University-school Support Programme – Professional Development Network for Knowledge Building in Schools
This project is funded by the Education Bureau and it aimed at supporting schools on developing and scaling up knowledge building pedagogy, sustaining teacher professional growth, and improving student learning through a knowledge building teacher network (KBTN).
Since September 2008, this project becomes part of the University-School Support Project (USP) under the School-based support services (SBSS) titled "Professional Development Network for Knowledge Building in Schools". A team of expert knowledge-building teachers are seconded to CITE to assist participating teachers in implementing the knowledge building approach together with the project team from CITE, HKU.
In the academic year 2009/10, one teacher consultant, five half-time seconded teachers (STs) and more than 60 participating teachers from 29 schools (12 primary schools, 15 secondary schools, 2 special school) participated in this project. Knowledge Forum®, which is hosted at CITE (http://kf.cite.hku.hk), is used by teachers and students in the project to facilitate their collaborative knowledge building activities. Please refer to the project website at http://kbtn.cite.hku.hk/ for more details.
In the academic year 2010/11, one teacher consultant, three half-time seconded teachers (STs), ten part-time teacher associates (TAs) and more than 80 participating teachers from 36 schools (10 primary schools, 24 secondary schools, 2 special schools) participated in this project. Knowledge Forum®, which is hosted at CITE (http://kf48.cite.hku.hk), is used by teachers and students in the project to facilitate their collaborative knowledge building activities.
Activities in the year 2009/10 (1 Apr 2009 to 31 March 2010):
- Weekly ST meetings
- Sharing among STs as well as scaffolding for knowledge building and professional development among the STs.
- Mentoring
- Regular school visits for on-site professional support to mentees, including lesson co-plan, classroom observation, KLA meetings, and other forms of contact such as emails and phone calls.
- On average, each participating schools have been paid 4 visits by our STs from September 2009 to March 2010.
- Teacher development workshops
- Sharing of experience in knowledge building implementation, designing pedagogy and assessment for knowledge building, and trouble-shooting common problems.
- A total of 1 induction and 3 workshops were organized at CITE since August 2009.
- International collaborations (KB International Project- KBIP)
- In school year 2008-2009, 6 schools have established connections with schools overseas for international collaborative knowledge building activities
- 5 student video conference sessions have been organized for these classrooms to discuss with their international counterparts face to face.
- In late August - early September 2009, 5 Hong Kong teachers and 14 students attended the Knowledge Building Summer Institute for International Collaboration in Majorca, Spain namely "Tomorrow’s Innovators (TI, 2009)", and met with their collaborating partners in person and other knowledge builders from around the world.
- In school year 2009-2010, 6 primary schools and 2 secondary schools have established connections with schools overseas for international collaborative knowledge building activities
- Five student video conference sessions have been organized for these classrooms to discuss with their international counterparts face to face.
- Open Workshops in CITERS 2010
- Introducing to local and overseas education professionals about the KBTN project and the implementation of knowledge building in local schools.
- Introducing to local and overseas education professionals about the international collaboration (KBIP) element of the KBTN project, and sharing the teachers and students.
Seminars, Workshops and Conference Presentations organized by the project in 2009/2010
Name of event |
Date | Venue | No. of participants | Brief description |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 0809 (4) -
How to assess? Are my students learning and making progress? |
25 April 2009 | CITE, HKU | 31 | A workshop on knowledge building assessment methods for building teachers. |
| KBTN 0809 Student Awards Scheme:
<Most Outstanding Inquiry Award> Competition |
23 May 2009 | CITE, HKU | 45 | A competition of students to share their yearly KB progress and achievements. |
| OLT Conference: 二十一世紀學習模式 - 透過網絡塑造外地與本地學生互動交流之學習平台 | 13 June 2009 | United Christian College (Kowloon East) | 42 | Introducing KBTN and KBIP to local schools and educators. |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 0809 (5) - Summary of Learning | 27 June 2009 | CITE, HKU | 32 | A workshop on summary of learning for knowledge building teachers. |
| KBTN 0910 Induction Seminar | 29 August 2009 | CITE, HKU | 68 | An introductory seminar for knowledge building teachers. |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 0910 (1) - Introduction: How to develop a collaborative learning culture in classroom? | 26 September 2009 | CITE, HKU | 53 | A workshop on knowledge building principles for knowledge building teachers. |
| KBTN 0910 Student Workshop | 17 October 2009 | CITE, HKU | 38 | A workshop for students to learn basic KF skills and KB principles. |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 0910 (2) - How to start knowledge building with KF? | 21 November 2009 | CITE, HKU | 37 | A workshop on curriculum planning for knowledge building teachers |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 0910 (3) - How to motivate, deepen student discussion? | 23 January 2010 | CITE, HKU | 45 | A workshop on knowledge building principles and ways to help students |
| KBTN 0910 Principals’ Meeting | 5 February 2010 | EDB Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre | 31 | Project team provided principals with an overview of project activities, progress, achievements and issues. |
| CITERS 2009 - KBTN Open Workshop I: 提昇新世代高階思維 - 知識建構師生網絡 | 6 March 2010 | CITE, HKU | 35 | KBTN participating teachers’ and students’ sharing of their Knowledge Forum® work. |
| CITERS 2009 - KBTN Open Workshop II: Knowledge Building Teacher Network: Teacher & Student Co-construction of Knowledge through International Collaboration | 6 March 2010 | CITE, HKU | 43 | KBIP participating teachers’ and students’ sharing of their collaboration work. |
Activities in the year 20010/11 (1 Apr 2010 to 31 March 2011):
- Weekly ST meetings
- Sharing among STs as well as scaffolding for knowledge building and professional development among the STs.
- Mentoring
- Regular school visits for on-site professional support to mentees, including lesson co-plan, classroom observation, KLA meetings, and other forms of contact such as emails and phone calls.
- On average, each participating schools have been paid 4 visits on average by our STs from April 2010 to March 2011.
- Teacher development workshops
- Sharing of experience in knowledge building implementation, designing pedagogy and assessment for knowledge building, and trouble-shooting common problems.
- A total of 1 induction, 6 workshops, and 1 dissemination were organized at CITE in the period.
- International collaborations (KB International Project- KBIP)
- In school year 2009-2010, 6 primary schools and 2 secondary schools have established connections with schools overseas for international collaborative knowledge building activities
- Five student video conference sessions have been organized for these classrooms to discuss with their international counterparts face to face.
- In school year 2010-2011, there is comparatively less collaborations with schools overseas. There are 2 primary schools with more than 60 students having established connections with school in Catalan and Quebec.
| Name of Event | Date | Venue | No. of Participants | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KBTN 0910 Student Awards Scheme: Competition | 29 May 2010 | CITE, HKU | 80 | A competition of students to share their yearly KB progress and achievements. |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 0910 (5) – Summarizing your learning in KBTN | 12 June 2010 | CITE, HKU | 31 | A workshop on summary of learning for knowledge building teachers. |
| KBTN 0910 Dissemination | 26 June 2010 | CITE, HKU | 187 | Presentation of Certificates & Awards to students & teachers, and experience sharing. |
| KBTN 1011 Induction Seminar | 28 August 2010 | CITE, HKU | 85 | An introductory seminar for knowledge building teachers. |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 1011 (1) – Introductions: How to develop a collaborative learning culture in classroom | 9 October 2010 | CITE, HKU | 67 | A workshop on knowledge building principles for knowledge building teachers. |
| KBTN 1011 Student Workshop | 30 October 2010 | CITE, HKU | 46 | A workshop for students to learn basic KF skills and KB principles. |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 1011 (2) – How to start knowledge building with KF | 27 November 2010 | CITE, HKU | 84 | A workshop on curriculum planning for knowledge building teachers |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 1011 (3) – How to motivate, deepen student discussion | 22 January 2011 | CITE, HKU | 59 | A workshop on knowledge building principles and ways to help students |
| KBTN 1011 Principals’ Meeting | 26 January 2011 | EDB Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre | 27 | Project team provided principals with an overview of project activities, progress, achievements and issues |
| Knowledge Building Teacher Development Workshop 1011 (4) – How to assess students’ learning progress | 5 March 2011 | CITE, HKU | 39 | A workshop on knowledge building assessment methods for building teachers. |