The Education Bureau (EDB) officially launches Applied Learning (ApL) courses as part of the New Senior Secondary (NSS) Curriculum in the 2010-11 school year. The ApL courses are elective subjects within the senior secondary curriculum and students’ achievement will be reported in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE). The introduction of the ApL courses is aimed to enrich the learning experiences of secondary students of varying learning needs, extending their understanding through practical applications of specific study areas.

There is a three-stage quality assurance approach to ensure the ApL courses meet the quality standards. At Stage 1, the Curriculum Development Institute (CDI) is responsible for the assessment of the curriculum design of the subject based on the domains on subject structure, body of knowledge and activities against the standards laid down in the ApL Curriculum and Assessment Guide (Senior Secondary Level) in terms of intellectual rigor. At Stage 2, the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) will quality assure the course delivery by means of on-site visits to the course providers. At Stage 3, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) is responsible for moderation of ApL assessments and students’ learning outcomes.

At the Stage 2 QA process, the HKCAAVQ professional staff and subject specialists conduct on-site visits to ascertain whether

• the planned curriculum is successfully delivered to the standards which are set;
• appropriate resources and procedures have been put in place with respect to the following major areas:
  • Personnel;
  • Physical and learning resources;
  • Development, delivery and review; and
  • Teaching and learning strategies.
• an appropriate mechanism has been put in place to ensure the teaching and learning activities of the courses can cater for the diverse learning needs of the students.

Based on the findings from the on-site visits, the HKCAAVQ makes recommendations for the ApL course providers and informs the Government as to whether the delivery of the ApL courses are effective and meet the ApL standard in the NSS curriculum.

The HKCAAVQ is also represented on the EDB’s Curriculum Development Council Committee on Applied Learning to provide professional advice on the quality assurance mechanism for ApL.

 

December 2011