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Salesians of Don Bosco Ng Sui Mui Secondary School
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Salesians of Don Bosco Ng Sui Mui Secondary School
Context
We are a secondary school in Hong Kong. In the past, the criteria for assessing students' abilities has focused on students' academic performance, such as language proficiency and mathematics. However, some students find this more difficult than others and as a result of their poor grades these students are considered less capable. Therefore, by participating in the Skills Builder, students can be re-assessed for their abilities through the Skills Builder eight essential skills, in addition to their academic performance. At the same time, the Skills Builder Universal Framework provides a clearly structured framework for teaching students essential skills in a step-by-step manner. It provides staff with a clear starting point and a well-defined sequence of teaching so that progress can be checked and evidenced.
Overall impact
Currently Skills builder has created tools for proper grading criteria that can be used to present students' skill levels in a clear and objective manner. We also utilise the Skills Builder Universal Framework, which allows us to gain a better understanding of the essential skills of students at different levels. We can then apply appropriate methods to help them improve their skills. This is being done through an interdisciplinary curriculum that incorporates a career planning element in Chinese and Design and Technology courses, as well as the introduction of Skills Builder criteria for assessing students' skills in the existing regular curriculum.
Keep it simple
As the program is new to our school and to avoid confusion for our students, we have only introduced four skills at this stage: Listening, Speaking, Problem Solving and Creativity. In Chinese Language, we combine the skills of Speaking and Listening. In Design and technology, we combine the skills of Problem Solving and Creativity.We also posted the steps of the key skills in the classroom display boards where we conduct the program so that the steps of the skills are clearer to the students. To aid language differences we promptly translated the skills and skill steps, this made it easier for the students and faculty staff to view. We also conducted staff training at the beginning of the programme to ensure teachers understood the details of the programme.
Start early, keep going
We introduced the Skills Builder programme in grade 9 and held talks and program kick-off ceremonies for them to start the program. In addition, we have designed lesson plans for Chinese Language and Design and Technology for implementation in grade 9.
Measure it
We have measurement criteria in all of our classes. For example, in the Chinese TSA Conversation module, we have set up two proficiency measures. In the D&T module, we have also set up measures to assess students' creativity and problem-solving skills. At the end of the semester, we created our own skills report card to allow students and teachers to test the skills of our students. These provide evidence not only for learning but also for future planning. Also, It provides a platform for teachers to pass information to each other.
Focus tightly
In this year's focus, we have concentrated on four essential skills, including Listening, Speaking, Creativity and Problem Solving. We have put these four competencies in the classroom. Apart from integrating them into the classroom and using the measurement criteria to assess students' competencies and teach them the four competencies, we have also frequently revisited the four competencies with the students during the class teacher sessions. At the same time, relevant posters and reminders were put up in the classes where the program was implemented and displayed prominently in the classrooms to serve as reminders to students. This ensures that the focus essential skill step levels are targeted and focused on during the lessons.
Keep practising
The four skills we are focusing on this year are practised in both our Chinese and D&T classes. In the D&T short film production course, these skills were integrated into the curriculum and reinforced. In the Chinese class, in addition to integrating the skills in the classroom on weekdays, we also had students visit the Hong Kong Museum of Literature to conduct interviews with authors to test their speaking and listening skills.
Bring it to life
In the daily life of our students, our school has created a skills report card for parents to understand their students' abilities. At the same time, through parent-teacher conferences and notices, we introduce Skills Builder and its abilities to parents, and allow parents to test their students' abilities at home. In this way, students are able to test their abilities and improve them in their daily lives, both at school and at home.
What's next
In the current year, we have only focused on 4 competencies and in the next year, we intend to expand to the other 4 skills, namely Collaboration, Leadership, Aiming High and Staying Positive. At the same time, We intend to expand the program to S.3 and S.4. We will also organise different teacher development days in the coming year, so that all teachers can know more about the Skills builder and make it easier to be implemented in the school.
