Strategic "OLE Course" to enrich learning experience and meet future challenges

HHCKLA Buddhist Wong Cho Sum School is committed to providing high-quality education, focusing on the overall development of students, cultivating them with correct knowledge, correct views, and inspirational learning. In addition to imparting knowledge, the school also actively helps students establish a correct outlook on life, broaden their world horizons, and cultivate good moral conduct. Principal Ku Meiqi advocates that schools serve as a stage for students to demonstrate their talents. By providing them with a full range of learning experiences and opportunities to develop their potential, we can gradually guide children to understand their own expertise and character strengths, and then set clear learning goals to lay a solid foundation of knowledge.

Other learning experience courses to broaden knowledge

The school has optimized the class timetable in the new school year, using morning classes for regular courses, and implementing "Other Learning Experiences" in the afternoon session. The content focuses on STEAM education, values education, personal growth, and related development such as art, sports and intelligence, so that students can be inspired and encouraged to develop their personal potential and develop the qualities they need to face future challenges. The "OLE Course" helps students find their own goals and interests through activity-driven learning, and prepare for career planning as early as possible. The school uses a 4-day "OLE course" plus 1-day co-curricular activity model, integrating 8 different learning areas to comprehensively enrich students' knowledge.

"OLE Curriculum" provides students with a variety of "other learning experience" opportunities. Learning activities include "STEAM Kids", allowing students to experience various STEAM activities and get in touch with innovative technologies; "Fun English Around the "World" uses English singing games, board games and theme-based learning to learn English in a lively and interesting way; "Head Twister" provides different chess activities to train students' problem-solving abilities; "Emerging Sports Polyhedron" allows students to get in touch with emerging sports and popular dances; "Exploring the Beauty of Life" leads students to explore the world's top architecture and the world's top ten art museums, allowing students to become little designers and express their creativity. The learning activities provided by the "OLE Curriculum" have their own characteristics, covering students' diverse development needs in literature, sports, and arts, and taking into account the development of their knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The "OLE course" emphasizes the experience of activities and improving skills, and there is no pressure to do homework at all.

Knowledge penetrates the life process to prepare for the future

Knowledge exists in daily life. The school believes that learning is not limited to the classroom, but a process throughout life. Therefore, the school uses various methods and activities to stimulate students' interest in learning and desire for knowledge. Taking "Emerging Sports Polyhedron" as an example, the school makes good use of the "OLE Course" period to provide emerging sports such as golf, dodgeball, and Finnish poles that students may not be exposed to through regular regular courses to enrich their learning experience. Principal Gu pointed out: "We hope that through the 'OLE course', children can try different new fields, explore their potential, and develop their strengths. Because every student has his or her own uniqueness and can shine in different spaces and positions."

In addition to allowing students to see more and learn more deeply, the "OLE Curriculum" also allows the entire learning outcomes to be interconnected with the secondary school curriculum. For example, when practicing golf, understanding the principle of "parabola" will be of great benefit to studying physics courses in the future, and it will have a broader space for development. Students’ learning vision is no longer limited to examination subjects, but they can find what they like, what they are good at, and even their ideal development direction from activities. When they graduate, they can plan for their future with clear goals. The school is committed to helping students establish goals and directions in life and plan strategically so that they can enroll in the middle school of their choice and gradually move towards their ideals.

Use activities to closely link the curriculum to stimulate interest in learning

Extracurricular activities provide students with the opportunity to explore their personal interests and expertise, and the school offers more than 25 diverse activities for students to participate in. The "OLE Course" further links the activity content with the curriculum and provides a learning process that keeps pace with the times. Taking STEM education as an example, the school will arrange interdisciplinary STEM core courses for students in the morning session; and provide an additional interesting STEM course "STEAM Kids" during the "OLE Course" period to arouse students' interest in science learning and enhance their ability to apply innovative technologies. Allow students to discover different new knowledge points through the process of "playing", and actively explore, establish self-study habits, and become lifelong learners.

At the same time, the school hopes to reduce the learning pressure of students through the "OLE course", help them adjust their minds, and promote the healthy and balanced development of body, mind and spirit. Principal Gu said: "Children need to do homework after school or attend various cram schools. They face greater learning pressure, especially children who are about to enter middle school. They need to cope with the sub-tests at the same time. The 'OLE course' can be used as a buffer time after regular courses. The school will organize tea art and calligraphy activities such as 'Looking at China: A View of the World' and music activities such as 'A Different Musical Journey' to help students relieve tension and maintain their best condition."

Overseas exchange activities to broaden cultural horizons

Principal Gu is well aware of the principle that “reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles.” As society returns to normalcy, the school actively organizes overseas exchange activities to cooperate with the “STEAM Education” and “Looking at China: A Perspective on the World” courses in the OLE curriculum to help students look at the world and build an international perspective. For example, an exchange tour to the Mainland is arranged for all students in grades four, five, and six. Through two-day and one-night exchange activities, students can cultivate their independence and self-care ability, and at the same time learn about the beautiful mountains and rivers of the motherland, modern high-tech, etc., which helps to establish national identity. Principal Gu added: "Affected by the epidemic in the past, students could only learn through online lectures and were unable to conduct on-site exchanges and inspections. They missed many opportunities to experience the customs and cultural characteristics of other countries. In the future, the school will organize more diversified domestic and foreign exchange activities to make students' primary school career enjoyable and fulfilling."

Building a caring campus and alumni giving back to their alma mater

If schools want to cultivate the diversified development of children, the teaching team plays a very important role. The implementation of the "OLE curriculum" requires teachers' comprehensive planning to cater for the different learning needs of students. Principal Gu praised the school's teachers for being proactive, proactive and innovative, who jointly uphold the same educational philosophy and coordinate with the school's development direction to build a big family full of caring atmosphere. "After graduation, many alumni choose to return to school to work as teachers, secretaries, etc., working hard for the growth of children from different positions and inheriting the school's excellent teaching tradition. At the same time, alumni are familiar with the school environment and the needs of students and parents, so they can formulate comprehensive teaching plans and leverage the home-school cooperation relationship to help students grow in the most appropriate way." The school's caring and educating philosophy is passed down from generation to generation, helping students cultivate a positive attitude.