CeI Newsletter / Issue 1 / November 2023

Relaunch Edition: Embracing the Skills of Tomorrow

Contents

01.

Welcome back

02.

Introducing 21st Century Skills

03.

04.

Faculty Frontiers:

Fostering 21st Century Skills at HKUST

Announcements

01.

Welcome back

The CEI Newsletter Evolves

Welcome to the bi-monthly CEI Newsletter—your newly curated, multimedia-rich digest. Each issue, centering on a unique educational theme, aims to weave a rich tapestry of HKUST’s diverse insights and breakthroughs.

What’s Inside?

Thematic Depth

Your Contribution

Dive into a specific facet of education and innovation, spotlighted in every edition.

Enhance your experience with a multimodal and interactive approach to learning and information sharing.

Share your stories and insights- join us by responding to our ‘Call for Interest’ for upcoming editions.

Your insights come to life when you engage with polls, offer feedback, and interact with videos. Join the conversation and foster deeper connections within the HKUST community through each issue. Embark on this collaborative journey with us, where every interaction strengthens our collective pursuit of excellence.

02.

Introducing 21st Century Skills

Share Your Vision - What Do 21st Century Skills Mean to You ?

Before we present our insights on the skills that define our era, we're eager to hear from you—the HKUST community. What are the skills that you consider essential in this age full of emerging technologies? Which competencies will carry our students forward in the 21st century?

Reload the page if you cannot see the results.

02.

Introducing 21st Century Skills

What are the 21st Century Skills?

Since around the millennium, global educators, international organizations, and corporations have been urging to empower our young people with skills and competencies that go beyond discipline specific knowledge. Since then, a lot of works have been done to identify a broad set of cognitive and non-cognitive skills, often referred to as ‘21st Century Skills’, ‘Durable Skills’, or ‘Higher Order Thinking Skills’, for the new generation to surive and thrive in the new era.

But what exactly are these 21st Century Skills? To educators, how does the teaching of these skills differ from the traditional knowledge-based approach of teaching? To begin our issue, we have invited Dr. Sean McMinn, Director of Center of Education Innovation, to share his thoughts on what 21st Century Skills are.

Why 21st Century Skills?

Over the past decades, the world has undergone dramatic changes in all aspects. Societies have shifted from agrarian to manufacturing, then to information and service economies. The breakneck growth in technology has caused seismic change in our lives too. With the recent Gen AI boom, we are simply expecting further disruptions to people’s way of living.

Indeed, Gen AI can now perform complex, knowledge-intensive or even creative tasks that was once thought to be uniquely human. In other words, a ‘good education’ in the traditional sense can no longer ensure long-term employability for students. Compounded by the other pressing global challenges such as climate change and international conflicts, it is more important than ever for educators to rethink the skills and knowledge that enable our students to succeed, survive and contribute in the 21st century.

Recognizing the urgent need to equip our students with skills resilient to disruptions, CEI wish to explore the subject of 21st Century Skills in this newsletter. In this issue, we will present some crucial frameworks that define the 21st Century Skills with the readers. Additionally, we also wish to highlight how our HKUST course instructors are innovatively integrating the teaching of these skills into their courses. We hope this issue will kickstart an open dialogue and exchange of ideas within the UST community, encouraging all of us to reflect on the qualities we seek to foster in our students.

Overview of 21st Century Skills Frameworks

For more than two decades, academia and international bodies have proposed a myriad of frameworks that define the key 21st Century Skills in young people. These framework will be useful for educators to review and optimize the existing learning tasks, so that they are not only helpful in equipping students with disciplinary specific knowledge, but also in developing their key skills. In this section, Dr. Sean McMinn would share with us the common vision and elements that underpin many of these different frameworks.

The Education 4.0 Taxonomy mentioned by Dr McMinn was indeed a very recent framework (2023) developed by the World Economic Forum. It has a strong focus of empowering young learners with skills that not replaceable by technology (e.g. Gen AI) and are valued in the future workplace. While it recognizes the importance of ‘knowledge and information’, more emphasis is placed on the other two elements, ‘abilities and skills’ and ‘attitudes and values’ (see the branches developed from them).

In the white paper that presents the framework, it stresses that these skills should not be taught on its own. Instead, educators should consider applying innovative pedagogy (e.g. personalized learning, collaborative learning,etc) and create meaningful problems for learners to develop these multiple skills at once.

World Economic Forum (2023). Defining Education 4.0: A Taxonomy for the Future of Learning.

In addition to the Education 4.0 Taxonomy outlined by Dr. Sean McMinn, other key frameworks also contribute to our understanding of essential 21st-century skills. Notably, the Delors Framework developed in the late 1990s, with its broad principles of Learning to Know, Learning to Do, Learning to Be, and Learning to Live Together, continues to resonate in today's educational landscape. Similarly, the framework developed by Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills (ATC21S), synthesized from 12 existing frameworks, offers a comprehensive way to define these critical competencies. For those keen to delve deeper, we encourage exploring these frameworks further through the links provided, where you can discover the unique perspectives and methodologies each brings to the fore in shaping future-ready learners.

03.

Faculty Frontiers: Fostering 21st Century Skills at HKUST

Faculty Frontiers

Fostering 21st Century Skills at HKUST

Welcome to "Faculty Frontiers," a new platform in our reimagined newsletter that brings into focus the pioneering educational approaches of our esteemed HKUST faculty. This series celebrates the inventive teaching methods that are equipping our students with the vital skills to navigate the complexities of the modern world.

In this edition, we spotlight the faculty's engagement with AI literacy, their innovative approaches to student-driven research, and the integration of experiential learning tools like VR. These narratives not only showcase the dedication of our educators but also serve as a compass for the development of curricula that resonate with the demands of the 21st century.

Scroll and dive into the stories of how our educators are reshaping the learning experience, fostering a proactive and adaptive mindset among students.

03.

Faculty Frontiers: Fostering 21st Century Skills at HKUST

Teaching 21st Century Skills in the HKUST: AI Literacy

Having briefly introduced various frameworks of 21st-century skills, the next big question we wish to explore is how these skills are incorporated to teaching and learning. In fact, instructors from multiple disciplines at the HKUST are already embedding elements of 21st Century Skills in their courses.

For example, Dr. Sean McMinn and Professor Joon Nak Choi from the HKUST Business School launched a new common core course, "AI Literacy & Critical Thinking: Survival Skills for a Changing World," this year. This course guides students through active learning exercises to develop their abilities to leverage Gen AI to expand their natural human capabilities while avoiding potential pitfalls. Throughout the learning journey, students would also explore the social, ethical, and economic impacts of AI.

Let’s watch the video to know more about the course and the importance of AI Literacy to students these days.

Even though many students now use ChatGPT on a daily basis, some are still not fully aware of its strengths and limitations. Watch the video to learn more about Dr. McMinn's observations on students' interactions with AI throughout the course.

03.

Faculty Frontiers: Fostering 21st Century Skills at HKUST

Students as researchers: Creativity and Critical Thinking with Julian Groves

Professor Julian Groves, from the Division of Social Sciences, actively cultivates critical thinking and creativity in his gender studies course by empowering students to conduct their own novel research through self-directed inquiry on open-ended topics. The CEI spoke to Professor Groves to understand how he structures this approach, the unexpected insights students have had in the past, and advice for fellow instructors.

You can read the full interview here.

03.

Faculty Frontiers: Fostering 21st Century Skills at HKUST

Developing Students’ Job Interview Skills through VR and Experiential Learning

As part of the CEI’s Idea Incubation Series, Kasina Wong of the Center for Language Education showed how both VR and experiential learning can be utilized by instructors in their teaching practices. Check out Kasina's presentation ‘Portal to Possibilities – VR in the Classroom’ here. She also filled us in on how her work provides meaningful opportunities to nurture students’ 21st century skills.

Participants trying the platform in ‘Portal to Possibilities – VR in the Classroom’.

You can read the full interview here.

03.

Faculty Frontiers: Fostering 21st Century Skills at HKUST

Wrapping up: What skills should be promoted and valued more?

As we close this insightful exploration of 21st-century skills, we've traversed through various frameworks and delved into practical applications right here at HKUST. From Dr. McMinn's AI Literacy course to Professor Groves' innovative research-driven approach, and Kasina Wong's immersive VR experiences, we've seen a spectrum of strategies aimed at equipping our students with the skills they need for the ever-evolving landscape of the modern world.

Reload the page if you cannot see the results.

04.

Announcements

Be Part of the Educational Evolution:

HKUST x EdUHK Joint Conference on AI Education

Join us at the "Leveraging AI for Change in Education" conference, a joint initiative by HKUST and EdUHK, to delve into AI's transformative role in education across all levels. Engage with leading educators, researchers, and technologists as we discuss AI's impact on personalized learning, assessment, and ethical applications in education.

📅 Save the Date!

Date: 30th January 2024 (Tuesday)

Venue: LT-A, HKUST

For further details on the conference and to participate in this pivotal event, click here.

04.

Announcements

Fostering Digital Competency in the GenAI-GenZ Era:

Utilizing a Student-Driven Community of Practice to

Developing Teaching and Learning Practices

GenAI has created unprecedented opportunities in education, but its impacts on digital competency, literacy and best teaching and learning practices are not yet fully understood. The CEI is pleased to announce an upcoming initiative to explore this topic -

a student-led Community of Practice supported by the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education.

Communities of Practice are collaborative groups that regularly convene to share experiences and work towards common goals. This CoP aims to empower students, who are often left out of decision-making on initiatives affecting their education, by placing them at the forefront of knowledge creation. With faculty support across disciplines, participants will exchange ideas and cooperatively develop responsive approaches and best practices for integrating emerging technologies like GenAI into the classroom. The overarching goal is to craft recommendations that ensure student perspectives are valued as well as foster civic responsibility in developing effective, ethical teaching and learning practices.

Are you interested in developing new understandings of digital competency? All students, instructors, and staff are welcome to join this CoP. Please reach out to beatrice.chu@ust.hk or esmeanderson@ust.hk if you are interested or have any questions about this initiative.

04.

Announcements

CEI Idea Incubation Series: Enhancing Education through Tech

We've recently concluded the CEI Idea Incubation Series, an exploration into the integration of emerging technologies in education. This series showcased a range of innovative tools, including generative AI like ChatGPT, our new Virtual Reality teaching simulators, and a a gamified training course tailored for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) to bolster their teaching and learning skills. These interactive and engaging workshops offered practical hands-on experience, equipping participants with valuable insights to enhance and evolve their teaching methodologies.

Missed the sessions? No problem! Recordings are available for all who wish to catch up on these transformative discussions. Click the images below to watch the recordings.

Looking forward, we are excited to share with you more cutting-edge developments and collaborative learning opportunities in future installments. Stay tuned for what's next, and let's continue to elevate learning experiences together at HKUST.

Be a Part of Our January 2024 Issue: 'Fostering Creativity'

Welcome to the threshold of a new year where our upcoming edition will navigate the vibrant landscape of 'Fostering Creativity'. We are seeking insights that align with this vision. Here’s a glimpse of what’s ahead:

In-Depth Exploration

Unravel the dynamic concept of 'creativity' as we step into 2024. We're set to dissect the expanding role of Generative AI in the realm of artistic innovation, contemplating its prospects and the hurdles it presents.

Faculty Frontiers

Anticipate exciting showcases on innovative projects that merge AI with creative arts, engage in dialogues with artists navigating the intersection of tradition and technology, and gain insights into modern classroom designs that integrate artistic and technological advancements.

Are you working on something related? Have insights or experiences to share? We want to hear from you! Whether it’s your take on creativity, your experience with GenAI tools, or your thoughts on modern educational practices, your contribution can make our next issue richer.

Get Featured!

Ready to spotlight your work or thoughts? Email us at ceinews@ust.hk with your ideas or content. Your active engagement is key to fostering a meaningful discourse on the role of creativity in education.

Contact us

CEI | Center for Education Innovation

(Rm 6401) (Lift 25-26) The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong

https://cei.hkust.edu.hk/

2358 6811

ceinews@ust.hk

See you in the next issue!