Gifted Education Fund: Off-school Advanced Learning Programmes Programme No. 2021-10 (For secondary students)
Title of Programme Engaging with Urban History to Promote Deep Learning:
Thinking, Seeing, and Reading the Built Environment in Hong Kong and Beyond
Programme Provider Department of History, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Theme Humanities and Social Science Research Programme
Maximum No. of Participants and Class Level in the 2021/22 School Year
40 students (Secondary 4-5)
Pre-requisite Applicants should show interest in history, geography, environmental studies, etc. and is studying at least one elective subject related to the Personal, Social and Humanities Education Key Learning Area in schools.
Programme Delivery Period
From June 2022 to February 2023 (9 months) (tentative) Medium of Instruction Course Material: English
Class teaching/ Discussion: English. Students may use Cantonese during discussion with student helpers.
Objectives To broaden the knowledge of gifted students on the methods, perspectives and historiographies of urban history (i.e. the development of cities), the relationship between city design and the nature of civilisation, and also the factors that shape the form and meaning of the built environments;
To equip students with the critical analytical skills to understand the development of the urban environment in Hong Kong and in other places through lectures, site visits and independent researches;
To provide an opportunity for students to understand the significance of urban historical study should they wish to pursue a future career in an area related to conservation of the cultural heritage, tourism, museum administration, architecture, urban planning, etc.; and
To develop aesthetic appreciation among the students and nurture positive values and attitudes such as responsibility, caring of people and the environment, empathy, etc.
Programme Outline* This programme aims to broaden the knowledge of gifted students on the features and development of cities in the past and present, and equip them with the skills to study, understand and appreciate the factors that shape Hong Kong and other cities into the form we see. The programme is enlightening to students who wish to further their study and/ or pursue a career in relevant fields such as
architecture, tourism, urban planning, etc. in future. The programme will also develop aesthetic appreciation and nurture positive values and attitudes among the students. The programme consists of four phases.
Phase I: Defining Urban History (9 hours in total)
A number of lectures will be arranged in this phase for students to acquire background knowledge on urban history, the study methods, urban variables, social values of the study, great cities and civilisations, etc.
Students will complete an exercise to extend their learning and develop relevant study skills after each session.
Phase II: Intensive Lessons and Visits (about 23 hours)
In this phase of the programme, apart from participation in several intensive lessons with interactive activities, students will visit museums, cultural heritages or other relevant sites in Hong Kong, e.g. the Hong Kong Museum of History and Sky100 Tower.
Through intensive lessons and site visits, students will acquire more advanced knowledge related to urban history such as city development and public health, social-environmental impacts of rapid urban growth, cultural heritage and its significance, etc.
Students will also develop deeper understanding of major urban historical affairs and identify commonalities in the human urban experience in different places of the world in past and present-day contexts.
Phase III: Expansion of Core Skills and Independent Research (about 12 hours)
Students will first learn the important skills to conduct urban research using the primary resources provided. Besides, urban alternatives and new urban planning models to cope with existing city problems will be introduced in the lessons.
Students will start to conduct an independent research in this phase of the programme. Each student may propose a local cultural heritage (e.g. Tai Kwun) or a built environment (e.g. a housing estate) for in-depth study. They need to apply the knowledge and skills learnt in phase I to III to complete their tasks. Literature review, site visits, interviews, drawing, photography, video recording, analysis and consolidation of information/ data, report writing, etc. are required. Students will meet and report their work progress to the instructor/ student helpers regularly. Mentorship and support will be provided whenever necessary. Students will submit a research report by the end of this phase.
Phase IV: Further Discussion and Showcase Event (9 hours in total)
Further discussion will be made in this phase on comparative analysis of cities in different places and eras, the cities and values, urban features and urban development. Students may
propose additional topics that they show interest for discussion such as the career prospect of studying urban history in the university.
Students will present their independent research findings in a showcase event to be held by the end of the programme.
Parents, teachers and other guests will be invited to attend the event.
* In view of the latest development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme provider may need to modify the learning and teaching activities as a contingency.
Admission Fee Free of charge
Application Method Application form can be downloaded from the following webpage:
Please complete the application form and send it by post on or before 16 May 2022 to the following address:
Department of History
Rm 131, Fung King Hey Building The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shatin, New Territories
(Attn: Prof. Ian MORLEY)
[Please specify: Application for Engaging with Urban History to Promote Deep Learning: Thinking, Seeing, and Reading the Built Environment in Hong Kong and Beyond]
Documents to be Submitted along with the Application
Please write about the following in the section of Student’s Self-introduction in the application form:
A personal statement in English outlining how participating in this programme, as you expect, might broaden your knowledge in history and enhance your learning in school.
Compose a short video clip of yourself introducing who you are, and stating what your career plan is. Please highlight how, in your view, taking part in this programme may assist you in reaching your career goals. Please present in English with no more than 10 minutes in duration. You may either submit the video clip by a DVD or upload your clip onto your social media platform and provide a hyperlink to the video clip in the Self-introduction.
Enquiry Prof. Ian MORLEY (Department of History, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Tel No.: 3943 7116
Email: ianmorley@cuhk.edu.hk
https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/curriculum-development/curr iculum-area/gifted/ge_fund/gef/programme/current.html
Date of
Announcement of Result
By early June 2022 (tentative)
