Curriculum Reform Retreat 2009

The Steering Committee on 4-year Undergraduate Curriculum held its 4th Curriculum Reform Retreat on June 22-23, 2009 at the Aberdeen Marina Club. The theme of this retreat is “Student Learning Experience and Assessment”. Faculties responded enthusiastically and about 180 participants joined the Retreat, consisting of Deans, Heads of Departments and mostly staff members who are key players in the implementation of teaching and learning matters, teaching award winners, and members of the subcommittees of the Steering Committee. Of the retreat participants, over 30 are office bearers of student organizations and student representatives from Faculties.

The first session was devoted to the interpretation of the preliminary findings of the HKUSLEQ 08-09 whereas the two sessions on the next day were focused on assessment issues, particularly the move to standards-referenced assessment and First Year Experience (FYE). Students collectively made three impressive presentations to express their views on student learning experience, assessment and FYE.

Responses from the participants were very positive and encouraging. Please see below for the Feedback Report, programme rundown and the presentation files.
(Presentations with icons require HKU Portal login to access.)

Day 1: Monday June 22, 2009 (afternoon) (Grand Ballroom, 2/F)
From To Programme
Please click the PDF/VIDEO button to download the presentation files in PDF/WMV format
2:00pm 2:15pm Opening Address
Professor Lap-Chee Tsui (VC & President)
2:15pm 2:40pm Curriculum Reform Progress Report and Student Learning Experience
Session Facilitator: Mr Benny T.Y. Tai (Retreat Organizing Committee Chair)

(I) CR Progress Report (Plenary Session)

  • Overview of progress made on curriculum reform
    • Professor Amy B.M. Tsui (Chair of SC; PVC(T&L) & VP)
  • Progress report on Common Core (CC) Curriculum and overview of CC offerings for 2010
    • Professor Joseph C.W. Chan (Deputy Chair of CCC Subcom; SC member)
    • Mr T. Gwyn Edwards (CC Co-ordinator)
2:40pm 3:45pm (II) Student Learning Experience (Plenary Session)

  • Student learning experience: Preliminary findings of HKUSLEQ 2009
    • Professor Amy B.M. Tsui (Chair of SC; PVC(T&L) & VP) 
    • Dr Beverley J. Webster (CAUT Deputy Executive Director) 
    • Dr Albert W.L. Chau (Dean of Student Affairs; Chair of Student Learning Experience Subcom; SC member) 
  • Student learning experience: Findings of follow-up focus group interviews with students on HKUSLEQ findings
    • Professor David R. Kember (Professor affiliated with CAUT) (5 mins) 
    • Dr Susan M. Bridges (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Dentistry) (10 mins) 
    • Dr Y. Feng (Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine) (5 mins) 
  • Q & A
3:45pm 4:00pm Tea Break (Marina Suite, 2/F)
4:00pm 5:00pm (III) Student Learning Experience (Break-out Session)

  • HKUSLEQ findings and identification of strengths and areas for improvement
5:00pm 6:00pm (IV) Student Learning Experience (Interactive Session)

  • Response from students and Reporting back from staff 
  • Q & A

Day 2: Tuesday June 23, 2009 (Morning) (Grand Ballroom, 2/F)
From To Programme
Please click the PDF/VIDEO button to download the presentation files in PDF/WMV format
8:45am 9:15am Assessment

  • Session Facilitator: Dr Stephen B. Pointing (Retreat Organizing Committee Member)

(I) Assessment: Current Practices at HKU, Issues and Implications – An Overview (Plenary Session)

  • Professor Esmonde F. Corbet (Chair of Assessment Subcom; SC member)  
9:15am 10:30am (II) Panel Discussion (Plenary Session)
Part A – Comments from panelists on key issues
Panelists: Member(s) of SC Subcom, Faculty academic staff and student(s)

  • Outcome-based learning and standards-referenced assessment
    • Professor Michael T. Prosser (CAUT Executive Director; SC member) 
  • Assessment standards and GPA
    • Professor Amy B M Tsui (Chair, SC; PVC (T&L) &VP)
    • Dr Otto Heim (Associate Dean (UG Student Affairs), Faculty of Arts) 
  • Assessment policy
    • Professor Stephen J. Andrews (Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching)-designate, Faculty of Education) 
    • Professor Esmonde F. Corbet (Professor, Faculty of Dentistry) 

Part B – Comments from the floor
10:30am 11:00am Tea Break (Marina Suite, 2/F)
11:00am 11:45am (III) Standardizing Assessment Practices and Assessment Policy (Break-out Session)
11:45am 12:30pm (IV) Interactive Session

  • Response from students and Reporting back from staff  
  • Q & A
12:30pm 1:30pm Lunch (Balcony & Board Room, 1/F)
1:30pm 2:15pm First Year Experience (FYE)
Session Facilitator: Professor L.C. Chan (Retreat Organizing Committee Member)

(I) Transition from School to University Education: Problems and Issues (Plenary Session)

  • Presentation of findings of FYE (2008-2009) and First Year Expectation Surveys (2008-09)
    • Dr Albert W.L. Chau (Dean of Student Affairs; Chair of Student Learning Experience Subcom; SC member) 
    • Professor Michael T. Prosser (CAUT Executive Director; SC member) 
  • Presentation of findings of FYE focus group interviews
    • Professor David R. Kember (Professor affiliated with CAUT) 
    • Dr David M. Pomfret (Associate Dean (Curriculum Development), Faculty of Arts; SC member)
  • Q & A
2:15pm 3:00pm (II) FYE Findings & Proposed and Implemented Courses of Action (Break-out Session cum Tea Break)
3:00pm 4:00pm (III) Interactive Session

  • Experience sharing from staff
    • Dr Albert W.L. Chau (Dean of Student Affairs; Chair of Student Learning Experience Subcom; SC member) 
    • Professor Ian Holliday (Dean of Social Sciences)
    • Dr Tsing Nam-kiu (Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning), Faculty of Science) 
  • Response and Proposal from students 
4:00pm 4:15pm Wrap Up and Look Ahead
Professor Amy B.M. Tsui (Chair of SC; PVC(T&L) & VP)
4:15pm 4:25pm Closing Remarks
Professor Richard Y.C. Wong (DVC & Provost)
4:25pm 4:30pm Filling out Feedback Form