Seminar Series: Learning as Boundary Crossing

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

Seminar Series: Learning as Boundary Crossing

In this complex world, teaching and learning has been expanding rapidly from classroom study to various learning opportunities in the real world and the virtual space. Many precious learning opportunities exist in the process of crossing boundaries. It becomes important for educators to identify and create such opportunities that will enable our students to learn as they cross boundaries between classroom learning and real-world experiences, the physical world and virtual community, theory and practice, and local and global engagement. In this series, we have included six seminars that will introduce a number of approaches to creating learning opportunities for our students in various boundary-crossing processes.

For information, please contact:
Mr. Thomas Lau , CETL
Phone: 3917 4807; Email: kanclau@hku.hk​

Seminar 1: Crossing the cultural boundaries: Designing meaningful intercultural interactions
Date : 1 November 2019 (Friday)
Time : 12:45 pm – 2:00 pm
Venue : RR321, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus
Speaker : Mr. Kevin Sites and Dr. Jason Pun
Facilitator : Dr. Tracy Zou, Assistant Professor, Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, HKU


Abstract
Our classroom is becoming increasingly diverse with students from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Leveraging the cultural diversity will help create many precious learning opportunities among students. Mr. Kevin Sites and Dr. Jason Pun will share with us their approaches to encouraging meaningful intercultural interactions in journalism and science disciplines respectively. Examples include designing intercultural and interdisciplinary projects, facilitating in-class discussions and peer critiques, and organising group work. These approaches are also included in a guidebook on ‘Meaningful Intercultural Interactions’, as a deliverable of a completed Teaching Development Project. We will share the softcopy with all participants and prepare a few hard copies for interested colleagues.

About the speakers
Award-winning backpack journalist and author Kevin Sites traded a high profile career as a network news producer and correspondent (ABC, NBC and CNN) to become the first Internet correspondent for Yahoo! News. In his groundbreaking Hot Zone project, he covered nearly every war in the world in one year earning the 2006 Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism.

He’s the author of three books on war, all published by Harper Collins imprint, Harper Perennial. The latest, Swimming with Warlords: A Dozen-Year Journey Across the Afghan War, was released October 2014. He’s also the author of, In the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars and The Things They Cannot Say: Stories Soldiers Won’t Tell You About What They’ve Seen, Done or Failed to Do in War.

In 2010, Kevin was chosen as a Nieman Journalism Fellow at Harvard University and in 2012, he was selected as a Dart Fellow in Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University. He’s a contributor to many print and online publications, including Vice, Aeon, Men’s Health, Parade, and Salon.

Dr. Chun Shing Jason Pun is currently Principal Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Since 2012, Dr Pun has served as the course coordinator for Fundamentals of Modern Science, a core science course required for all HKU science students which adopts an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to introduce the students to the broad landscape of science. Dr Pun has also been involved in multiple Teaching Development Grants, ranging from developing observational astronomy, promoting public interest in science through experimental science videos, developing first-year experience and initiating a peer-learning system for science students. He is also the recipient of the Teaching Exchange Fellowship 2017-18 to visit Yale-NUS College, Singapore.

Seminar 2: Creating a cross-city and inter-disciplinary student-based learning environment for urban development-related disciplines
Date : 7 November 2019 (Thursday)
Time : 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Venue : RR321, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus
Speakers : Ms. Alice Lee and Dr. L.H. Li
Facilitator : Dr. Tracy Zou, Assistant Professor, Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, HKU


Abstract
Conventional teaching in professional courses such as real estate development and legal studies requires classroom teaching or small group tutorial discussions where the teaching staff can interact with students directly to convey the necessary knowledge and to understand how students are absorbing the latest changes in professional practices. In order to maximize learning experience in these professional curricula in an ever-changing society, it is necessary to draw on different international resources of knowledge to add value to the programme, but this is usually constrained by timetabling and availability of students, guest speakers and staff. In this presentation, we will illustrate how teaching technology helps to create an online collaborative and interactive discussion platform that enhances the learning outcomes of students in different faculties within HKU as well as students in another city in Mainland China. Our experiment shows that with the help of the innovative online discussion system, constraints such as physical contacts can be circumvented which leads to more opportunities in cross-city and cross-discipline collaborations in teaching and learning. Our experience shows that technology-supported online teaching and discussion platform allows students to understand academic and professional knowledge in other curricula as well as other cities in a more time-effective way. This teaching mode also enriches their learning experience in an internationalized and interdisciplinary environment via a virtual platform. Applying technology in building up an interactive discussion platform makes inter-institution and inter-discipline collaboration easier and more efficient.

About the speakers
Ms. Alice Lee is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Academic Affairs) of the Faculty of Law, a member of the University Teaching and Learning Quality Committee and other teaching-related committees, and chairman of the HKU Teaching Exchange Fellowship Sub-group as well as the Law Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award panel. She specializes in real property and intellectual property (“IP”) education, and co-launched the IP Ambassador Programme with the HKSAR Intellectual Property Department for students to connect with the industry and reach out to the public. She has received two University-level teaching awards and a student-led Teaching Feedback Award, and has been practising and promoting the core values of the UK Higher Education Academy (“HEA”) since she became an HEA Senior Fellow in 2017.

Dr. L. H. Li is currently an Associate Professor and the Programme Director of the BSc in Surveying in the Department of Real Estate and Construction, the University of Hong Kong. Dr. Li was the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) in the Faculty of Architecture, the University of Hong Kong between 2016-2018. A Fulbright Hong Kong Scholar in 2006, Dr. Li has a wide range of research interests in social and economic aspects of land use policy, more specifically in the areas of urban land regeneration; impact of the built environment and urban development. Dr. Li has written over 50 refereed journal papers in these areas, in addition to a number of academic books. Dr. Li has extensive teaching experiences in undergraduate, taught postgraduate and RPG levels both locally in Hong Kong and in Mainland China including Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou. In September, 2018, Dr. Li was awarded Senior Fellow status by the Higher Education Academy.

Abstract
Conventional legal education emphasises textbook reading and lecturing, with written examinations as the major means of assessment. However, law is supposed to be a practical subject. A student who knows what the law is and how to analyse hypothetical legal questions does not necessarily know how to apply legal principles to everyday life. In order to equip law students with the skill of solving real life problems, legal education has to break boundaries and connect students with the real world. In this seminar, the speakers will show how student-driven and interactive learning and assessing activities can increase students’ engagement in learning and encourage them to apply their legal knowledge.

About the speakers
Prof. Rick Glofcheski’s primary areas of teaching and research are tort law, labour law and higher education. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Hong Kong Law Journal. He is the author of Tort Law in Hong Kong (Hong Kong: Sweet and Maxwell Asia, 4th edn, 2017, 850 pp), co-editor and co-author of Employment Law and Practice in Hong Kong (Sweet & Maxwell Asia, 2nd edn, 2016, 950 pp), and co-editor and co-author of Scaling Up Assessment for Learning in Higher Education (Springer, 2017). After teaching tort law for many years to a large cohort (250+) of students, Rick identified some failings in conventional law teaching. To address these, he designed and introduced over a period of years a series of measures oriented toward a more learner-centered, more authentic and more sustainable learning in which students play an active role in the construction of their learning. His work is the subject of analysis in D. Carless, Excellence in University Assessment (Routledge, 2015). In recognition of his achievements, Rick was awarded the inaugural HKU University Outstanding Teaching Award (2009), the inaugural HKU University Distinguished Teaching Award (2010), the inaugural sector-wide University Grants Committee Teaching Award (2011), and the HKU University Distinguished Teaching Award (2015). Rick has presented his work at conferences, workshops and seminars at universities around the world.

Ms. Alice Lee is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Academic Affairs) of the Faculty of Law, a member of the University Teaching and Learning Quality Committee and other teaching-related committees, and chairman of the HKU Teaching Exchange Fellowship Sub-group as well as the Law Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award panel. She specializes in real property and intellectual property (“IP”) education, and co-launched the IP Ambassador Programme with the HKSAR Intellectual Property Department for students to connect with the industry and reach out to the public. She has received two University-level teaching awards and a student-led Teaching Feedback Award, and has been practising and promoting the core values of the UK Higher Education Academy (“HEA”) since she became an HEA Senior Fellow in 2017.

Mr. Kelvin Kwok is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law at The University of Hong Kong. His research and teaching interests lie in competition law, business/commercial law and the interdisciplinary areas of law and technology, law and economics, and law and philosophy. In recognition of his teaching excellence and leadership as BBA(Law)&LLB Programme Co-Director and International Mooting Director, he was awarded the Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award 2016 and the University Early Career Teaching Award 2017. He has been a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2019. He has successfully coached HKU student teams for international mooting competitions, winning championship on three occasions. He is active in knowledge exchange through his media appearances and involvement in the work of the International Competition Network and the Consumer Council.

Abstract
Being globally minded, culturally competent and socially responsible are some essential attributes for students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. While developing global citizenship is often placed high on the agenda for many higher education institutions around the world, there are still questions and issues worth exploring. For example, what makes a global citizen? How do we define global citizenship in our contexts? Can global citizenship be developed through a significant experiential learning experience? Or do we need a pathway to guide students steadily toward such a goal? In this Join-the-Conversation event, our three speakers from different institutions will share their approaches and practices while engaging the participants in further discussion.

About the speakers
Ms. Jessie M.L. Chow is a lecturer (experiential learning) in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong where she has been instrumental in the establishment of local and overseas experiential learning projects across undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes. She is a trained teacher and educational psychologist with extensive experience in working with schools and NGOs, and organising service-learning projects. She has published an online guidebook for facilitators in EL with her research team (http://bit.ly/HKU_EL_guidebook). Miss Chow is also a recipient of the Faculty’s and University’s Outstanding Teaching Awards (team award).

Mr. Paul Myers has been a lecturer in the Hong Kong Baptist University Language Centre since 2013. Prior to his time there he taught English as a foreign language in several international locations. Just to name a few: Universities in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, English language tutorial centres in Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong and Non-profit organisations in Seattle, Washington where he worked closely with newly arrived refugees to the United States. He also regularly runs training sessions for new teachers (English as a second language) in Vietnam and Thailand. Paul also is a registered speaking test examiner for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). During his time teaching, Paul has met and worked with thousands of students from ‘all walks of life’. Therefore, he has a unique perspective on ‘cultural sensitivity’ and how being aware of this phenomenon develops a more internationalised classroom. With this understanding, the ideology of the ‘global citizen’ can be further understood and expounded on in educational contexts.

Prof. Davis Bookhart joined HKUST in 2013 to develop the university’s first comprehensive sustainability master plan (the HKUST 2020 Sustainability Challenge). After adoption by University Council, Bookhart now serves as the steward of the Plan’s implementation, and has an academic appointment in the Division of Environment and Sustainability. Bookhart came to HKUST after eight years as the founding director of the Office of Sustainability at Johns Hopkins University, following six years as Senior Research Director at the Consumer Energy Council of America. He is Chair of the Task Force on Sustainability Progress of the HK Sustainable Campus Consortium, and serves as Advisory Board member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

Seminar 5: A connected virtual community for learning
Date : 29 November 2019 (Friday)
Time : 12:45 pm – 2:00 pm
Venue : RR321, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus
Speakers : Dr. Pauline Luk, Mr. Francis Tsoi, Dr. Sarah Chan
Facilitator : Dr. Tracy Zou, Assistant Professor, Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, HKU


Abstract
Beginning in 2018-19, all third year medical students at the LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong embark on a mandatory, credit-bearing enrichment year of their own choosing. This novel initiative allows students opportunities for substantive engagement in their personal areas of interest related to research, service or humanitarian work, pursuit of higher degrees, or university exchange anywhere in the world. A commercially developed online virtual community of learning is engaged to provide learning and social support to students and to help them link their diverse experiences with the common goal of being a doctor. This serves as a platform to connect students, mentors, and the Faculty. In this seminar, the experience of using social media for cross-boundary learning would be shared by examining the nature, pattern and content of online interactions and identifying features which support learning and personal growth, from project management, technical and mentorship perspectives.

About the speakers
Dr. Pauline Luk received her PhD in Communications and New Media from the National University of Singapore. She is currently a Project Manager at the Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education (BIMHSE) of The University of Hong Kong. She coordinates a cross-institutional project, connect*ed, which aims at connecting and engaging undergraduate medical and educational students in a virtual environment. She is mainly responsible for the overall management and administrative work of the project, with development of educational initiatives and research as the key components.

Mr. Francis Tsoi is a Project Officer of connect*ed project. He obtained his BA and MSc (Information technology in Education) from The University of Hong Kong. He has rich experience in eLearning projects and involved in various e-Learning research and evaluation projects in The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Institute of Education (now The Education University of Hong Kong). He is a Microsoft Certified Professional and Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator.

Dr. Sarah Chan is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is a part-time lecturer at the Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education (BIMHSE) of The University of Hong Kong. To broaden her knowledge and skills, she has completed diploma courses in Dermatology, Child Health and Family Medicine after graduation from medical school. Since June 2018, she has been a mentor in the connect*ed project. Moreover, she is currently a member of the Enrichment Year Sub-Committee (Service/ Humanitarian Work).