Media

Singapore and Hong Kong Teachers in “Parallel Lessons” Classroom observation through internet

28 Oct 2009

 

Date: 30 October 2009 (Friday)
Time: 10:15am - 12:45pm
Venue: SKH Leung Kwai Yee Secondary School
Highlights: 1. Hong Kong Teachers observing Singaporean lesson via internet
2. Singaporean Teachers observing Hong Kong lesson via internet
3. Teachers from Hong Kong and Singapore having real-time professional discussions
4. Experts from HKU explaining "Parallel Lesson" - the new mode of teacher professional development

Background:
‘Parallel Lessons' is developed by The Centre for Educational Leadership (CEL), HKU. It involved a pair of teachers from Hong Kong and Mainland China who design and teach a lesson independently on a common topic to a same grade of students. The two lessons are observed by the two teachers as well as other teachers and specialists. A forum is then held among them to exchange ideas and views about the lessons. It is different from the public lecture we normally see. This kind of sharing stimulates teachers to have deeper reflections on their teaching, and thus become more aware of the underlying assumptions and values, which they may take for granted. This would facilitate fundamental changes and improvement in teaching quality. In 2006, supported by 1.7M from QEF, there are more than 150 teachers from Shanghai, Guangzhou & Hong Kong in five different subjects (Chinese, English, Mathematics, Integrated Humanities and Integrated Science) teaching 58 pairs of "Parallel Lessons" in the three cities. Teachers welcomed and enjoyed the event. The project was very successful.

As the technology advances, "Parallel Lessons" now move into a new phase using video conferencing through Internet. Teachers from two systems can take part in "Parallel Lessons" without physically leaving their school. At the same time, teachers from other schools can login to the website to participate in lesson observation and discussion.

Starting from this year, Singaporean educators will participate in this brand-new professional development mode, and joining this week's "Parallel Lessons" activity, and share with Hong Kong Secondary teachers their experiences. Media representatives are cordially invited to cover the lessons. Details are as follows:

Time: 10:45am - 12:45pm
Venue: SKH Leung Kwai Yee Secondary School
(28 Hui Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon. Tel: 2727 4321)
Participating Schools: SKH Leung Kwai Yee Secondary School (Hong Kong); Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary) (Singapore)
Lesson: Portraying people (Chinese, Secondary 2)
Language: Putonghua
Rundown:
10:45am -11:00am Introduction (Host: Mr. Ip Kin Yuen, Consultant, Centre for Educational Leadership. HKU)
11:00am - 11:20am Introduction of "Parallel Lesson" and its effects via Video Conferencing from Singapore (Dr. H.M. Ng, Director, Centre for Educational Leadership)
11:25am - 11:45am Hong Kong Teacher observing Singaporean lesson (an extract*)
11:45am - 12:10pm Hong Kong and Singaporean teachers exchanging ideas online (an extract*)
12:10pm - 12:40pm Interview of teachers by Media representatives

* Please contact us for interview the whole event

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Karen Chiu (Tel: 2859 8013/ 2859 8012 / E-mail: educel@hku.hk )