Teaching and Learning Experience Sharing (TALES) Seminar Series (2017/18 Semester 1)

Facilitator(s):

Professor KONG Siu Cheung Professor, Department of Mathematics and Information Technology Director, Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology The Education University of Hong Kong
Prof. Kong Siu Cheung is Professor of Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, and Director of Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology at The Education University of Hong Kong. His research interests cover pedagogy in different areas, including but not limited to digital classroom, information literacy education, professional development of teacher for learner-centered learning, etc. Prof. Kong has produced 100 academic publications and completed/ conducted 71 research projects. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the international journals, Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning (RPTEL) and Journal of Computers in Education (JCE).

Abstract:

A bilingual text-mining system is developed for the collection, analysis and reporting of student-generated text recorded in online discussion forums. Using a framework consisting of bilingual keywords of a topic in a subject discipline designed by teachers, the text-mining system identifies and counts the matching keywords covered by the text automatically. The text-mining results presented by hierarchical visualization enable teachers to examine students’ learning status including their strengths and inadequacies in understanding of key concepts of the topic. The hierarchical visualization also incorporates a number of statistical quantities, including coverage, elaboration, proportion and bivariate correlation (i.e. Pearson’s r), for supporting a better interpretation of text-mining results. With a well-defined framework of bilingual keywords, the text-mining system enhances teachers to predict learning patterns and improve learning environments so that pedagogical decision-making can be achieved for optimising students’ learning outcomes. This collaborative project is led by EdUHK, with HKBU and CUHK as partners. The system described here can be made available for use by interested colleagues.

Facilitator(s):

Mr Dean COX (COMM)
Dr Lucia FUNG (MGNT)
Dr Daniel KWONG (CHEM)
Mr CK LAU (JOUR)
Mr Peter LI (INTL)
Professor Ping Cheung LO (REL)
Dr Hyun Jee OH (COMS)
Dr Emma WATTS (AVA)

Visiting Scholars:

Dr Nanda DIMITROV (Director, Teaching Support Centre; Adjunct Research Scholar, Centre for Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Western University, Canada)
Ms Aisha HAQUE (Adjunct Research Scholar, Centre for Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Western University, Canada)    

Abstract:

Not sure if you are aware of this fact: in the first semester of AY2017/18, there are over 500 course sections with at least one non-local, non-mainland degree-seeking or exchange student. The sharp increase in the number of international students creates a more diversified teaching and learning environment in the campus. With internationalisation being a strategic focus, HKBU is seeking to enhance its curricula for internationalisation and its teaching in a multicultural context. This roundtable discussion is the first of a series of 3 internationalisation TALES sessions. The next one will be in early November, followed by a 3-day on campus visit in December of our visiting scholars, Dr Nanda Dimitrov and Ms Aisha Haque from the Western University of Canada. The purpose of this roundtable session is to initiate discussions amongst colleagues, to exchange their experiences, good practices and/or difficulties/issues on handling internationalisation related matters on teaching and learning. The session will start with a brief introduction of internationalisation/ diversity/ cross cultural understanding by Dr Nanda Dimitrov and Ms Aisha Haque. Mr Peter Li, will then share some interesting findings of a recent survey conducted among exchange students showing their likes and dislikes of HKBU before the start of the roundtable discussion.

Facilitator(s):

Professor Paul LAM 
Associate Professor, Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research (CLEAR), The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Professor Paul Lam is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Learning Enhancement And Research (CLEAR) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He is involved in many teaching and learning research studies and services such as the use of technology for teaching and learning, promotion of the outcomes-based approach to learning, and the enhancement of teaching and learning spaces. More information about Professor Lam is available at: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/clear/people/Paul.html

Abstract:

Class time can be used for learning activities that aim at higher learning outcomes in a flipped classroom because students are expected to come fully prepared. This benefit of the flipped classroom approach, however, is not easy to achieve. Students may not come to class fully prepared. They may not want to participate in the class activities. The fact that you may be teaching a big class also make you difficult to monitor individual students’ work in the class time. Student Response System such as uReply greatly enhances interactions in the classroom. In the workshop the speakers will illustrate and demonstrate a few teaching strategies such as peer instructions that are able to effectively facilitate a flipped classroom. The strategies and tools described in this workshop are made available because of a UGC funded collaborative teaching and learning project. The tools introduced here are available for use by interested colleagues at HKBU.

Facilitator(s):

Professor Tao ZHOU 
Director of the Web Sciences Center, Director of the Big Data Research Center, Full Professor, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Professor Tao ZHOU is the Director of the Web Sciences Center and the Big Data Research Center, as well as a Full Professor of the University of Electronic Science and Technology in Mainland China. His main research interests include data mining, network science and collective dynamics. He has published 300+ research articles in prestigious journals (e.g., Physics Reports, PNAS, Nature Communication), with over 8000 citations from WoS (H-index = 40) and more than 17000 citations from Google Scholar (H-index = 64). His works have been reported in influential academic media such as Nature News, PNAS News, MIT Technology Review, PhysOrg.com, My Science, TG Daily, Dutch Science Magazine, Chinese Science News, and many more.

Abstract:

This talk will review the landmarks in the development of data science and artificial intelligence and introduce some representative cases on how such computer science and technology changes our lives, emphasizing AI applications in education as well as how to train excellent AI players in education. This talk will also discuss the possible opportunities and challenges in the near future, resulted from the development of data science and artificial intelligence.

Facilitator(s):

Ms Grace NG 
Echo360 trainer from BEENET

Abstract:

The University will deploy Echo360, a lecture capture software, starting from January 2018. This workshop will introduce the use of this tool and its related pedagogical features. As an Active Learning Platform, Echo360 promotes student engagement in classrooms and online courses. Other platform features including but not limited to classroom video captures, engagement and analytics tools etc, help turn classrooms and events into collaborative communities of learning, such as real time polling and quizzing. The polling results can also be shared at a click away to foster conversations and reinforce teaching concepts. You will discover more distinctive features of Echo360 and learn how to improve your course delivery and/or identify students’ learning needs more effectively in the workshop.

Facilitator(s):

Dr Beatrice CHU (HKUST)
Dr Kwok Pan CHUN (GEOG)
Dr Lucia FUNG (MGNT)
Ms Felicia LOW (INTL)
Mr Juventius SUHARTONO (INTL)
Dr Emilie TRAN (GIS)
Professor Kin Lam YUNG (GS/BIOL)

Abstract:

The initial discussion on internationalisation held in the October TALES session seemed to have ignited conversations in the University community on issues faced by both local and non-local students in adapting to learn together at HKBU. Continuing the momentum, this second session will assemble frontline teachers, international students/alumni and colleagues from within and outside HKBU to explore ways of supporting international students and helping local students better interact with them. This Open Colloquium aims to deepen conversations on possible approaches/recommendations to integrate local and international students inside and outside the classroom in order to facilitate a better teaching and learning environment in the University. Our academic colleagues will share their experiences with us. A couple of HKBU alumni who will then highlight interesting insights from their perspectives as international students at HKBU and now as staff members serving international students. We anticipate that these conversations can assist colleagues prepare for the upcoming workshops on Internationalisation by our visiting scholars, Dr Nanda Dimitrov and Ms Aisha Haque from Western University, Canada, in early December.

Facilitator(s):

Dr Nanda DIMITROV is the Director of the Teaching Support Centre at Western University, Canada, and adjunct research scholar in the Centre for Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, also at Western. Her work as an educational developer focuses on graduate education, mentorship across cultures, and internationalizing the curriculum. Her recent publications have explored disciplinary communication competence, the impact of International TA training programs, and the development of intercultural teaching competence. She has been invited to speak about her work at over a dozen Canadian universities, and facilitated faculty development workshops at universities in Switzerland and Hong Kong. 
Ms Aisha HAQUE is the Associate Director (Graduate Education) at Western University’s Teaching Support Centre and an associated researcher at the Centre for Research on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Faculty of Education). Drawing on her background in equity pedagogies, she supports the development of intercultural teaching competence among graduate students. Her recent publications have explored the benefits of discipline-specific approaches to TA training and the application of intercultural teaching competence across the disciplines. Aisha’s current research seeks to establish ethical principles to guide internationalization in higher education. Nanda and Aisha are the recipients of the 2017 Christine A. Stanley Award in Diversity and Inclusion Research in Educational Development.

Overview:

Internationalisation is an important strategic focus of the University. With the aim of further encouraging colleagues to provide cross-cultural learning experiences for students at HKBU, this 3-day event extends the TALES workshop series in October and November to continue and deepen the conversations on “Internationalisation at HKBU” with action. Two renowned scholars, Dr Nanda Dimitrov and Ms. Aisha Haque from Western University of Canada are visiting us from 4th to 6th December 2017. They will offer open lectures and interactive workshops to discuss Internationalisation at home, designing curricula for cross-cultural understanding as well as handling diversity in the classroom.

Abstract:

Open Lecture 1: Approaches to Internationalisation in Higher Education

This session will explore how institutions who have been successful at internationalisation efforts have created a cohesive strategy for embedding international education goals at the level of institutional policy, co-curricular and curricular learning experiences, and for promoting intercultural engagement among both local and non-local students. Using examples from diverse institutions around the world, we will also address common challenges associated with realising internationalisation outcomes. Participants will engage in a conversation about how the lessons learned at other institutions may inform internationalisation in the Hong Kong higher education context.

Open Lecture 2: Assessing Student Learning in Diverse and Interdisciplinary Classrooms

The ability to explore key issues in the discipline from multiple theoretical, disciplinary, historical and cultural perspectives is an important outcome of university education. In this session, we will explore how faculty members may design authentic assignments and assessments that allow students to represent diverse ways of knowing, demonstrate intercultural awareness, and explore key questions in their area of study from diverse disciplinary and global perspectives. We will also explore how faculty who teach students from diverse linguistic backgrounds can design assessments that support student success for all students, and share research based tools to assess the intercultural competence of students.

Interactive Workshops: Curriculum Design for Intercultural and Interdisciplinary Courses

Part 1 – 4 December 2017 (Monday) 
In this workshop, instructors will engage in creating the learning outcomes, learning activities, assessments for a new intercultural or interdisciplinary course, and explore possible partnerships with colleagues from different disciplines. Using the Intercultural Teaching Competence Framework (Dimitrov and Haque, 2016), we will explore strategies for facilitating intercultural learning activities that align with the outcomes of HKBU’s new GE curriculum; with particular emphasis on considerations for the development of intercultural and interdisciplinary awareness and perspective taking. Please bring a course idea with you to the workshop, and be prepared further develop your course plan before the second session on December 6th. 

Part 2 – 6 December 2017 (Wednesday) 
In the second session of the workshop, participants will present the outline of their proposed course to the group, receive feedback from our visiting scholars and from each other, with particular emphasis on the sequencing and scaffolding of learning activities to promote intercultural awareness and interdisciplinary learning outcomes among students. We will work together to discuss and refine how instructors may assess their students’ progress toward these outcomes among all students, local and non-local,  and how instructors can encourage metacognition about intercultural and interdisciplinary learning.

Facilitator(s):

Mr C K LAU (Associate Dean, GS )
Professor Kin Lam YUNG (Executive Associate Dean, GS)
Dr Eva WONG (Director, CHTL)

Abstract:

As a standard quality assurance and enhancement practice, programme directors review programme documents on a regular basis to ensure programme quality and effectiveness. For new programmes, directors are also required to prepare programme documents based around certain standards set out by the University. To facilitate programme directors to prepare and review their TPg & RPg programme documents, this workshop aims to provide a recap on OBTL adoption in the University. Constructive alignments amongst course intended learning outcomes (CILOs), programme intended learning outcomes (PILOs), and Graduate Attributes (GAs), as well as the integration of the Evidence Collection Initiative (ECI) exercise into the programme assessment will be shared and discussed. While examples in postgraduate programmes will primarily be used to facilitate the discussion, participation of programme directors at all levels in the session are welcome.