TDG – Experiential Learning for Comparative Literature Courses

Abstract

As experiential learning is an essential feature in the new undergraduate curriculum, this project aims to develop a structured curriculum for experiential learning in Department of Comparative Literature. The project focuses on two major components of experiential learning in the Department: multi-media creative project and meeting-the-artist activity. They offer a unique approach to experiential learning because of the small-scaled embedded syllabus design and the emphasis of creativity and reflective thinking.

Multi-media creative project and meeting-the-artist activity are effective in transforming students’ learning experience by encouraging them to connect knowledge acquired in lectures with actual experience outside the classroom. Multi-media creative project is especially successful in actualizing the educational goals of life long learning as well as social and cultural engagement. Meeting-the-artist activity enables students to interact with the artists and learn more about the cultural industries.

A set of grade descriptors based on specific outcomes of experiential learning has been developed by the project’s principal investigator and co-investigators. Many activities have been organized to promote experiential learning, including regular meetings with filmmakers and writers, a multi-media creative project exhibition and an off-campus student poetry-reading meeting. A new website, Multiple Voices: A Platform for Creative Thoughts (http://www.complit.hku.hk/multiplevoices/), has been launched to archive and disseminate students’ creative outputs.

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