“Principal Poon Says” - “Specialised Teaching” and “Open-ended Curriculum”?
Last time, Principal Poon shared with us that our Primary One students do not have exams, and how we encourage students to develop positive learning attitudes and find suitable learning methods through reflection after exams. We received positive feedback from many parents, and in this episode, Principal Poon will talk to us about the importance of curriculum for a school, and our unique curriculum features - do you know what “Specialised Teaching”, “Emphasis on Reflection”, and “Open-ended” mean? Let's listen to Principal Poon's continued sharing.
The curriculum is the core and lifeline of a school, and it affects the entire learning experience of students. We design the school curriculum and set specific learning objectives based on students' needs, the overall social environment, the school's educational mission and goals, etc. We focus on what knowledge and skills students should acquire and then choose or design appropriate educational materials, assignments, and assessments to help students learn and demonstrate their understanding. Through different assessments, teachers can understand students' learning progress and make adjustments to their teaching.
Firstly, we adopt specialised teaching for each subject. We reflect on the purpose of each subject's curriculum and delve deeper into its vertical and horizontal development based on students' needs.
Secondly, we value students' reflection, as we believe that learning should originate from students themselves.
Thirdly, we have an “open-ended” curriculum, meaning that on top of the basic curriculum, we provide more personalised teaching through different methods and according to students' different abilities and personalities.
Each of our subject teachers is a specialist in their own field, meaning that they do not need to teach subjects outside of their major, which not only reduces the pressure on teachers but also maintains the quality of teaching. Due to limited resources and staff ratios, specialised teaching is not always feasible for subsidised schools.
We not only value students' pursuit of knowledge but also focus on whether students can cultivate a learning mode of constant reflection, which will define whether students can become lifelong learners. For example, in Language Arts classes, students write reflective journals to apply what they have learned to their own lives.
An “open-ended” curriculum means that what students learn is not restricted to what is taught in the curriculum. For example, in mathematics, we have a Math Journal, and students explore and bring knowledge back to the classroom.
I believe that future curriculum development will focus not only on knowledge but also on skills such as communication, collaboration, and reflection. In 2022, the Education Bureau launched new education guidelines, which also emphasised the importance of children's physical and mental health and the purpose of assessment, in addition to knowledge. I think the trend worldwide is towards more personalised education, which is also the main direction we are taking in adjusting our curriculum.
We review our school's development plan every three years, which includes reviewing and updating our teaching and learning strategies. For example, our previous focus was on gifted education and independent learning, and in the future, we will place more emphasis on personalised education and e-learning, as technology is constantly evolving, and students need to know how to use it.
To understand a school, in addition to its teaching staff, facilities, and students' academic performance, the school's curriculum is also one of the important factors that define a school. Thank you, Principal Pan, for your practical sharing. In the next episode of 'Principal Pan accompanies you to talk,' we will discuss the differences and importance of different educational methods on educational outcomes. See you next time!