Abstract

• This project aims to facilitate virtual experiential learning (via mobile application) in General Education Foundation (GEF) Programme in order to help students to bridge the classics with the perennial issues and reflect on the implication of the classics on contemporary human condition at an early stage of the courses.


• It could substantiate the development of classics teaching and learning into a direction which combines traditional learning tools (e.g. reading, writing and discussion) and innovative learning strategies/frameworks (e.g. virtual experience and blended learning) that enables students’ embodiment and application of essential human issues embedded in classics.


• It consists of five modules that cover around half of the classics from both courses of the GEF Programme. There will be a script designed for a protagonist to engage in different challenging life scenarios (presented in the forms of animations, mini-games, moral dilemmas, conversations, and slide shows) in order to deal with essential issues and debates arising from the classics.


• Students are required to participate in an online discussion forum, as part of the course assessment, to discuss the core issues brought up by the scenarios and justify their own stance towards the dilemmas.


• Quantitative and qualitative methods will be employed to evaluate the success of the project, including online survey, focus group interview and textual analysis of online discussion forum.


• This virtual experiential learning project aligns with the innovative online pedagogy and long term eLearning strategic development of the University; and can be extended to the future MOOC of the GEF Programme.

Brief write-up

Project objectives

This project aims to facilitate virtual experiential learning (via mobile application) in General Education Foundation (GEF) Programme in order to help students to bridge the classics with the perennial issues and reflect on the implication of the classics on contemporary human condition at an early stage of the courses.

Activities, process and outcomes

A mobile application was developed to enhance virtual experiential learning of GEF programme. The product consists of five modules; two are related to the course UGFH1000 “In Dialogue with Humanity” (Sentiment; Politics and Economics), two are related to UGFN1000 “In Dialogue with Nature” (Physical science; Life science) and one focuses on an issue shared by both courses (The origin of human). Students encounter three or four thinkers and understand their viewpoints on a particular issue through interactive mini-games, animations, short conversation, slide show and videos. Students are expected to make informed judgement in that scenario at the end of the module.

Deliverables and evaluation

The mobile application has been implemented in 2018-19 term 2 as part of the course assessment. Students were then required to participate in an online discussion forum, which accounts for 3% of total marks, to discuss the core issues brought up by the scenarios. Evaluation is currently in progress and will consist of online survey, focus group and textual analysis.

Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices

The design and implementation of the project have been presented in local and international conferences. The mobile application developed has been adopted by the project team and will be promoted to other colleagues teaching UGFN1000 and UGFH1000 in the upcoming academic year.

Video Report

Please click the following link for viewing the report.
https://panopto.cuhk.edu.hk/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=99AA7975-77B6-4F99-85FD-AC7F010ADD24