Visit to FIP classrooms in U.S.A. Ohio

Apr 30 – May 11, 2014

Visit to FIP classrooms in U.S.A. Ohio

Afterthoughts:

Ms. Lai Mo Yu Alice

This May, without doubt, has been the most eye-opening, challenging and life-changing experience for me. Two months ago, I was walking along different beautiful teaching blocks overflowing with flowers and grass, taking a deep breath of fresh air, and visiting different energetic classrooms with big and cheerful smiles, I talked to myself, “this is my dream environment to work.” Not only is the environment so different from Hong Kong, but also the culture of teaching and learning. That’s why I was there having FIP training in U.S.A. Ohio.

FIP (Formative Instructional Practices) has been implemented in LTPSS for almost a year already. Since the world is changing, the needs for talents change too. In order to adapt to the rapidly-changing world, and cater the diversity of students, new teaching methodologies are introduced. FIP emphasizes on using clear learning targets, collecting and documenting evidence of learning, providing effective feedbacks and student ownership of learning. By breaking down learning targets, this helps teachers design learning progressions to guide students learning and to align classroom assessments and feedbacks to those targets. The lesson is more structured now, and the growth of students can be measured by formative assessments too. FIP also encourages students learn more by digging deeper in the scientific world. Such student-centered learning sparks curiosity and leads to deeper learning. This helps students to develop as life-long learners, which echo the goal of the education system in Hong Kong.

I was fortunate enough to travel to this amazing state and change my traditional mind-set in teaching. Such experience opens up new horizons for me. I do wish to apply what I have seen in my science classrooms, and make a change to benefit our kids.