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New Senior SecondaryLiberal Studies

(LS)

James YIU

Curriculum Development Institute

EDB

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A subject for everyone

• What makes LS essential to every senior secondary student?

Issues in

LS

EnglishLanguage Elective 2

OtherLearning

Experiences Elective 3

ChineseLanguage

Mathematics

Elective 1

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LS helps students …

A: deepen their awareness of contemporary issues, and develop positive values

B: broaden their knowledge base and perspectives

C: connect knowledge of different disciplines and strengthen their critical thinking skills

Issues in

LS

EnglishLanguage Elective 2

OtherLearning

Experiences Elective 3

ChineseLanguage

Mathematics

Elective 1

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Self & Personal

DevelopmentSociety & Culture

Science, Technology

& the Environment

Curriculum Framework

Module 1: Personal

Development & interpersonal Relationship

Module 2: Hong Kong Today

Module 3:Modern China

Module 4:Globalization

Module 5: Public Health

Module 6:Energy Technology & the Environment

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Self & Personal

DevelopmentSociety & Culture

Science, Technology

& the Environment

Curriculum Framework

Independent Enquiry Study

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Self and Personal Development

Themes Key Questions for Enquiry

1. Understanding oneself

What challenges and opportunities does a person have during adolescence?

2. Interpersonal relationships

What interpersonal factors facilitate adolescents to reflect upon and prepare for the transition to adulthood?

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Hong Kong TodayThemes Key Questions for Enquiry

1. Quality of life

Which directions might be chosen in maintaining and improving Hong Kong residents’ quality of life?

2. Rule of law and socio-political participation

How do Hong Kong residents participate in political and social affairs and come to grips with rights and responsibilities with respect to the rule of law?

3. Identity How are the identities of Hong Kong residents developed?

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Modern ChinaThemes Key Questions for Enquiry

1. China’s reform & opening-up

What impact has reform and opening-up had on the overall development of the country and on people’s life?

2. Chinese culture & modern life

With respect to the evolution of concepts of the family, what kind of relationship between traditional culture and modern life has been manifested?

To what extent are traditional customs compatible with modern Chinese society?

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Globalization

Theme Key Questions for Enquiry

Impact of globalization and related responses

Why do people from different parts of the world react differently to the opportunities and challenges brought by globalization?

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Public Health

Themes Key Questions for Enquiry

1. Understanding of public health

How is people’s understanding of disease and public health affected by different factors?

2. Science, technology and public health

To what extent does science and technology enhance the development of public health?

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Energy Technology & the Environment

Themes Key Questions for Enquiry

1. The influences of energy technology

How do energy technology and environmental problems relate to each other?

2. The environment and sustainable development

Why has sustainable development become an important contemporary issue? What is the relationship between its occurrence and the development of science and technology?

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An example

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Independent Enquiry Study• Each student conducts an IES making

use of the knowledge and perspectives gained from one or more Areas of Study and extending them to new issues or contexts

• An integral part of the curriculum, with 90 hours of curriculum time

• To be conducted during S5 – S6• The School-based Assessment (SBA)

component of public assessment

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Three stages of the IESStage 1: Project Proposal Select a study area / theme Collect background information Formulate the question for enquiry Design work plan and schedule

Stage 2: Data Collection Collect & organise data / information

Stage 3: Product Analyse data / information Evaluate different points of view Present IES results, amend according to feedback Write report to show the results of the study in suitable wa

ys

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The Product of IESWritten Form• Project presentation of 1,500 to 4,000 words

Non-written Form• Computer presentation, webpage, movie, etc.• The main body itself is self-explanatory • The viewing time should be within 20 minutes• Accompanied by a short text (300-1,000

words) explaining main ideas and showing personal reflections

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An Examination Subject

• Why does Liberal Studies have to be an examination subject in the NSS curriculum?– Recognition by local universities– International recognition– Students’ achievements should be properly as

sessed, recognised and reported

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Design of Public Assessment

Paper 1: Data-response questions (50%)

Paper 2: Extended-response questions

(30%)

School-based assessment:IES (20%)

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Design of public assessment

• In accordance with the curriculum design:– Enquiry and issue-based– Cross-modular

• Candidates are required to apply relevant concepts and knowledge to analyse various issues using appropriate thinking skills

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Marking of Examination

• Marking guidelines provided for each question, suggesting acceptable approaches with sample responses

• Descriptions of the basic requirements and expect performance of candidates for each level

• Marks to be awarded according to the level of criteria a candidate’s performance meets

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A sample question

“Referring to the above information, why did Premier Wen Jiabao propose ‘low-pollution, high safety’ as the way in which energy should be developed? Explain” (8 marks)

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Suggested marking guidelines Marks

The candidate:

………… 6-8

………… 3-5

………… 1-2

………… 0

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Suggested marking guidelines MarksThe candidate:

• explains precisely the meaning of ‘low pollution’ (e.g. reduction of emission of pollutants) and ‘high safety’ (e.g. various aspects for promoting miners’ safety)

• Explains precisely the present situation of energy extraction and use on the Mainland, e.g. heavy reliance on coal burning; and on the other hand, a huge demand for energy as a result of rapid economic growth

• ……

6-8

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Suggested marking guidelines Marks

The candidate:

• explains approximately either the meaing of ‘low pollution’ or ‘high safety’; or the explanation is not accurate enough

• explains approximately the present situation of energy extraction and use on the Mainland

• ……

1-2

• fails to explain the reason why Premier We propose that ‘low-pollution, high safety should be the way in which energy supply should be developed

• provides an irrelevant answer

0

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Ensuring reliability

• On-screen Marking System of HKEAA

• Markers meeting to arrive at professional consensus

• Markers go through training and a qualifying test before actually marking

• Systematic checkmarking by Chief Examiner or Assistant Examiner

• Double-marking

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How can students prepare for NSS

Liberal Studies (LS) at junior secondary (JS)

level?

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Foundation from Basic Education

8 KLAs in Basic Education as foundation knowledge

ChineseChinese EnglishEnglish

MathMath

PSHEPSHE

ScienceScience TechnologyTechnologyArtsArts

PEPE

Self & Personal

Development

Society & Culture

Science, Technology &

the Environment

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Strengthen Foundation Knowledge at JS level

When knowledge is forsaken, LS foundations are shaken

For example, NSS LS requires students to ask: “What is the relationship between the occurrence of sustainable development and the development of science of technology?”

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Strengthen Foundation Knowledge at JS level

This question of enquiry assumes students’ mastery of relevant knowledge: Geography: oceans, rainforests, power

resources, ‘rich and poor’ Science: energy sources, water pollution,

biodiversity Technology Education: technology and

society, reuse and recycling of resources

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Strengthen Foundation Knowledge at JS level

The three KLAs most relevant to NSS LS are:Personal, Social & Humanities EducationScience EducationTechnology Education

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Broaden Knowledge Base & Horizons

Reading allows students to savour life experiences of others, broadening their horizons

Develop habits of reading materials across various disciplines

Read materials of different formats, not limiting oneself to comics, romance novels

Balanced participation in co-curricular / extra-curricular activities, giving priority to quality rather than quantity: sports, arts, service, academic …

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Maintain Civic AwarenessRead newspapers & magazines frequentlyNews-reading is not limited to sports,

entertainment, etc.; include local, national and global news

Be concerned about developments in the neighbourhood

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Develop Skills Through Project Learning

Give priority not only to the product, but also the performance during the process

Don’t just ‘copy & paste’ online materials Ask questions about the materials: their relation

to the question for enquiry, their authenticity, assumptions and values behind them, etc.

Make a feasible work plan, manage time, effort and other resources to implement the plan

Do not rely on parents / adults

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How can parentsHow can parents support students support students to prepare for NSS to prepare for NSS

Liberal Studies (LS)?Liberal Studies (LS)?

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Position of NSS LSLS helps students:A: deepen their

awareness of contemporary issues, and develop positive values

B: broaden their knowledge base and perspectives

C: connect knowledge of different disciplines and strengthen their critical thinking skills

Issues in

LS

EnglishLanguage Elective 2

OtherLearning

Experiences Elective 3

ChineseLanguage

Mathematics

Elective 1

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Cultivate children’s concern for people & issues around them

Discuss life experiences with children (A) Discuss current affairs from more than one ang

le (A,B,C) Become models for children by caring for the

neighbourhood (A)

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Broaden children’s horizons(B)

Encourage children to take part in more than one type of extra-curricular activities(B)

Accompany them to visit museums (B) LS does not demand them to “know everything”,

but instead helps them to connect knowledge of different domains

Broadening horizons does not require extensive travelling…

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Support reading to learn

Since reading can broaden one’s horizons and allow one to savour life experiences of others, parents need to

subscribe newspapers, esp. student editions (A,B)

encourage children to read materials of different formats, not limiting oneself to comics, romance novels (B)

accompany children to libraries to borrow/read books related to different disciplines (B,C)

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Develop critical thinking(C) encourage children to express views and questio

n, give ample time and praise (C) listen to children’s views, do not give premature n

egative judgements cultivate confidence in critical thinking(C)

let them know when their views change our thinking (C)

let them know that critical thinking does not mean criticising everything

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Some forms of support are unnecessary

Project learning: Are the children really incapable in searching

for information/designing the cover? Or is there a habitual dependence?

Poor work planning seeking help from parents in the last minute

Junior secondary students need to develop skills of self-directed learning required in NSS LS

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Do we use “textbooks” in LS?

• Issues are evolving and ever changing in nature --- using “textbooks” as the main, if not only, learning materials will not achieve desirable results of learning.

• Teachers will exercise professionalism by selecting and adapting materials from the market to fit pedagogical need.

• They will employ a variety of updated materials from diverse sources to provide a wide range of perspectives on issues to be studied.

• Don’t expect teachers to “cover” everything.

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EDB Support measures

• Teacher Training Programmes

• LS School Network Scheme

• Parent Handbook

• Web-based Resource Platform for LS

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家長園地

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通識教師專區

下載學習教材

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EDB Support measures

• Teacher Training Programmes

• LS School Network Scheme

• Parent Handbook

• Web-based Resource Platform for LS

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Thank you!