EDB Web-based Learning Course

Introduction

Objectives:

To broaden students’ horizons as well as to develop higher order thinking, independent research and self-learning skills through the structured web-based study with different levels of challenges at different phases that match the abilities and diverse learning styles of the gifted.
To enhance students’ social and cultural understanding of the Rise of Contemporary China (from 1978 onwards) and her relation to Hong Kong and to the World.
To foster and to develop students’ high potential in the area of Humanities/General Studies (Humanities Education).
To enhance students’ interest and effectiveness of learning through making the best use of information technology.

Target participants:

Senior Primary to Junior Secondary
(Students with high potential and interest in Humanities/General Studies (Humanities Education) nominated by school teachers)

Quota: 2000 students for each year

Course structure and contents:

The course comprises three Levels (Learning Stages)
Level 1: Foundation Learning
Level 2: Case Studies Learning / Independent Research
Level 3: Project Learning - Demonstrating Learning Experiences through an Activity
Primary participants are only required to complete any 2 domains in Level 1 but if they wish, they may choose to complete all the domains. (Domain One is the “Overview” and is compulsory, primary participants may choose any 2 domains from Domain Two “Economic Reforms Since 1978”, Domain Three “Political Transformations Since 1978” and Domain Four “Social & Cultural Changes Since 1978”). Those with excellent performance in Level 1 may be recommended by the Education Bureau for promotion to Level 2. Secondary participants are required to complete all domains and those with good performance in Level 1 will be promoted to Level 2 (Participants are promoted to Level 2 according to their Level 1 performances).
Participants who complete Level 2 will be directly promoted to Level 3, no additional selection is required.
Participants who enroll in Level 3 are required to submit an “Activity Report”, together with their school teacher’s signature or comments upon the completion of this Level. Details will be announced when Level 3 starts. Primary six participants may choose to complete their Level 3 course in their original primary school or in their new secondary school.

Levels:

Questions/Activities

Assessment

Contents and skills learnt

Learning Time/hr

Level 1:

Foundation Learning

(4 Domains – 15 Units in total)

Questions:

multiple choice
fill in charts, graphs, maps
others

(on-line learning based on viewing/ listening of related materials, hyperlinks for extended reading)

Through on-line Students’ self checking system

Study Domains:

Economic reforms since 1978
Political transformations since 1978
Social and cultural changes since 1978

Study Foci:

policies
development
incidents
achievements
challenges
impacts
Mainland-Hong Kong relations

Skills:

Comprehension
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation

Complete in 5 months (about 56 hours in total)

(Primary participants are only required to complete any 2 domains, about 40 hours. They may also choose to complete all the domains.)

Level 2:

Case studies Learning / Independent Research

With reference to the study materials and guidelines provided, participants research on their chosen topic and draw up the Report. (Course Tutors provide on-line guidance)

Course Tutors assess participants’ assignments, including the Report

Participants are free to choose any study aspect or topic according to the study guidelines

1. Prepare and draft the outline in 7 weeks (10 hours in total)

2. Complete two assignments, including the “Report” in 6 weeks (30 hours in total, Course Tutors provide on-line guidance)

Level 3:

Project Learning – Demonstrating Learning Experiences through an Activity

Participants design and stage a co-curricular/ extra curricular activity related to “The Rise of Contemporary China”

Examples:

Design and hold a Special Exhibition in school; Design and hold a programme for the campus radio or T.V.; Organise a Knowledge Quiz on Contemporary China for fellow schoolmates; Organise a Fair for students of other schools (e.g. primary students); Others

Students may work as a group or individually

School teachers check if participants have completed the projects, provide guidance on need basis and comment on the Activity Reports

Participants are free to choose any topic for staging the activity, but they should apply the knowledge and skills learnt from Level 1 and Level 2

Participants are required to submit an Activity Report after the completion of the activity

Complete in 4 months after the completion of Level 2. Recommended total hours for preparing and staging the Activity are 15-30 hours.

Language: English

Awards:

Students with good performance in each Level will be awarded an e-Certificate. Students with outstanding performance will be further awarded the “Certificate of Honour”. High quality assignments will be selected by the EDB for uploading to relevant website(s) and sharing platform(s).

Course Commencement Dates:

Level 1: mid November of every year (quota: about 2000 participants)
Level 2: mid May of every year (quota: max. 200 participants)
Level 3: late August of every year (quota: max. 200 participants)

Schools commitment:

Schools are required to appoint one teacher to coordinate the nomination of students. The coordinating teacher will be given a “web-based learning course login account”. Schools may appoint other suitable teachers (no quota) to supervise the learning progress of the enrolled students on need basis. Supervising teachers will share the “web-based learning course login account” with the coordinating teacher. To ensure the completion of Level 3 requirements by those students with good performances who are promoted to Level 2 and Level 3 respectively, supervising teachers are also required to oversee them by providing guidance and comments on students’ “Level 3 Project Learning – Demonstrating Learning Experiences through an Activity” (details will be announced when Level 3 starts). Primary six participants may choose to be supervised by teacher from their original primary school or from their new secondary school when completing their Level 3 course.

Nomination by Schools:

In principle, each school may nominate no more than 10 senior primary or junior secondary students to take this course. Each nominated student can only take ONE of the EDB Web-based Learning Courses in the same school year. Deadline for on-line nomination: late October of every year. Should schools need more nomination quota, please apply for special arrangement by contacting the Gifted Education Section, Curriculum Development Institute, Education Bureau on 3698 3481 or by sending email to cdoge7@edb.gov.hk.

Remarks: There are two EDB Web-based Learning Courses (Humanities), namely “China's Reform and Opening-up” (available in Chinese Version only) and “The Rise of Contemporary China” (available in English Version only). Each nominated student can only enrol in either one of the courses in the same school year.

Nomination procedure and course schedule:

Nomination procedure and course schedule
Nomination of students by school teachers
Nomination period: from early September to late October of every year For the exact nomination dates, please read the Education Bureau Circular Memorandum in early September or visit “What’s New” of the course website (http://webcourses.proj.hkedcity.net)

	Teachers nominate their students on-line by filling in the “School Nomination Form”; (Please input students’updated Hong Kong Education City account login name)

	School teachers may make reference to Appendix (behavioral characteristics of students with high potential in Humanities/General Studies (Humanities Education)) and exercise their professional judgment on whether the interest, performance and learning potential of the students are appropriate for enrolling in the web-based learning course;

	Teachers are advised to use multiple methods (e.g. classroom observation, students’ products and assignments, awards etc.) and multiple nomination channels (e.g. parent/peer /self recommendation) to recommend students with higher potential and deep interest in Humanities/General Studies (Humanities Education) to take this course; teachers are advised to give priority in nomination to students who have completed Level 1 course during primary years.

	Level 1 of this web-based learning course is designed to provide ample opportunities in nurturing students with high potential and interest in Humanities. Upon completion of Level 1, students with excellent or good performance would stand out from the cohort and would be selected to enter Level 2 and Level 3;

	Schools are encouraged to make copies of/relay the relevant information of the web-based learning course to the parents of their nominated students for information.

Announcement of Nomination Result (mid November of every year)
	Schools should check the nomination result online (http://webcourses.proj.hkedcity.net) in mid November of every year and inform the students and parents concerned;

	Gifted Education Section would not send confirmation letters to schools or individual students.

Course Commencement of Level 1 (mid November of every year)

Level 1 Course will start in mid November of every year.

Enrolled participants are required to complete Level 1 by mid April of the following year.

Eligibility for Promotion

Primary participants are only required to complete any 2 domains in Level 1, if they wish, they may choose to complete all the domains (Domain One is the “Overview” and is compulsory, primary participants may choose any 2 domains from Domain Two “Economic Reforms Since 1978”, Domain Three “Political Transformations Since 1978” and Domain Four “Social & Cultural Changes Since 1978”). Primary participants may also choose to finish all the domains. Those with excellent performance in Level 1 may be recommended by the Education Bureau for promotion to Level 2; primary participants with good performance would have priority in enrolling the course if they choose to take it again in junior secondary years. Secondary participants with good performance in Level 1 will be promoted to Level 2 and Level 3 respectively (Participants are promoted to Level 2 according to their Level 1 performances). Participants who complete Level 2 will be directly promoted to Level 3, no additional selection is required.

In principle, participants who cannot complete the course are eligible to be nominated again next year. However, whether the participants will be accepted or not depends on the remaining quota available.

Teachers’ Reference

Appendix “behavioral characteristics of students with high potential in Humanities/General Studies(Humanities Education)”

Contact/Enquiry:

For enquiries, please contact the Gifted Education Section, Curriculum Development Institute, Education Bureau on 3698 3481 or send email to cdoge7@edb.gov.hk.