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Wednesday 9 October 2024
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Active Learning Series: “My students are falling asleep. I am getting bored, how do I engage my students and motivate myself?”

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

Series Abstract
As we start the new semester, teachers face the challenge of motivating and engaging their students. We might be encountering problems like students dozing off, getting bored, or playing with their phones among others. This might be especially challenging as we move back to face-to-face teaching and learning after a few years of learning disruptions. In this series, Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) staff will share research insights and evidence-based tips on how we can use different active learning strategies to motivate and engage our students. Our Active Learning Series is suitable for both new and experienced teachers across different faculties. We hope to see you face-to-face!

[31 Aug 2022] Talk 1: My students are falling asleep: Motivating your students by incorporating SIMPLE active learning activities and assessment into a typical lecture and classroom
Talk 1

Date : 25 Aug 2022 (Thu) 31 Aug 2022 (Wed)
Time : 12:30pm – 1:45pm (HKT, UTC+8)
Venue : RRS 321
Speakers : Dr. Cecilia KY CHAN, Associate Professor, Associate Director, CETL

Abstract
In this workshop, we will discuss how to turn a traditional lecture classroom into a fun, rewarding, and challenging environment with minimum effort. How do we increase interactions between students and teachers, and students and students? This is a practical workshop, be ready to have fun with me! Examples and methods will be shared and demonstrated to motivate students in a classroom.

About the speakers

Dr. Cecilia KY CHAN
Dr. Cecilia CHAN is an Associate Professor and the Associate Director of the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. She has been responsible for the implementation of Outcomes-Based Education, Assessment, Feedback, Experiential Learning including using technology to enhance learning for HKU. She has been involved in assisting in curriculum reforms and quality assurance and enhancement. She provides consultations to faculty regarding the design and assessment of innovative educational pedagogy, research projects, grants and initiatives. Her research interests are in outcomes-based education, assessment, feedback, experiential learning, and graduate attributes/generic competencies.
[8 Sep 2022] Talk 2: Learning environment influences academic motivation: A 3D perspective on physical learning environments, synchronous and asynchronous hybrid settings
Talk 2

Date : 8 Sep 2022 (Thu)
Time : 12:30pm – 1:45pm (HKT, UTC+8)
Venue : RRS 321
Speakers : Dr. Tris KEE, Senior Lecturer, CETL

Abstract
This workshop on engaging students will explore an alternative three-dimensional perspective by examining how physical learning environments, synchronous and asynchronous hybrid settings can be conducive to motivation. The session involves a sharing on CETL’s new Learning Lab as a case study as well as a hands-on exercise on designing “your ideal multi-modal classroom”, drawing upon Educause Learning Space Rating System and the Activity-Centred Analysis and Design (ACAD) principles (Goodyear & Carvalho, 2021) to make learning more collaborative, engaging and thought-provoking.

About the speakers

Dr. Tris KEE
Dr. Tris KEE is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning, a part-time Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. Tris has nineteen years of full-time academic experience in teaching, research and knowledge exchange in both UGC-funded and self-funded higher education institutions in Hong Kong and overseas. She has led and collaborated on over fifty problem-based learning projects, working with academics from other universities, industry and government departments on adaptive learning, creative learning environment and designing hybrid learning environments. Tris researches on problem-based learning, experiential learning, and innovative learning environments. Her papers have been published in Sustainable Development (Impact factor 6.159), Journal of Problem-Based Learning (Impact factor 1.595), and Journal of Inclusive Education (Impact factor, 3.133).
[14 Sep 2022] Talk 3: 3 easy-to-use apps to engage your students
Talk 3

Date : 14 Sep 2022 (Wed)
Time : 12:30pm – 1:45pm (HKT, UTC+8)
Venue : RRS 321
Speakers : Mr. Donn GONDA, Instructional Designer, CETL

Abstract
How can we better engage our students? How can technology help us better facilitate our class? And how can we leverage different apps to keep our students involved?
This session will explore easy-to-use apps and their basic features to improve facilitation and engagement among teachers and students. We will look into practical tips to kick-start your face-to-face teaching. We will also dive deep into pedagogical considerations of integrating these apps into our teaching using the Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition or SAMR model. Join us, and let’s create a more engaging learning environment for our students!

About the speakers

Mr. Donn GONDA
Mr. Donn GONDA is an Instructional Designer at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and a Lecturer at the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. He is a full-stack instructional designer with expertise in developing and evaluating higher education courses, implementing innovative technologies, and leveraging analytics and research to enhance teaching and learning. Donn is passionate about teaching and training instructional design skills to teachers and would-be instructional designers. He teaches courses on e-learning strategies and management, and digital storytelling. Donn also runs several professional development workshops and seminars on improving students’ overall learning experience through instructional design. He has led and collaborated on several e-learning projects, such as using adaptive learning, creating agile learning design, and designing a hybrid learning environment.
[19 Sep 2022] Talk 4: The three keys to engaging our students
Talk 4

Date : 31 Aug 2022 (Wed) 19 Sep 2022 (Mon)
Time : 12:30pm – 1:45pm (HKT, UTC+8)
Venue : RRS 321
Speakers : Dr. Ronnel KING, Associate Professor, CETL

Abstract
How can we create a better learning environment that motivates and engages our students? In this talk, I will draw on the educational and psychological literature to illustrate how different aspects of the teaching and learning environment can facilitate or thwart students’ motivation and engagement. Particular attention will be paid to the role of three basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness in understanding how the teaching and learning environment can facilitate or thwart students’ motivation and engagement. The roles of instructional strategies, feedback, assessment practices, and pedagogical style will be highlighted. The practical part of the workshop emphasize how teachers can leverage these insights to optimize students’ motivation and engagement.

About the speakers

Dr. Ronnel KING
Dr. Ronnel KING is an Associate Professor at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. His research focuses on understanding the factors that underpin student motivation and well-being and designing positive psychology and education interventions to promote these optimal states. He is among the top 2% most highly-cited education researchers in the world according to the Scopus database. He is currently guest editing two special issues on how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted teaching, learning, and well-being in Educational Psychology and The Educational and Developmental Psychologist.

For information, please contact:
Ms. Lavina Luk, CETL
Phone: 3917 5272; Email: ytluk89@hku.hk