Category: CETL

International Conference – Beyond the Formal Curriculum in Universities: Conference Summary

Conference Summary

The International Conference – Beyond the Formal Curriculum in Universities was held on 30-31 August 2016 by the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL), Professional Development and Capacity Building for Residential Education (ResEd) Project, and Hall Education Development (HED) Project at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). The conference concentrated on hall and residential education, including its history, challenges, role in skill development and personal growth, and the future directions of such education in Hong Kong and around the world. With Keynote speakers coming in from Cambridge, Harvard, and the National University of Singapore (NUS), over 200 academics and professionals attended, coming from other higher education institutions in Hong Kong and around Asia.

The event began with some warm welcoming remarks from Professor Peter Mathieson, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong, followed by those of Professor Sandra Tsang, Chairperson of the Committee on Halls, and the Conference Chairperson and Warden of the RC Lee Hall, Dr Robert Chung.

Reverend Duncan Dormor, Dean of St John’s College at the University of Cambridge, was the first to take the stage with his keynote presentation “‘Jewel in the Crown?’ The Oxbridge College: Its Origin, Character and Future”. Touching on the history of the college model in higher education, he highlighted how collegiality in the Oxbridge residential colleges – inclusive of college allegiance, belongingness, interdisciplinary learning and relationship building – acted in combination with a plethora of extracurricular and academic opportunities to emphasize and develop a strong character and college spirit, amidst a rich array of activities, clubs, traditions, tutorial systems and research opportunities.

The next session, titled “From Present to Past: The Evolution of Hall/Residential Education”, was chaired by Dr Kaimin Shih, Warden of the Suen Chi Sun Hall. The presentations focused on past developments in residential education up to the present day, in both HKU and at the University of Macau (UM). The HKU presentations included an overview of our halls in following the Oxbridge residential model, the establishment of residential colleges and how they compare to traditional halls, and the continued challenge of promoting internalization in halls where Cantonese is the dominant language, while the UM presentation explained how its newly established Residential College System helped students attain overall learning outcomes. Presenters included Dr Eric Chong (Warden of St John’s College, HKU), Professor Haydn Chen (Vice Rector of Student Affairs at UM), Ms Rainbow Wong (Acting Deputy Master of the Chi Sun College, HKU) and Mr Kevin Yung (Senior Resident Tutor in Simon KY Lee Hall).

In the afternoon, Professor Kenneth Leung, Warden of Morrison Hall, led a panel discussion on residential education around the world, aptly titled “Hall and Residential Education in a Global Perspective”. Reverend Duncan Dormor and Professor Hayden Chen returned on stage as panelists and were joined by Mr Renaldo Michael Pearson (Academic Coordinator of Winthrop House at Harvard University) and Professor Adekunle Adeyeye (current and founding College Master of the Ridge View Residential College (RVRC) at NUS). The discussion began with each panelist outlining the hall system at their respective universities, and followed with an in-depth exchange about ongoing challenges, which included the need to embrace diversity of both student and staff in halls, the sustainability of residential models and the development and assessment of generic competencies. The panelists concluded with a unanimous agreement that the most rewarding aspect of their work was the opportunity to work closely with students and watch them in their growth and achievements.

The last session of the day was chaired by Dr Siu Man Ng, Warden of the Simon KY Lee Hall, titled “Hall and Residential Education in Hong Kong”. Presentations were focused on the current position of residential education in Hong Kong (with specific examples from HKU and Lingnan University). Some speakers presented student responses to surveys regarding residential education and hall life, with further suggestions made to address concerns raised by the surveys, such as the need to implement strategies targeted at nurturing self-care and independence of residents. Presenters included Professor Annie Chan (Warden of the William MW Mong and Bank of East Asia Hall, and Associate Dean of Social Sciences at Lingnan University), Mr David Choi (undergraduate student at HKU), Dr Robert Chung, and Dr Maggie Zhao (Director of the Teaching and Learning Evaluation and Measurement Unit, HKU).

Day two kicked off with a keynote presentation by Professor Adekunle Adeyeye titled “Transmission from Home to College: Opportunities and Challenges in a Year One Residential College”. He began with stressing the need to assist freshmen students in transitioning into the university, and detailed a programme in RVRC that aimed to help students develop academic and co-academic learning components. The programme includes peer mentorships, industry dialogues and community building activities, and also provides regular fieldtrip and project opportunities for students to connect with a problem to integrate classroom learning and theory with reality and experiences. Going forward, Professor Adeyeye acknowledged the challenge of integrating the college’s program with the university’s, and the need to continue establishing the RVRC’s name and brand.

Professor Thomas Ng, Warden of the Lee Shau Kee Hall, chaired the next session titled “Measuring and Assessing Learning Experiences in Hall and Residential Education”. Discussions focused on the importance of residential education in developing soft skills and generic competencies, and the specific programs and activities offered at certain residences that promoted experiential learning, artistic exploration, and personal growth of resident students. Presenters included Dr Cecilia Chan (Head of Professional Development, CETL, HKU), Professor Spencer Benson (Director of the Centre for Teaching and Learning Enhancement, UM), Dr Natalie Pang (Faculty in Residence at Crescent Hall, Nanyang Technological University), and Professor Greg Peterson (Fellow at the College of Alice & Peter Tan, NUS).

Representing Harvard’s Winthrop House, Mr Renaldo Michael Pearson was next to give his keynote presentation titled “Why Harry Potter Chose Harvard: A House System that Continues to Cultivate Top Talent”. He drew on the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as featured in the fictional Harry Potter series, to detail Harvard’s houses, residential system, and intermural activities. He also put particular emphasis on the organizational structure of the houses – inclusive of faculty deans, academics, and residential and non-residential tutors – and its irrefutable role in supporting the robust character building experiences and successful undertakings of Harvard’s students.

The conference concluded with a session titled “The Way Forward: Professionalization and Specialization”, chaired by Professor Raymond Cheung, Warden of the Lee Hysan Hall. Structured as a panel discussion, presenters discussed various pressing needs of residential halls, particularly in HKU. Multiple suggestions were made in regards to the continuing need for professional development, academic advising and staff training in residential education. Concerns regarding student discontinuation and suicide were also brought forth, with panelists urging the continued need to help students directly in coping with hall life stressors. Speakers included Dr Wilton Fok (Senior Resident Tutor of Suen Chi Sun Hall), Ms Katherine Wan (Head of the Academic Advising Office, HKU), Professor Anthony Yeh (Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Discontinuation, HKU), Ms Linda Yeung (Clinical Psychologist at the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), HKU), and Professor Paul Yip (Director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, HKU).

In his closing remarks, Dr Robert Chung emphasized the importance of continuing intellectual pursuits in hall and residential education, and expressed his enthusiasm in pursuing new endeavors with new collaborators. Echoing the word “Beyond” in the name of this maiden conference, Dr Chung looked towards the future and voiced his hope that everyone would continue their efforts in exploring what is next for hall and residential education, and can one day meet again to share more experiences, research and insights.

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Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme Seminar – Cultural Exchange in Developing Teaching on Child Welfare

Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Details of the workshop:

Date : 13 October, 2016 (Thursday)
Time : 12:00nn – 1:00pm
Venue : Room 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building (Main Campus), HKU
Speaker : Dr. Edward Chan, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work & Social Administration, HKU
Facilitator : Dr. Luke Fryer, Associate Professor, CETL, HKU

Abstract:

Utilizing a “case bank approach” Korean and HKU students engaged in exchange activities towards the development of a new course named Asian Perspectives on Child Welfare. Participating students shared their different cultural perspectives during the exchange, comparing the similarities and differences of these two Asian cultures. Korean and Chinese culture share similar roots in Confucianism and yet have also had very different trajectories of socio-economic development. Across the exchange experience, students on both sides had substantial opportunity to share their views and experiences with other young scholars.

The use of a case bank approach was extremely effective for this project. Students gained insights on Asian cultural perspectives through the process of preparation, presentation and discussion. The product of the case studies developed during the exchange activities will continue to be used as materials for future teaching. While most of the publications in this field address Western societal contexts, these indigenous materials could serve as good references to begin to address cultural issues in specifically Asian contexts. These and many other aspect of the exchange will be elaborated on during the seminar.

It is hoped that seminar participants come with questions as well ideas for future exchanges. Discussion will aim to both highlight the outcomes of the current project and support other staff in organizing similar exchanges.

About the Speaker:

Dr Edward Chan Ko Ling is a Fulbright Scholar. He was recently awarded by RGC Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme in 2016.
He has been researching into epidemiology and culture-specific risk factors for family violence, child and family poly-victimization. He is active in research and teaching in Mainland China & South Korea.

Registration

For information, please contact:
Ms. Noranda Zhang , CETL
Phone: 3917 4729; Email: noranda@hku.hk

CETL Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme

Teaching Excellence Award Scheme Workshop (2)

Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Details of the workshop:

Date : 19 September, 2016 (Monday)
Time : 12:00 – 14:00
Venue : Room 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building (Main Campus), HKU
Facilitator : Dr. Cecilia Chan, Head of Professional Development, Associate Professor, CETL
Invited speaker: Dr. Chun-Kit Chui, Department of Computer Science, Teaching Excellent Award Winner 2015

Abstract

This workshop is open to all teaching staff who are interested in finding out more about the different Teaching Excellence Awards. Staff will be provided an overview of the award schemes, the key selection criteria and advice in preparing an evidence-based teaching portfolio. Staff who are thinking about applying in the next round are strongly encouraged to attend. Staff who are not sure, or would simply like to know more about the scheme, are most welcome.

Registration

For information, please contact:
Ms. Noranda Zhang , CETL
Phone: 3917 4729; Email: noranda@hku.hk

CETL TEAS

International Conference – Beyond the Formal Curriculum in Universities

Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Details of the Conference:

Date : 30-31 August, 2016 (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Venue : Wang Guangwu Theater (Graduate House), HKU
Keynote speakers :
The Reverend Duncan Dormor, Dean, St. John’s College, The University of Cambridge
Renaldo Michael Pearson, Assistant to the Resident Dean, Winthrop House, The Harvard University
Prof Adekunle Adeyeye, Founding College Master, Ridge View Residential College, The National University of Singapore

You are cordially invited to take part in the captioned conference which will be held on 30-31 August 2016 at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Our goal is to bring experts, scholars, researchers, co-workers, and various stakeholders in the area of hall/residential education to discuss the development of this precious mode of education in universities.

We hope the conference would provide a platform for fruitful dialogues between hall wardens, college masters, resident tutors, and other experts engaged in the development of hall/residential education around the world. More details of the conference is outlined on our website http://www.cetl.hku.hk/conf2016/.

Concepts of Hall/Residential Education

Evolution of halls, colleges, houses, and so on in top universities around the world
Challenges facing hall/residential education in top universities around the world
Hall/residential education in the Hong Kong context
Different modes of hall/residential education in HKU
Studies on, and projects related to hall/residential education

Generic skills for outside classroom activities

Developing generic skills for outside classroom activities
Assessing and evidencing generic skills for residential education

Application of e-learning on Hall/Residential Education

Official launching of the “ResEd online course”, with demonstrations
Application of e-learning in conference discussions: in plenary and deliberation sessions
e-Portfolio for hall education, residential learning and co-curriculum activities

Staff Training on Hall/Residential Education

Residential academic advising: Local and overseas experience
Basic skills in conflict management
Development of leadership skills among students
Basic skills in counselling, advising, mental health first aid
Inclusion and students with special education needs

Admission to the conference is free of charge and we very much hope that you are interested to participate. A confirmation of registration will be sent to all successful registrants.

Registration

For information, please contact:
Miss Michelle CHENG, Conference Secretary
Phone: 3917 1276; Email: cetlconf@hku.hk

CETL Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme

Teaching Excellence Award Scheme Workshop

Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Details of the workshop:

Date : 25 August, 2016 (Thursday)
Time : 11:00 am – 12:00 nn
Venue : Room 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building (Main Campus), HKU
Facilitator : Dr. Cecilia Chan, Head of Professional Development, Associate Professor, CETL

Abstract

Registration

For information, please contact:
Ms. Noranda Zhang , CETL
Phone: 3917 4729; Email: noranda@hku.hk

CETL TEAS

Assessing with ePortfolios

Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Details of the workshop:

Date : July 8 (Friday), 2016
Time : 12:30 p.m. – 13:30 p.m.
Venue : Room 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building (Main Campus), HKU
Speakers:

Professor Gavin T. L. Brown, Director, Quantitative Data Analysis and Research Unit, Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Auckland;
Dr. Tanja Sobko, Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Hong Kong.

Facilitator:

Dr. Susan Bridges, Associate Professor, CETL, The University of Hong Kong

Sandwiches will be served with coffee and tea.

Abstract

Focusing on what you value: A considered approach to assessing ePortfolios
ePortfolio creation, using any of a number of digital tools, is an opportunity for students to assemble work that shows not only high quality products and performances, but also to show development over time, focus on speciality, and demonstration of breadth. These highly valued characteristics of engaged learning make adoption of eportfolio as a basis for assessment very attractive. In addition, policy pressure encourages academia to keep up with innovations in educational technology related to learning and assessment. Demonstrating entry-level competence in a number of professions (e.g., teaching) is often achieved by assembly of an ePortfolio.

However, enthusiasm for ePortfolios often overlooks the challenges facing the assessment of the completed ePortfolio, especially around both the feasibility and validity of rankings, scores, judgements, and/or feedback. A number of approaches to assessment exist (e.g., checklist completion, quantification of components, rubric-based judgement, and professional intuition). This seminar will emphasise the importance of defining clearly the curricular goals targeted by the ePortfolio and overview the pros and cons of the various approaches. Using insights from psychometrics and recent research into the experience of students in ePortfolio usage, the seminar will help participants work towards defensible practices that lead to valid interpretations and decisions about student learning embodied in an ePortfolio.

ePortfolio in higher education in Hong Kong–Applicability of an ePortfolio, through online reflection/feedback of using wearable technology.
The interactions between human beings and the wearable technology can be linked to learning concepts/instructional methods like knowledge building, situated, self-regulated and active learning. They may also be linked to development of new literacies, such as eHealth. To understand this process in higher education in Hong Kong, a multiple case study including 30 students from an undergraduate course, BSc Exercise and Health has been conducted. Each student used a wearable device (activity tracker) over a period of five months, reflected weekly on emerging personal data, documents their thinking and action in the ePortfolio, and engaged in an online forum. The participants entered their experiences with the biometric data, lifestyle adaptations (e.g. more sleep), special situations (e.g. hike, HR changes during activity) and how these experiences led to specific searches and actions on the web and/or in their real social network. The ePortfolio allowed the students to critically reflect on their progress and for the researchers to intervene at any time on the issues related to the participants’ postings. Evidence regarding change in eHealth at the beginning and end of the intervention were collected with a well-established questionnaire. By documenting the activity tracker in their own ePortfolio, the students continuously learned to search and to critically assess personal and available online information, organize it and present for peers/tutor. This in turn was expected to enhance their critical thinking, raise questions about health related topics, stimulate further inquiry – make the ePortfolio a tool for reflective and autonomous learning.

About the Speakers:

Professor Gavin T. L. Brown, PhD is the Director of the Quantitative Data Analysis and Research Unit in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. After 13 years a teacher, Prof Brown was a standardised test developer for 9 years working on diagnostic educational testing, including the computer-assisted asTTle system. His research focuses on testing, assessing, and measuring student achievement and analysing the human and social factors that help and hinder greater learning outcomes. Gavin is the lead editor of the Routledge Handbook of Human and Social Factors in Assessment (2016) in which insights gleaned from educational psychology and policy research are applied to large-scale testing programs and classroom assessment. Methodologically, Prof Brown has extensive experience with classical test and item response theory, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and multivariate statistical analysis.

Dr. Tanja Sobko has multidisciplinary expertise in nutrition, healthy lifestyle interventions (PhD, 2006, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden) and recently Physical Activity and Sports Nutrition (HKU). She contributed early-nutrition work for WHO, Programme for Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. Her recent research focuses on lifestyle modifications for families with pre-schoolers for better health. Dr Sobko is a PI for the projects “Targeting Early Obesity” (Macau), and “Play and Grow” (Hong Kong) – both aim, through exposing the families to nature, to influence daily habits and routines early in life. She teaches courses “Physical Activity and Health”, “Sports Nutrition” and has been engaged in Teaching and Learning Development, focusing on ePortfolio and its applicability in the context of undergraduate education at HKU. When she doesn’t research, she actively practices Aikido and hikes around HK and other exciting countries.

Registration

For information, please contact:
Ms. Noranda Zhang , CETL
Phone: 3917 4729; Email: noranda@hku.hk

CETL ePortfolios workshop

One-day Join-the-Conversation: Community of Practice – Aspects of Internationalisation

One-day Join-the-Conversation: Community of Practice – Aspects of Internationalisation
Date : 24 June 2016 (Friday)
Time : 8:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Venue : CPD 3.28, The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong
Keynote Speakers:
Professor Betty Leask, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning), La Trobe University
Professor Gerard Postiglione, Chair Professor in Higher Education, The University of Hong Kong
Dr. Steve Woodfield, Associate Professor, Kingston University London

Abstract

This year, the University of Hong Kong was ranked the third most international university in the world. Indeed, as part of the University’s vision for this triennium, we proclaim ourselves Asia’s Global University.

This event acts as a showcase of what we know and value about the internationalisation of teaching and learning at the University of Hong Kong, and what we can learn about trends in internationalisation globally. The programme focuses on three key aspects of internationalisation in relation to students, academic staff and the curriculum, and explores how, collectively, they help to shape an international university. As is only fitting for an event focused on internationalisation, we have invited renowned scholars from around the world to share their insights and experiences with us.

This event is taking place under the aegis of CETL’s Community of Practice Project, which has resulted in collaboration with staff from across the campus with the intention of fostering a community of practice in teaching and learning – collaboration which has already resulted in a creation of a large bank of teaching and learning resources based on case studies at the University of Hong Kong and internationally.

Programme

Time	Section	Speaker/Panellist
08:45 – 09:10	Registration and Refreshments
09:10 – 09:15	Opening Remarks	Prof. Ian Holliday
09:15 – 09:30	Overview of the Event	Prof. Grahame Bilbow
09:30 – 11:00	Internationalisation of Teaching and Learning (1): the Curriculum	Prof. Betty Leask
11:00 – 11:30	Tea Break
11:30 – 13:00	Establishing and Fostering a Community of Practice on Teaching and Learning: the HKU Community of Practice Project	Prof. Grahame Bilbow, Prof. Dai Hounsell and Dr. Tracy Zou
13:00 – 14:00	Lunch
14:00 – 15:00	Internationalisation of Teaching and Learning (2): Academic Staff	Prof. Gerard Postiglione
15:00 – 16:00	Internationalisation of Teaching and Learning (3): Students	Dr. Steve Woodfield
16:00 – 16:15	Tea Break
16:15 – 17:00	Panel Discussion – Internationalisation of Teaching and Learning: Ways Forward?	Discussant: Prof. Dai Hounsell
17:00 – 17:15	Closing	Dr. Tracy Zou

Registration

For information, please contact:
Ms. Noranda Zhang , CETL
Phone: 3917 4729; Email: noranda@hku.hk

Community of Practice Internationalisation Join-the-Conversation

Join-the-Conversation 4: Assessment and Feedback in Experiential Learning

Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Details of the workshop:

Panellists : Dr Julie Chen, Dr. Wilton Fok, Ms. Francesca Sin
Discussants : Prof. Grahame Bilbow, Prof. David Carless, Dr. Tracy Zou
Date : June 8 (Wednesday), 2016
Time : 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Venue : Room 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building (Main Campus), HKU
Hot dishes will be provided.

Abstract

In the University of Hong Kong, experiential learning is a distinctive component in the undergraduate curriculum. The University is also committed to providing a wide range of international and Mainland learning experiences for students under the HKU Horizons framework.

Designing assessment and providing feedback in experiential learning is never an easy task, and the great variety of student experiences involved in experiential learning, including community engagement, has often been associated with challenges in assessment. However, if we can accommodate for and make use of the diversity and authenticity embedded in experiential learning, there is the opportunity to turn these challenges into great learning opportunities.

In this Join-the-Conversation event, we will briefly share our findings from an earlier small-scale study involving interviews with nine teachers and two students at HKU. A panel-led discussion will then follow. Our panellists will outline assessment and feedback practices in their experiential learning programmes and address questions from the audience. The event will be closed by Prof. David Carless, a world renowned expert in assessment and feedback, who will round off by providing comments on the discussion and highlighting some key take-away messages.

About the Panellists

Dr. Julie Chen is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed by the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care and the Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education. She has been leading the Professionalism in Practice (PIP) programme, which links a student with the same primary care preceptor over three years to experience what professionalism looks like in real life. Julie is a family physician engaged in the development, implementation and evaluation of new initiatives in the medical curriculum to encourage early learning of professionalism and humanism in medicine. For this work, she has been recognized with a Faculty Teaching Medal and Teaching Excellence Award (Team).

Dr. Wilton Fok is a Principal Lecturer and Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Engineering. He has been leading experiential learning programmes for students from engineering and other disciplines since 2009. He started with a service learning trip after the Sichuan earthquake and has now extended learning experiences to other locations, such as Tianjin, Shanghai and Guangxi. Wilton will also share how his students made use of smartphones to collect artifacts for e-portfolio production in a recent mission to Sichuan.

Ms. Francesca Sin is Assistant Director (Experiential Learning) in the Faculty of Social Sciences. She leads the Social Innovation Global Citizenship Programme in the Faculty. Francesca read Economics at the University of Sydney for her undergraduate degree. She also received a Master of Business Administration, Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Master of Education from The University of Hong Kong and a Certificate of Entrepreneurial Management for Social Enterprises from Education-for-Good / St James’ Settlement. Apart from teaching, Francesca is also heavily involved in many education-related programmes with NGOs and social enterprises throughout Hong Kong, China and developing countries on a voluntary basis. She is currently a candidate of Doctorate of Education in Organisational Leadership from the Meridian University in the States, focusing on Transformative Education.

About the Discussants

Prof. Grahame Bilbow, Director, Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, HKU
Prof. David Carless, Associate Dean (Learning & Teaching), Faculty of Education, HKU
Dr. Tracy Zou, Assistant Professor, Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, HKU

Registration

For information, please contact:
Ms. Noranda Zhang , CETL
Phone: 3917 4729; Email: noranda@hku.hk

Assessment Experiential Learning Join-the-Conversation

Assessing and Providing Evidence of Generic Skills

Organized by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)

Date : 4 May, 2016 (Wednesday)
Time : 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Venue : Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building

Abstract:

As the world moves towards knowledge-based economies, increased emphasis is being placed on graduates’ acquisition of generic skills competency along their disciplinary knowledge. Most universities have emphasized the skills development in their educational outcomes.

A mixed method study conducted in Hong Kong with a representative sample of over 2500 undergraduate students from three research-intensive universities found that majority of the students believe that generic skills are important and are better developed through activities particularly in extra-curricular and out-of-class activities such as internship, experiential learning, student societies and residential education.

In this workshop, we will introduce a framework for the development of generic skills based on the concept of “avoider” and “engager” on student approaches to learning in oppose to the well-known deep and surface approaches. We will also discuss how these skills can be assessed (if it should be assessed at all) and how can students document these learning outcomes as part of their learning process?

Facilitators

Dr. Cecilia Chan, Head of Professional Development, Associate Professor, CETL

About the Speaker:
Dr. Cecilia Chan
Head of Professional Development/Associate Professor

Dr. Cecilia Chan is the Head of Professional Development and an Associate Professor in the Centre of the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Cecilia has a dual cultural background; she was originally born in Hong Kong but grew up in Ireland. In addition to her dual cultural background, she also has a dual discipline expertise in engineering and education; she has been playing an important role in enhancing engineering, business and science education. Her combined expertise in these fields and multi-cultural experience enabled her to lead and conduct research on topics such as assessment, technology enhanced learning and the development and assessment of 21st century skills from east to west in the different disciplines.
Cecilia holds a PhD in Engineering from Trinity College, a postgraduate diploma and a MA in Higher Education. She also held a Fellowship from King’s College London. She has received many teaching awards and has over 15 years of effective practical experience in engaging students. Cecilia is also the recipient of the HKU outstanding young researcher award 2015/16.

Registration

For information on registration, please contact:
Ms. Noranda Zhang , CETL
Phone: 3917 4729; Email: noranda@hku.hk

Assessment CETL Learning Outcomes workshop

NETL 2016 Conference Summary

The Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) recently hosted the annual gathering of the Network for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in research-intensive universities (NETL) from 16 to 18 March 2016. This event brought together delegates from ten universities from around the world to share good practices in advancing teaching and learning, specifically in the context of research-intensive universities.

As well as allowing each university to update other network members about their particular strategic issues, current projects and possible forthcoming changes, the programme also included three discussion sessions to consider issues particularly relevant to research-intensive universities. The topics discussed this year were: the research-teaching nexus, establishing teaching academies, and the place for professional standards frameworks in universities’ enhancement of teaching practice.

The gathering began with a warm welcome from Professor Ian Holliday, the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and an overview of the event programme by Professor Grahame Bilbow, the Director of CETL.

The first discussion was in relation to the research-teaching nexus. The research-teaching nexus describes the interplay between the teaching and research roles of individual academics as well as the roles of teaching and research across a university as a whole. Professor Adam Bridgeman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) at University of Sydney, and Dr. Cecilia Chan, Associate Professor at CETL, started the session with a joint presentation on how the research-teaching nexus might enhance students’ and academics’ experiences of higher education. The presentation led to a deep discussion touching upon the meaning of the research-teaching nexus in practice, the weighting of research and teaching in universities, the role of research in undergraduate education, the challenges facing faculties and institutions when they attempt to achieve a meaningful relationship between research and teaching, and what centres for teaching and learning can do to help university academics achieve a meaningful balance between their research and teaching activities.

The second discussion focused on the challenges of establishing a teaching academy: a community built to promote and recognize excellence in teaching and learning among academics. Discussion revealed that several universities favour establishing a teaching academy, where academic staff may become eligible for membership either through attending teaching development events or through demonstrating excellence in teaching. Discussion was guided collaboratively by Dr. Huang Hoon Chng, Associate Provost (Undergraduate Education) at National University of Singapore, Professor Sari Lindblom-Ylänne, Director of the Centre for Research and Development of Higher Education at University of Helsinki, Professor Sandra Klopper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University of Cape Town, Professor Jan Van Tartwijk, Professor of Education at Universiteit Utrecht, and Dr. Maria Larsson, from the Division for Higher Education Development at Lund University. Each introduced the structure and nature of their own teaching academy, and described the ways university academics were connected to the teaching academy, and the impact of their involvement. Subsequent discussion explored the effectiveness of a teaching academy as an interdisciplinary community of university teachers who had recognized expertise in certain areas of university teaching and who valued the scholarship of teaching and learning. As such, teaching academies could be considered a form of community of practice.

The third discussion homed in on the notion of a professional standards framework. Professional standards frameworks involve establishing a system for recognizing standards of practice, and describing the qualities and qualifications that can be used as a reference point by institutions or individuals for teaching development. Professor Grahame Bilbow, Director of CETL at HKU, described one of the most successful professional standards frameworks, the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), and Professor Jens Dolin, the Head of Department of Science Education at University of Copenhagen, offered an overview of the professional standards framework developed at the University of Copenhagen, which makes reference to the UKPSF. The discussions that followed explored the extent to which professional standards frameworks can be utilized to support institutions and teachers to develop their excellence in teaching and to publicly demonstrate the professionalism of individual teaching staff.

These three discussions were a great opportunity for the research-intensive university membership of the network to share different perspectives on issues of great relevance. They also reinforced on-going dialogue between NETL members. This year, that dialogue also focused on a joint book that will be published by the group in the coming year, provisionally entitled Enhancing Teaching and Learning in Research-Intensive Universities, as delegates refined the scope of the book, identified its target audience, made decisions on approaches to writing, and provided valuable feedback on draft book chapters that had already been submitted.

The gathering was rounded off with a brief review by Professor Grahame Bilbow, who observed that, although individual member universities are naturally distinct in their specific responses to economic, social and political forces pertinent to their jurisdictions, as research-intensive institutions, they are in many ways comparable and face many of the same opportunities and challenges. He then went on to summarise some of the conclusions that had emerged from our discussions.

First, it is clear that we share a concern about where centres for teaching and learning are located physically and conceptually within our universities. Across our membership, most universities have experienced a continual pendulum swing back and forth between centres being located centrally, on the one hand, and being located within specific academic units (such as faculties), on the other. It is clear that, wherever they are located, it is essential that centres be able to function independently to support the interests of the university as a whole.

A second concern we have is that, as research-intensive universities, we have a tendency to recognize and reward research achievements considerably more than teaching achievements, and dialogues in relation to teaching and learning in our universities may be somewhat sporadic. One way we discussed for countering this tendency, and where a number of universities have been very successful, is through the establishment of a teaching academy that recognizes and rewards teaching excellence and encourages communication between those who are committed to enhancing their students’ learning. Another way that has been successfully pioneered has involved formally recognising teaching standards and supporting professional/career progression in university teaching through the use of an independent yardstick, such as the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), which provides a framework for ensuring comparability of standards and gives university teachers a sense of career progression.

A third concern that several universities in the network have relates to practical ways in which academic staff can achieve a personal balance between, and synergy across, their teaching and research activities. Although this issue is a thorny one, and could not be fully resolved in a short discussion, nevertheless the discussion provided considerable food for thought.

Professor Bilbow ended by conveying his gratitude to all of the participants, facilitators and CETL/HKU colleagues who had attended the event. He also expressed his satisfaction with the fruitful discussions that had taken place, and the hope that the NETL group will continue to prosper in the future.

After a short discussion, it was agreed that the next NETL gathering will be hosted by Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands in June 2017.

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