PolyU COMP 50th Anniversary Special Talk by Prof. Binxing FANG

PolyU COMP 50th Anniversary Special Talk named “Fangban Seminar Hall: An innovative teaching model” (方班研討廳: 一種創新的教學模式) by Prof. Binxing FANG was organized by Department of Computing, PolyU on 12^th Sep 2024. In the beginning, Prof. Li Qing introduced speaker’s background and topic. 

Firstly, Prof. Binxing briefed his topic named “Fangban Seminar Hall: The Specific Practice of Feynman Learning Method” (方班研討廳: 費曼學習法的具體實踐). And introduced Feynmen background.

He then mentioned the learning retention rate of passive learning and active learning, showing the learning pyramid.

The core of Feynman learning method was discussed.

After that Prof. Fang introduced his Fangban Seminar Hall also called “Innovation and Speculation” (創新與思辨).

Finally, he briefed the concept of the proposed course and four key steps including speaking familiar subject, digested the knowledge, standing on a giant for research and then innovating from question. Prof. Fang said the most important is entropy decreased (熵減). Student digested knowledge and organized it for presentation so as to decrease the entropy.

Lastly, Prof. Fang briefed five important parts and they were topic selection, preparation, reporting, conclusion and verification.

Before the end of seminar, Prof. Li, Prof. Fang and Prof. Cao took a photo together for celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the department.

Reference

方班研讨厅简介 - https://wyy.gzhu.edu.cn/fbxb/fbytt1.htm

Lunch Meeting with Mr. Matthew Tsui for Gifted Education Fund

I invited my old EPA Centre colleague Mr. Matthew Tsui (Founder, App2One) to have lunch in PolyU and to discuss the proposal for Gifted Education Fund on 4^th Sep 2024. I would like to build the Extenics online game to demonstrate the creative method for generating new product prototype idea. 

We had lunch in staff club that located in the 5/F of Communal Building.

After the last lunch with EPA Centre friends in CityU, I had also invited Mr. Herny Lee and his company provided GenAI 3D modeling and 3D printing for the project.

In afternoon, I met one of my team members Dr. Jeff Tang and discuss further about the proposal during tea time.

Reference:

Gifted Education Fund (OSALP) - https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/curriculum-area/gifted/ge_fund/gef/osalp.html

20240812: Lunch with Dr. Luk Chi Fai, Dr. YC Chau & EPA Centre Friends - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/08/lunch-with-dr-luk-chi-fai-dr-yc-chau.html

20240524: Dinner for Prof. Lawrence Wu's retirement by EPA Centre friends - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/05/dinner-for-prof-lawrence-wus-retirement.html

20240322: PolyU Career Fair 2024 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2024/03/polyu-career-fair-2024.html

20231111: Dinner with Prof. Lawrence Wu and EPA Centre friends - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2023/11/dinner-with-prof-lawrence-wu-and-epa.html

20190626: The WMD, the WAD and the WSD Forum 2019 - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-wmd-wad-and-wsd-forum-2019.html#more

20150513: Lab Test One in One Click Launching Ceremony cum Cutting Edge Testing Technologies Seminar - https://qualityalchemist.blogspot.com/2015/05/lab-test-one-in-one-click-launching.html

PolyU EDC Webinar on Flipping with FLIP

The webinar named “Flipping with FLIP” was organized by Educational Development Centre (EDC), PolyU on 13^th Aug 2024. Dr. Eric Tsui is the presenter and this webinar is about flipping student presentations and technique adaptation sharing. 

Firstly, Dr. Eric Tsui briefed the definition of “Flipped Learning” that is one of pedagogical approaches that moving the group learning space to the individual learning space so as to transform the learning environment to be dynamic and interactive. 

Then he compared the traditional style and flipped style of student presentation. Flipping student presentation could overcome many common shortfalls of traditional style. 

For example, time saving is one of key advantages. 

Lecturer could have In-depth Q&A session and asked student team more specific.

After that Dr. Tsui mentioned about redesigning assessment due to AI. Then two teachers are showed their experience.

Finally, he introduced how to use the Filp software and discussed the benefits of flipping student presentations including more time for the teacher to review students’ work, ask in-depth questions and ensure fairer assessment, as well as, a digital records.

Then additional usages of Flip are briefed.

There are many different video repository management tools to be discussed.

Lastly, Screencastify is introduced for creating video.

Reference

EDC, PolyU - https://www.polyu.edu.hk/edc/

Briefing Session for Application of Gifted Education Fund

The webinar named “Briefing Session for Application for Funding Support to Provide Off-school Advanced Learning Programmes for Gifted Students” was organized by Gifted Education Fund Secretariat, Education Bureau, HKSAR on 7^th Aug 2024. The briefing session aims to brief the information and requirements about application for funding support to organize Off-school Advanced Learning Programmes (OSALPs). Firstly, Mr. Lee introduced the guest speakers including Dr. Lam and Ms. Wong (EDB).

In the beginning, Mr. Lee mentioned the application guide and forms to be updated in July 2024.

Then Dr. Lam (EDB) introduced the gifted education (GE) in Hong Kong.

There are three-tier and today’s session focused on the level 3 – Off-school support.

After that Ms. Wong briefed the background of Gifted Education (GE) Fund which established since 2016 by HK government. Where OSALPs started in 2019/2020 school year that over 2000 students benefited within 54 programmes. 

The priority themes are STEAM-related, Humanities & Social Science, Entrepreneurship and Self-initiated Research.

Finally, Mr. Lee introduced the application and submission of application through electronic form submission system of EDB.

There are three steps for eForm91 submission.

The programme proposed should have preparatory period (3 months) and delivery period (5 to 7 months).

The proposal of programme structure had stated.

Applicants need to design the budget planning including different expenditure items.

The assessment criteria covered the needs, feasibility and outcomes should be considered.

QA mechanism should be designed as key commitments for the funding.

After completed the programme, different reporting documentation should be prepared.

Q&A session

Lastly, Mr. Lee and Ms. Wong briefed some tips on designing or planning a programme for applying that funding.

Reference

Gifted Education Fund OSALPs - https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/curriculum-area/gifted/ge_fund/gef/osalp.html

FHKI Certification Framework of STEM Products - Educators Seminar

 Certification Framework of STEM Products - Educators Seminar was organized by FHKI on 12^th July 2023. This project focus on establishing and promoting a STEM product certification framework to STEM product manufacturers and educators to identify and categorized STEM products, as well as, to improve students’ learning experience. Before the meeting, I met Prof. Winco KC Yung (ISE Dept., PolyU) and Mr. Steve Chuang (Chairman, HKEIC (Group 5); Founder & CEO, Precision Enterprise Ltd – ProVista Group) and took a photo for memory.

In the beginning, Mr. Steve Chuang gave an opening speech. He briefed many industrialists had experience on industry issues when they were child. He was influenced by his father to study electronic. Therefore, STEM education is very important for young students.

Then all guests took a group photo.

And then Mr. Peter Shum (Chairman, Hong Kong Information Technology Industry Council (Group 25)) introduced the Innovation and Technology (I&T) Development Council that established since 2013. 

He also briefed 8 key areas HKSAR government invested directions for I&T development.

Education Technology Sub-committee aimed to connect industry and education through STEM education so as to nutrient I&T talents.

Lastly, Mr. Shum concluded three directions for promoting STEM education and they were Tool, Talent and Venue.

Prof. Winco KC Yung was the first speaker and his topic named “Framework Development for the Certification of STEM Products”. He said this framework is fundamental and could be extended to STEAM (plus Art) and STREAM (plus Art & Research) in future. Thus, this framework had patent filed.

Firstly, Prof. Yung mentioned the definition of STEM product that is a product help users apply knowledge and skills from the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to design, use, develop and innovate. STEM products three categories were briefed including Theories, Bridge and Realize.

And then he showed the overall certification framework for STEM products that assessment based on Design, Making and Assignment (DMA) and Integrated Product Development (IPD) techniques. 

After that Prof. Yung briefed the five certification procedures from submission to examination to evaluation and certification, finally announcement and grant. 

Finally, he shared the evaluation step that including STEM literacy, Product features and General abilities. Some product examples were demonstrated.

Lastly, Prof. Winco Yung stated the benefit of the frameworks for different stockholders. Those benefits included a guide for purchasing decisions, product reliability, user protection, support for sustainable choices, etc.

The second speaker was Mr. Ho Tik Shun (School Principal, The Chinese Foundation Secondary School (CFSS)) and he introduced the 21^st Century Education in CFSS. Firstly, he shared their mission to help students to achieve personal excellence through nurturing in them a set of positive values and developing their social and learning attitudes as well as their professional competence which are conducive to life-long learning.

Mr. Ho mentioned 21^st Century skills in CFSS included whole person development, self-directed learning and life-long learning. Since his background in biology, he led a project for biodiversity through IT mobile apps started from tree.

During Covid period, CFSS employed different healthy technology for students’ sport. 

Finally, he introduced their inter-disciplinary education for STREAM and its achievements.

The last speaker was Mr. Kim Au (Principal, Caritas Wu Cheng-Chung Secondary School) and he introduce their school on Cheerful, Warm, Collaborative and Confident. Firstly, he questioned what are the definition of STEM, STEAM and STREAM because different people had different definition by themselves. 

After that he thought about the future jobs for students. Most jobs of top 10 and highest paying job from 2025 to 2050 predicted that were not related to existing industries. Thus, how education adopt the future trend is critical.

Finally, he mentioned the external school review (ESR) was important for improvement. He employed a statement as conclusion that “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Q&A Session.

They discussed STEM product that should be well planned with education package, considering user experience (including teachers and students), product producers should understand the education requirements, value to money, etc.

Outside the meeting room, there are some STEM product demonstration cases. One of interested medical product with STEM element for student programming for monitoring their parent or grand-parent health data.

Another one of STEM product related to space technology.