquiry, their authenticity,
  assumptions and values behind them, etc.
• Make a feasible work plan, manage time, effort
  and other resources to implement the plan
• Do not rely on parents / adults

33
How can parents support students to prepare for
NSS Liberal Studies (LS)?
34
Position of NSS LS

• LS helps students
• A deepen their awareness of contemporary issues,
  and develop positive values
• B broaden their knowledge base and perspectives
• C connect knowledge of different disciplines and
  strengthen their critical thinking skills

35
Cultivate childrens concern for people issues
around them

• Discuss life experiences with children (A)
• Discuss current affairs from more than one angle
  (A,B,C)
• Become models for children by caring for the
  neighbourhood (A)

36
Broaden childrens horizons(B)

• Encourage children to take part in more than one
  type of extra-curricular activities(B)
• Accompany them to visit museums (B)
• LS does not demand them to know everything, but
  instead helps them to connect knowledge of
  different domains
• Broadening horizons does not require extensive
  travelling

37
Support reading to learn

• Since reading can broaden ones horizons and
  allow one to savour life experiences of others,
  parents need to
• subscribe newspapers, esp. student editions (A,B)
• encourage children to read materials of different
  formats, not limiting oneself to comics, romance
  novels (B)
• accompany children to libraries to borrow/read
  books related to different disciplines (B,C)

38
Develop critical thinking(C)

• encourage children to express views and question,
  give ample time and praise (C)
• listen to childrens views, do not give premature
  negative judgements ? cultivate confidence in
  critical thinking(C)
• let them know when their views change our
  thinking (C)
• let them know that critical thinking does not
  mean criticising everything

39
Some forms of support are unnecessary

• Project learning
• Are the children really incapable in searching
  for information/designing the cover? Or is there
  a habitual dependence?
• Poor work planning ? seeking help from parents in
  the last minute
• Junior secondary students need to develop skills
  of self-directed learning required in NSS LS

40
Do we use textbooks in LS?

• Issues are evolving and ever changing in nature
  --- using textbooks as the main, if not only,
  learning materials will not achieve desirable
  results of learning.
• Teachers will exercise professionalism by
  selecting and adapting materials from the market
  to fit pedagogical need.
• They will employ a variety of updated materials
  from diverse sources to provide a wide range of
  perspectives on issues to be studied.
• Dont expect teachers to cover everything.

41
EDB Support measures

• Teacher Training Programmes
• LS School Network Scheme
• Parent Handbook
• Web-based Resource Platform for LS

ls.edb.hkedcity.net
42
(No Transcript)
43
????
44
(No Transcript)
45
(No Transcript)
46
EDB Support measures

• Teacher Training Programmes
• LS School Network Scheme
• Parent Handbook
• Web-based Resource Platform for LS

ls.edb.hkedcity.net
47
Thank you!