Organised by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)
Series Abstract
Designing a course is an iterative and creative process that uses learning theories and frameworks, course planning, content expertise, and technology integration to create a seamless learning experience. For the past two years, teachers and course designers have faced the challenges of constant change and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, teachers need to be flexible in implementing their course design in different modes, from face-to-face, blended, hybrid, and fully online.
In this series, we have curated several cases focusing on various course designs that center on students’ learning experiences. We will look into different principles and strategies to help you design for both in-class and out-of-class activities. We will also identify several learning apps that will add value to your teaching.
Date : 26 Jan 2022 (Wed)
Time : 12:30pm - 1:45pm
Venue : Zoom
Speaker : Donn Gonda, CETL, HKU
Abstract
Fostering collaboration in an online environment can be challenging. Online collaborative platforms such as Miro (https://miro.com) provide opportunities to break down these barriers. Miro is an online collaborative whiteboard application that allows students and teachers to work together across multiple platforms simultaneously (iOS, Android, Mac, or PC). This workshop will explore the different affordances of computer-supported collaborative learning and identify a few strategies to support it. In particular, we will explore the various functionalities in Miro, such as posting sticky notes, creating mindmap, and embedding 3rd party applications that can enhance collaboration with and among your students.
About the Speaker
Donn is an Instructional Designer at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and a Lecturer at the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. He is a full-stack instructional designer with expertise in developing and evaluating higher education courses, implementing innovative technologies, and leveraging analytics and research to enhance teaching and learning. Donn is passionate about teaching and training instructional design skills to teachers and would-be instructional designers. He teaches courses on e-learning strategies and management, and digital storytelling. Donn also runs several professional development workshops and seminars on improving students’ overall learning experience through instructional design. He has led and collaborated on several e-learning projects, such as using adaptive learning, creating agile learning design, and designing a hybrid learning environment.
Date : 10 Feb 2022 (Thu)
Time : 12:30pm - 1:45pm
Venue : Zoom
Speaker : Donn Gonda, CETL, HKU
Abstract
How can we better structure our Moodle course? What strategies can we use to create a better learning experience online? And what are the best practices in designing a Moodle course? These are just some of the questions we will answer in this workshop. In particular, we will look into an instructional design model called the 5E-model, which stands for Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate, to reexamine and redesign your Moodle course. This instructional design model, combined with other learning apps, can help you design a more interactive online environment and foster active learning with your students as they go through your Moodle course.
About the Speaker
Donn is an Instructional Designer at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and a Lecturer at the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. He is a full-stack instructional designer with expertise in developing and evaluating higher education courses, implementing innovative technologies, and leveraging analytics and research to enhance teaching and learning. Donn is passionate about teaching and training instructional design skills to teachers and would-be instructional designers. He teaches courses on e-learning strategies and management, and digital storytelling. Donn also runs several professional development workshops and seminars on improving students’ overall learning experience through instructional design. He has led and collaborated on several e-learning projects, such as using adaptive learning, creating agile learning design, and designing a hybrid learning environment.
Date : 17 Feb 2022 (Thu)
Time : 12:30pm - 1:45pm
Venue : Zoom
Speaker : Dr. Timothy Hew, Associate Dean (Research Higher Degrees), Faculty of Education, HKU; Ms. Huang Weijiao (Ph.D. Candidate, 3rd Year), Faculty of Education, HKU
Facilitator : Donn Gonda, CETL, HKU
Abstract
A chatbot is a computer programmed conversational tool bot that interacts with users using natural language. A chatbot can be either a text-based or audio-based dialog system that facilitates human-computer interaction by asking or answering questions. In this seminar, we will discuss how we used Dialogflow from Google to develop two types of chatbot supported online activities: facilitating learner goal-setting, and facilitating a community of inquiry. We evaluated students’ behavioural engagement by analysing the conversation records between students and the chatbots. We will also report students’ perceived usefulness and ease of use interacting with the chatbots. We will explore some of the challenges in implementing chatbots and the possible solutions to address them.
About the Speakers
Dr. Timothy Hew is an Associate Professor of Information and Technology Studies at the Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Trained as a Systems Engineer with a bachelor degree in Computer Technology, Dr. Hew had worked for 4 years in Sony before entering the educational field. He has a master degree in Instructional Design and Technology, and a PhD in Instructional Systems Technology from Singapore and USA respectively. His primary research interests are in how technology can be used to support learning and engagement in both formal and informal contexts. Dr. Hew was listed as a World Top 1% scholar in his field by Essential Science Indicators based on Web of Science indexed journal article citations, Thomson Reuters from 2015 till present. Dr. Hew has won more than 40 types of international recognitions and awards, including various best/excellent paper awards, and highly-cited/most-cited article recognitions.
Ms. Huang Weijiao is a Ph.D. candidate majoring in Human Communication, Development, and Information Sciences at the Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong. She received her master degree in Information Technology in Education from HKU in 2018. Before pursuing the Ph.D., she worked as an instructional designer, research assistant, and teaching assistant, specializing in the field of online learning and technology-enhanced flipped learning. Ms. Huang has won several best/excellent paper awards in international conferences. A considerable portion of her recent research interest focuses on the application of chatbots in education.
Date : 24 Feb 2022 (Thu)
Time : 12:30pm - 1:45pm
Venue : Zoom
Speaker : Dr. Tris Kee, Senior Lecturer, CETL, HKU
Facilitator : Donn Gonda, CETL, HKU
Abstract
Design Thinking is an emerging agenda for academics from across many disciplines for its ability to foster innovation and tackle complex challenges. This workshop explores how Design Thinking, as defined by Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University, can catalyse and support teaching and learning enhancement. Along with empathy, creativity, experimentation and Co-Design methodologies, the workshop focuses on how to empower staff using Design Thinking capacity building toolkits, a set of design principle and “human-centred” approach to offer an opportunity to motivate learners’ confidence and support staff and students. In particular, we will explore how to engage students to collaborate in a multi-disciplinary context and to contribute to innovative curriculum design, pedagogical conceptualization, decision-making, investigation and attitudes necessary to tackle challenges in our ever-changing learning environment.
About the Speaker
Dr. Tris Kee is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong. Tris has eighteen years of academic experience in teaching, research and knowledge exchange in both UGC-funded and self-funded higher education institutions in Hong Kong and overseas. Her expertise is in Project-based Learning, Experiential Learning and research on enhancement on teaching and learning. She has led and collaborated on over fifty PBL projects, working with academics from other institutions, industry and government departments on adaptive learning, creative learning environment and designing for hybrid learning environment.
For information, please contact:
Ms. Lavina Luk, CETL
Phone: 3917 5272; Email: ytluk89@hku.hk
