Curriculum & Assessment
Curriculum
A. Aims
Attitude
to help students appreciate and respect diversity in cultures and views in a pluralistic society and handle conflicting values
reflect on the development of their own multiple identities, value systems and world views with respect to personal experiences, social and cultural contexts and the impact of developments in science, technology and globalisation
demonstrate respect for evidence, open-mindedness and tolerance towards the views and values held by other people
Values
to help students develop positive values and attitude towards life, so that they can become informed and responsible citizens of society, the country and the world.
demonstrate an appreciation for the values of their own and other cultures, and for universal values, and be committed to becoming responsible and conscientious citizens.
Skills
to enable students to develop multiple perspectives on perennial and contemporary issues in different contexts (e.g. cultural, social, economic, political and technological contexts)
to help students become independent thinkers so that they can construct knowledge appropriate to changing personal and social circumstances
to develop in students a range of skills for life-long learning, including self-management skils, critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving skills, communication skills and information technology skills
carry out self-directed learning which includes the processes of setting goals, making and implementing plans, solving problems, analysing data, drawing conclusions, reporting findings and conducting evaluations
Knowledge
to enhance students’ understanding of themselves, their society, their nation, the human world and the physical environment understand the personal development process and interpersonal relationships of adolescents with respect to the different challenges and opportunities they face
evaluate different aspects of life in Hong Kong with respect to the rights and
responsibilities of individuals, social groups and the government;
assess the impact of reform and opening-up on the development of modern China and Chinese culture;
recognise that globalisation has many dimensions and that people are affected in different ways and have different responses towards it;
realise how people understand issues on public health and make decisions based on related scientific knowledge and evidence;
analyse how science and technology interact with the environment in relation to energy resources and sustainable development.
B. Guiding Principles
Students’ prior knowledge gained from the eight KLAs in basic education, and their experiences to date in enquiry learning and self-directed learning are the foundation for their study of Senior Secondary Liberal Studies and should be taken into account when planning the curriculum.
Liberal Studies is an integral part of the three-year senior secondary curriculum and should be purposefully linked to students’ learning experiences in the other components of the overall curriculum.
The curriculum should aim at providing balanced and coherent learning experiences which broaden the students’ knowledge base, develop their generic skills and foster positive values and attitudes.
The curriculum should encourage independent learning and help to develop learning to learn capabilities in students.
The curriculum should cater for student diversity in needs, interests, abilities and styles of learning.
Assessment should be designed as an integral part of the process of learning and teaching.
C. Content
S4
Module 1 Personal development & Interpersonal Relationships
Theme 1 Understanding oneself
- Factors influencing personal development
- Personal identity and self-esteem; self-image and self-awareness
- Self-management in daily life situations
- Coping with emotional experiences
- Decision making in challenging situations, etc
Values and attitudes:
adaptability to change, responsibility, self-esteem, self-reflection, rationality, self-discipline, independence
Theme 2 Interpersonal relationships
- Factors influencing attitudes towards sexuality
- Identity and social approval
- Roles, rights and responsibilities in the family and other social groups, peer groups and their influence
- Gender roles and relationships
- Conformity and independence
- Simple conflict-resolution skills in daily life situations
- Communicating and getting along with others in the community
- The importance of participation in local affairs
Values and attitudes:
Cooperation, gender equity, empathy, integrity, self-reflection, self-determination, respect for self, respect for others, social harmony, sense of responsibility, interdependence
Module 2 Hong Kong Today
Theme 1 Quality of Life
- The needs and problems of Hong Kong society
- The historical current development of the Hong Kong economy
- The functions of the government and the services provided by it
- The rights and responsibilities of consumers
- Current environmental issues in Hong Kong
Values and attitudes:
Respect for quality and excellence; sustainability; rationality; sensitivity; care and concern
Theme 2 Rule of law and socio-political participation
- Historical and current development of politics and society in Hong Kong;
- The relationship between the Central Authorities and the HKSAR
- The importance of the Constitution of the PRC and the Basic Law of the HKSAR to Hong Kong residents
- The governance of the HKSAR
- The rights and duties of Hong Kong residents
- The participation in social and political affairs of Hong Kong residents
Values and attitudes:
Respect for the rule of law; participation; human rights and responsibilities; democracy; justice
Theme 3 Identity
- Roles and identities of the individual as a member of a group
- The identities of individuals as Hong Kong residents and Chinese citizens
- Awareness and concern for local, national and global communities
- The emergence of a global identity in an interdependent world
Values and attitudes:
Sense of belonging; national identity; plurality; individuality; interdependence
Module 5 Public Health
Theme 1 Understanding of public health
- Major human body parts and systems and their main functions
- Main factors affecting health and how to keep healthy
- A healthy lifestyle including personal hygiene, a balanced diet, exercise and rest
- The causes and effects of substance abuse
- Common diseases in Hong Kong, causes and prevention
- Positive and / or negative consequences of personal conduct
- The importance of community health
Values and attitudes:
Valuing the suggestions of others; respect for evidence; respect for different ways of life, beliefs and opinions
Theme 2 Science, technology and public health
- The use of scientific concepts to explain phenomena, and importance of experimental evidence
- The use of technology in different cultures
- The limitations of science and the evolutionary nature of scientific knowledge
- Local issues related to AIDS and cancer education
- The influence of technology on daily life
- Limited resources in meeting the needs of the whole community
- Culture as a factor in the use of science and technology
- The work of some world organisations
Values and attitudes:
Betterment of humankind; human rights and responsibilities; cooperation; moral considerations
S5
Module 3 Modern China
Theme 1 China’s reform and opening-up
- Major historical periods and events of the country in the last 100 years
- A brief understanding of the domestic policies and foreign relations of the PRC
- The importance of the Constitution of the PRC
- Important governmental organisations
- The characteristics of places and regions
- The reasons for the specific distribution patterns of major natural and human features of the country
- Economic and environmental issues of the country
Values and attitudes:
Solidarity; patriotism; sustainability; human rights and responsibilities; care and concern; justice
Module 6 Energy Technology and the Environment
Theme 1 The influences of energy technology
- Forms of energy, energy changes, generation of electricity and energy sources
- The composition of air, balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in nature
- Air pollution, acid rain, global warming, the greenhouse effect
- The pros and cons of nuclear power
- The impact of science and technology in different cultures
- The invention of explosives
Values and attitudes:
Betterment of humankind; respect for evidence; interdependence
Theme 2 The environment and sustainable development
- The role of individuals in environmental protection
- The impact of smoking and polluted air on our respiratory system
- Water supply, water treatment, water conservation and pollution
- Environmental problems associated with the disposal of used metals and plastics
- The interdependence of living things and their environment; concepts of planning and managing resources
- Choice and cost in the use of scarce resources
- he use of scientific knowledge to explain and interpret familiar phenomena
- Development in and interdependence between less developed and more developed countries
Values and attitudes:
Responsibility; caring for the living and non-living environments; betterment of humankind; sustainability; simplicity
S6
Module 3 Modern China
Theme 2 Chinese culture and modern life
- The origins of Chinese culture and its major characteristics
- Similarities and differences in customs and practices of people within the same or from different geographical, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds
- How cultures have adapted to their changing environments
- The preservation and conservation of culture and heritage
Values and attitudes:
Culture and civilisation heritage; respect for different ways of life, beliefs and opinions; plurality; sensitivity; appreciation
Module 4 Globalisation
Theme Impact of globalisation and related responses
- How science and technology are changing people’s interactions and relationships throughout the world
- The importance of exchanging goods and services
- The ways that people are linked; the influence of the physical environment and social conditions on cultural developments in different parts of the world
- The ways that people of different cultures interact in the global system and how such interaction has developed over time; international event
- East-West encounters
- International conflicts and threats to peace; international cooperation and efforts towards peace
- Scientific and technological development
- Industrial relocation
- Population distribution and its problems
- Resources and development
- Development and interdependence
- The causes and consequences of wars
Values and attitudes:
Interdependence; justice; cooperation; culture and civilisation heritage; plurality; adapting to changes; open-mindedness; empathy; participation; mutuality