Title
Multi-school Collaboration in the Information Technology for Hong Kong Flora and Vegetation
Project No:
2002/1009
Description
encouraging students to explore Flora and Vegetation through establishing a number of QEF plant study sites & trails together with teaching and learning materials for activities within them
Purpose of the Project
The aim of the project is to establish 'QEF Plant Study Sites' and 'QEF Plant Trails' in different parts of the Hong Kong S.A.R., to attract or encourage students to explore deeper and broader areas beyond those covered in schools, to give students the satisfaction of achievement through regular and extra-curricular activities, such as researches and innovative designs, and to provide a basis for exploration for applying the materials learnt to career development.
Year:
2003-07 To 2005-08
KLA
Technology Education
School Sector
Special
Keywords
QEF plant study
extra-curricular activities
Hong Kong Flora
Flash movies
panoramic photos
literary works
serial photos
general studies
botanical science
project implementation
long panoramic photos
artistic skill
multi-disciplinary expertise
web design
outdoor studies
field studíes
plant identification
field studies
new perspective
science education
web report construction
ecotour routes
targeted industries
therapeutic agents
natural resources
health foods
virtual sites
trails
extra-curricular activities
Hong Kong Flora
Flash movies
panoramic photos
literary works
serial photos
general studies
botanical science
project implementation
long panoramic photos
artistic skill
multi-disciplinary expertise
web design
outdoor studies
field studíes
plant identification
field studies
new perspective
science education
web report construction
ecotour routes
targeted industries
therapeutic agents
natural resources
health foods
virtual sites
trails
Organization/School:
The Chinese University of Hong Kong - Department of Biology
Design /methodology /approach
Capturing images of plants at selected sites and trails, taking serial photos of the vegetation along the sites and trails, identification of the plants there, stitching the photos into panoramic photos, turning such photos into Flash movies and including them in the website of Hong Kong Flora and Vegetation, inclusion of archives on old photos and literary works related to those sites and trails and construction of the virtual sites and trails on the website for internet access.
Findings /Results /Evaluation of the Project
The project helped to increases students' sense of achievement, fostered students' development in their potential and equipped students with a variety of learning approaches to science and general studies. Moreover, with the integration of IT, botanical science, education and art, the project also helped to broaden teachers' scope of vision and showed them new ways to self-improvement in the process of project implementation.
Project limitations /implications
A wide range of multi-disciplinary expertise is needed, particularly in IT, botanical science, artistic skill in stitching the serial photos into long panoramic photos, literary works, web design, and teaching skills in leading outdoor studies for students.
Practical implications
Trainings were provided to students who participated in the projects and field studíes in relation to the three sites and trail. Students can techniques of field studies and plant identification on the field, Searching information back in their library and through the internet, and organize information collected and photos taken in the preparation of reports for loading onto the website. The integration of IT, botanical science, education and art gave teachers a new perspective of science education and helped broaden their scope of vision, and showed them new ways to improve their professiona1ism and self-improvement in the process of project implementation.
Social implications
Collaboration with Hans Anderson Club to train 13 students in techniques for conducting ecotours in Tai 0, Lantau Island, and plant identification and web report construction for such plants found along the ecotour routes.
Originality/value (Importance) of the project
To provide a basis for exploration for applying the materials learnt and/or conceived to career development, so as to mobilize them to eventually contribute to the targeted industries in Hong Kong (e.g. information technology, exploitation of natural resources for health foods, therapeutic agents and ecotourism).
IT software used
1. A website with virtual sites and trails
Good Practices
N/A