Hong Kong International School (HKIS)
Mar 1, 2023
Mar 1, 2023
About HKIS
Mission
Dedicating our minds to inquiry, our hearts to compassion, and our lives to service and global understanding An American-style education grounded in the Christian faith and respecting the spiritual lives of all
Vision
HKIS will be a leading place of learning that inspires a socially engaged community of collaborative, creative, and resilient learners dedicated to realising their full potential.
Founded in 1966 by a group of American business professionals and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, HKIS has served a growing and dynamic community for over 50 years. HKIS is a welcoming community of over 2,800 students and 500 faculty and staff. We are grounded in the Christian faith, and respect the spiritual lives of all in our community. We know that students learn best when they are in charge of how they learn. Our American-style program permits students to do this, with our expert teachers guiding their learning to achieve excellence. Our campuses provide space for extensive athletics and well-being programs.
Introduction & Inquiry Focus
The HKIS Open House brought together educators from across Hong Kong to explore impactful collaborative practices and discover new ways to broaden and enrich learning opportunities for their students. Centered around the inquiry question, "How might impactful collaborative practices across divisions broaden and enrich opportunities to meet the needs of each learner?", the event offered an engaging and informative experience. Visitors explored the following ideas:
Explore the collaborative practice of Learning Walks and gain a deeper understanding of its purpose and impact
Enhance your teaching and learning experiences through participation in reflective practice
Engage in discussions on the role of the Learning Walk process in supporting professional growth as an educator, and share your observations and insights
Take advantage of this opportunity to bring new ideas and perspectives back to your own school context, potentially leading to improvements in your own educational practices.
What did we do & hear on the day?
The day began with a warm welcome, followed by a general overview of HKIS. Tom Banaszewski and Betsy Lewis Moreno shared a snapshot of their Inquiry focus. Afterward, participants delved into the concept of Learning Walks, which would become the central focus of the event.
Participants had the chance to explore Learning Walks, a collaborative practice that provided valuable insights into the purpose and impact of this innovative approach. (Note: The Learning Walk protocol & resources are available here for your reference.)
Educators embarked on their Learning Walks, visiting various classrooms to observe firsthand the role collaboration played in the learning process. The immersive experience allowed educators to enhance their teaching and learning practices, participate in reflective activities, and engage in discussions about the role of the Learning Walk process in supporting professional growth.
Corridor Talk:
Following each classroom visit, the Walking Team discusses the evidence collected.
Each person shares one "I noticed/observed" in a round and then one "I wonder."
Following the Learning Walks, participants had a break before reconvening to reflect on their experiences and engage in insightful conversations about the day's events.
Visitor Learnings & Reflections: What did visitors learn?
Visitors learned about:
Trusting and supporting students in their learning process.
The importance of a positive learning environment.
Strategies to facilitate professional development and constructive feedback.
The value of using thinking routines and a common language across subjects.
The impact of a strong learning culture in the school.
Visitors were surprised by:
The level of student engagement and autonomy.
The effectiveness of group work and student-centered activities.
The potential benefits of giving students freedom and trust in their learning process.
Visitors are actively exploring how to:
Implement thinking routines and building a strong learning culture in their schools.
Balance guidance and autonomy in the classroom.
Create a framework for peer observations.
Documentation: Observational Notes on a Science classoom visit
Documentation: Observational Notes on a Mandarin classroom visit
Host Learnings & Reflections: What did we learn & what are our possible next steps?
We learned about the impact of collaboration and reflective practice on professional growth. We were inspired by the insights visitors gained and the enthusiasm for implementing new strategies. We continue to wonder about the best ways to support educators in their journey of growth and development and particularly how to expand the reach of our work with the Cohort. Next steps include refining the Open House experience, incorporating feedback, and exploring new ways to support educators in their professional journey.
Overall, visitors were inspired to incorporate elements from their experience into their teaching practices, such as focusing on building a strong learning culture, implementing thinking routines, and giving students more autonomy in their learning. The experience led to a shift in mindset, with visitors now considering the value of trust, support, and a positive learning environment in fostering student growth.
