Communication-intensive Courses (CiC) Symposium 2024

Organized by Communication Intensive Courses (CiC), Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC), Common Core and Centre for Applied English Studies (CAES)

Date: 30 April 2024 (Tuesday)
Time: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Venue: Digital Interactive Lab, 2/F HKU Main Library, HKU


Objectives

At the end of the Symposium, participants will be able to:

1. Understand visual and digital communication across the curriculum
2. Embed visual and digital communication in courses

Abstract

The CiC Symposium 2024 will explore the intersection of the digital world and assessment in higher and professional education. The event will feature a keynote address by Professor Margaret Bearman from Deakin University, discussing the principles and challenges of effective university assessment in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. Other sessions will include teacher perspectives, Visual and Digital Resources (VADR) sessions, and an Assessment Design Decisions Workshop. The workshop will encourage participants to consider their own assessment designs and how the digital world is shaping teaching and learning. The symposium will conclude with a closing session, wrapping up the day’s discussions and insights.

Programme

Time	Activity
9:30 – 9:35	Opening Speaker: Professor Cecilia Chan Director of Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC)
9:35 – 10:20 (45 mins)	Keynote: Reimagining University Assessment for a Digital World Recent world events such as the pandemic and the rise of generative Artificial Intelligence have highlighted the intersection between the digital world and assessment. This raises questions about both how we assess university students as well as the interrelated but outstanding issue of what is being assessed. For example, human capabilities such as communication are becoming increasingly important. I propose that a reimagined assessment landscape should fit the needs of the twenty first century and the so called ‘fourth industrial revolution’. This keynote lays out some of the principles underpinning effective university assessment, some of the challenges facing assessment in a digital world and outlines different possibilities for change. Speaker: Professor Margaret Bearman Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Office of the DVC Academic, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia Prof. Margaret Bearman is a Professor within the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University. Her research focusses on higher and professional education contexts. She is known for her study of assessment, feedback, simulation-based education, and learning in a digital world. Margaret’s most recent work includes exploring how artificial intelligence is changing how we work and learn.
10:20 – 10:25	5 min break
10:25 – 10:40 (15 mins)	What is Visual and Digital Resources (VADR)? The Visual and Digital Resources coordinators share the background of VADR. Speakers: Simon Boynton CAES, Faculty of Arts Wim Vergult CAES, Faculty of Arts
10:40 – 11:25 (30 mins)	Teacher Voices – The Impact of VADR on Visual and Digital Competencies Teachers share their experiences working with the VADR team, focusing on how VADR has assisted the teachers to upskill the students in visual and digital competences. Speakers: CCHU9007 Sexuality and Gender Meg Baguio School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts I identify as queer/non-binary and was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. I used to work in the supply chain industry / BPO in Singapore for 9+ years before moving to Hong Kong and joining HKU. During those years, I also participated in annual LGBTQIA+ Pride Events in Singapore, Thailand, and Australia where I got to interact with diverse queer people and promoted inclusivity in the workplace via companies and organizations who supported the community. I’m advocating for the passing of the SOGIE Bill also known as the Anti-Discrimination Bill in the Philippines which has been on hold for many years. I graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Arts – Mass Communications. Francis Dumaliang School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts I identify as non-binary/ gender queer. My degree from De La Salle University is in Political Science majoring in Policy Studies. I have more than 15 years of corporate experience in business process outsourcing, human resources and not-for-profits in the Philippines and the US. I am also on the Board of Directors of HappyYness Project, an NGO that assists marginalized women, children, and LGBTQ+ senior citizens in the Philippines. I’m a proud partner of Robert Siy and proudly Filipino. CHIN9001 Digital Communication and Chinese Culture Dr. Christy Chung School of Chinese, Faculty of Arts Dr. CHUNG Ming Wai, Christy graduated from the University of Hong Kong where she received her first degree in Translation and Chinese Language and Literature. She was then awarded her MPhil and PhD degrees, specializing in Modern Chinese Language. Years later, she finished the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Distinction). She has joined the School of Chinese since 2017 as lecturer in the Chinese Language Enhancement Programme (CLEP) and has had over 20 years of experience working in tertiary education and previously taught at HKUSPACE Community College and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Her research interests are lexicology, rhetorical studies, Chinese for professional communication and digital humanities. Sunny Ng School of Chinese, Faculty of Arts Mr. Sunny Ng is the founder of Image Nation which is a service-based IT company. Founded in 2004, Image Nation is specialized in web development, mobile apps development, cloud solution architecting and digital marketing. Sunny is well experienced in computer programming, software development, IT training, digital marketing and video producing. On parallel to IT and media industry projects experience, Sunny has been part-time lecturing since 2007 at various universities/colleges including City University of Hong Kong, HKUSPACE, London University (distant degree) and Middlesex University (distant degree). Courses he teaches include IT, UX design, media production and digital marketing courses. September 2023, Sunny joined School of Chinese, University of Hong Kong as part-time lecturer to work for TDLEG project. Sunny holds Master of Science in Computer Science (2002, Faculty of Engineer, University of Hong Kong) and Master of Fine Arts in Media Design and Technology (2004, School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong). CCST9045 Science and Lore of Culinary Culture Dr. Angela Yuen Department of Chemistry , Faculty of Science Dr. Yuen Mai Yan is the lecturer and Associate Head of Teaching and Learning in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Hong Kong. With a deep commitment to educational excellence, Dr. Yuen has been instrumental in developing and teaching CCST9045The Science and Lore of Culinary Culture, a course recognized as one of the first to be batched as a Communication Intensive Course (CIC). Her innovative approach to teaching is exemplified in CCST9045, where she places a strong emphasis on communication skills. The course is designed to bridge the gap between complex scientific concepts and public understanding. Through a unique project that explores the science behind cooking, Dr. Yuen encourages students to develop and refine their visual and oral presentation skills. This project not only enhances students’ scientific knowledge but also equips them with the ability to convey information effectively to the general public. The design of the course reflects her belief in the power of communication as a cornerstone of scientific education.
11:25 – 12:30	1 hr lunch
12:30 – 14:00	Assessment Design Decisions Workshop Innovative assessment design is often presented in an idealised way but doesn’t take into account real world contexts. The Assessment Design Decisions framework focusses how designing assessment can acknowledge the broader context surrounding the design process. Participants are asked to consider an assessment design that they are seeking to develop or change. The workshop commences with an exploration of the multiple purposes of assessment and then asks participants to explore the role of context on their task design, including the way the digital is changing how we work and learn. Speaker: Professor Margaret Bearman Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Office of the DVC Academic, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia Prof. Margaret Bearman is a Professor within the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University. Her research focusses on higher and professional education contexts. She is known for her study of assessment, feedback, simulation-based education, and learning in a digital world. Margaret’s most recent work includes exploring how artificial intelligence is changing how we work and learn.
14:00 – 14:05	5 min break
14:05 – 14:35 (30 mins)	VADR Peer consultant voices: The Visual and Digital Resources coordinators and peer consultants share the experience on how they provide support to partnered CIC courses. Speakers: Allie Xiang (Year 4, BA, HKU) Leung Tsz Lok Cody (Year 2, BA, HKU) Ignatius de Loyola Dominique Japar (Year 1, BEng, HKU) Shi Jiahui Jazymn (Year 4, BASc(GHD), HKU) Kim Sum Yuet Karis (Year 3, BEcon&Fin, HKU) Oluwatisheyitoju Iji (Year 2, BEng (BME), HKU)
14:35 – 15:20 (45 mins)	Teacher Voices – Revamping Course Assessment through CIC Integration Teachers share their experience on how VADR helped them incorporating visual and digital elements into their course assessments. Speakers: SHSC2033 Evidence-Based Practice in Speech-Language Therapy Dr. Elizabeth Barrett Faculty of Education Dr. Elizabeth Barrett primarily teaches students who are training to become speech therapists or early childhood educators. Elizabeth has worked collaboratively with undergraduate students to co-develop a suite of e-learning resources for cross-program use, with the support of funding. At the course-level, she has worked to re-design assessments to create opportunities for students to take the lead on learning-and-teaching in the classroom and develop their communication skills. Elizabeth enjoys collaborating with students and colleagues to develop engaging and interdisciplinary learning experiences for students. CCST9081 All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Humans Dr. Michael Rivera Faculty of Social Sciences Dr. Michael B. C. Rivera joined the Faculty of Social Sciences in 2023 as a Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies. He teaches courses on research methods, anthropology and interdisciplinarity for the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (BASc) programme in Interdisciplinary Studies. He is also the course coordinator for CCST9081: All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Humans, which concerns human biology, evolution and diversity. The biological anthropology course also covers effective public engagement and the use of visual and digital media for science communication. CCST9009 Living with stem cells Dr. Wilson Chan School of Biomedical Sciences, LKS Faculty of Medicine Dr. Wilson Chan has a PhD and post-doctoral training from HKU and currently serves as a lecturer and research officer in the School of Biomedical Sciences at HKUMED. He teaches undergraduate courses and coordinates a CI-badged common core course “Living with Stem Cells”. Dr. Chan has been actively working to enhance the course by introducing innovative elements into class activities and assessments, aiming to make it more engaging and captivating for students. He strongly believes that teachers can leverage the inherent flexibility of the common core course to foster better communication and interaction among students, promoting a more immersive and enriching learning experience.
15:20	Closing Speaker: Professor Ian Holliday Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)

For information, please contact:
Ms. Canice Mok, TALIC
Phone: 3917 6069; Email: tsmok@hku.hk