Transcript NSS Curriculum Planning
From Curriculum Planning to Timetabling - Generating timetables based on curriculum proposals for a 24-class secondary school
More examples are available in 334 Website
http://www.emb.gov.hk/index.aspx?langno=1 &nodeid=5522
What questions are asked first in NSS Curriculum Planning
• Which subjects are to be offered?
• How to offer?
– Taster year – students study 4X in S4?
– 3X or 2X in S5 & S6?
– Applied Learning (ApL)?
– Collaboration with other schools? – Flexible grouping?
– No. of group for each subject?
– No. of lessons for the subject?
– How the additional resources like CEG, TPPG, SSCG can be used effectively?
– …
How can these questions be answered?
• Survey on student interest and inclination in S3 • Reference to available human resources – matching teachers’ expertise with students’ demand to decide on the subjects offered and the number of groups of each subject • Reference to other available resources / opportunities – school facilities, ApL courses available
Overview of NSS Curriculum Plan for the 24-Class Secondary School
• Class Structure 444 444 • Timetable structure: – 40 minutes / period – 8 periods / day – 6 days / cycle • Progression of Study: 4X in S4; 2-3X (including Applied Learning) for S5-6 • No of elective subjects planned to offer: 11 • Elective subjects planned to offer: – Bio, Chem, Phy, Econ, Geog, Hist, Chi Hist, BAFS, ICT, VA, Science (Combined) • Ways to cater for learner diversity: – Science (Combined) in place of 2 science subjects in S5-6 – Applied Learning in S5-6
Curriculum Structure (S4)
Subjects offered English Chinese Mathematics L.S.
Electives* OLE# Total No. of periods 8 7 7 5
4 (x4)
5 48 % of Time allocation 16.7% 14.6% 14.6% 10.4% 33.3% 10.4% 100% 56.3% #More other learning experiences (OLE) like community service, career-related experiences, moral and civic education, physical and aesthetic experiences are provided to students after school or in post-examination school days, etc. In the present case, at least 2 periods are reserved for PE. 3 other periods are marked as OLE in the timetable shown later.
Curriculum Structure (S5-6)
Subjects offered English Chinese Mathematics L.S.
Electives** OLE# Total No. of periods 8 7 7 5
5 (x3)
6 48 % of Time allocation 16.7% 14.6% 14.6% 10.4% 56.3% 31.2% 12.5% 100%
Groups of Elective Subjects offered in S4
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Phy Phy Bio Bio Chem Chem Hist Hist Econ VA Econ Econ Geog Geog BAFS C.Hist
C. Hist ICT ICT ICT Notes on how to put the subjects into different groups: • Popular subjects offered in more than 1 group (e.g. Econ, ICT) • Mutually exclusive minority subjects put in the same group (None in this case) • Popular subject combinations put in different groups (e.g. More students opt for Chem+Bio, Hist+Geog) • Symmetrical groups as far as possible (Maximise use of school resources)
Groups of Elective Subjects offered in S4
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Phy Phy Bio Bio Chem Chem Hist Hist Econ VA Econ Econ Geog Geog BAFS C.Hist
C. Hist ICT ICT ICT Facts: •
172
possible subject combinations • Students can experience the learning and teaching of subjects from different KLAs • On average, each group made up of only
32
students (= 40x4/5) – addressing the issue of workload to a certain extent
Groups of Elective Subjects offered in S5
Group 1 Group 2 Phy Phy Science (Combined) Chem Econ VA Geog Geog C. Hist ICT Group 3 Bio Hist Econ BAFS1 BAFS2 ICT C. Hist • • • • • Notes on packing of subjects: From 160 students with 4X to 160 students with 2-3X, therefore ample room for packing Interactive approach needed in deciding how to pack subjects (i.e. students interest + students’ performance in S4) – appropriate student guidance needed So long as number of subjects in a group > number of classes, most groups will be operating in a number less than 40 (In fact, with some subjects that are less resource-bound accommodating more students e.g. 35, the others can be taught in even smaller groups) So long as there are enough teachers, may expand the number of subjects in a group to cater for more different subject combinations (e.g. Chi Hist in Group 3) – giving more choices Similarly, BAFS is split into 2 groups to cater for the Accounting Module and the Management Module
Groups of Elective Subjects offered in S5
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Phy Phy Bio Science (Combined) Chem Hist Econ VA Econ Geog C. Hist Geog BAFS1 BAFS2 ICT ICT • Facts:
108
possible subject combinations C. Hist
But how does the proposed curriculum structure fit into a timetable for the whole school?
Will it work?
Other requirements in Timetabling
• No planned lesson unscheduled • 1 Chinese Language lesson scheduled on each school day • 1 English Language lesson scheduled on each school day • 1 Mathematics lesson scheduled on each school day • No multiple periods (e.g. double period or triple period) across break such as recess or lunch • No PE lessons scheduled just after the lunch time • Teachers with no more than 6 periods on each school day • All lessons scheduled in the special rooms required • All non-PE OLE lessons scheduled after lunch
To give you a feel that this is a genuine case … Curriculum and timetabling requirements for S1 2 as follows:
English Chinese Subjects offered Mathematics Life Education C. History E.P.A.
Geography History P.E.
Visual Arts Music PTH I.S.
Computer Literacy Total No. of periods 10 8 7 3 1 5 1 48 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 Single period 4 4 5 1 1 3 1 2 1 2 2 0 0 2 Double period 3 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Similarly, curriculum and timetabling requirements for S3 as follows:
Subjects offered English Chinese Mathematics Life Education C. History E.P.A.
Geography History P.E.
Visual Arts Music PTH Physics Chemistry Biology Computer Literacy Total No. of periods 10 8 7 2 2 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 1 48 Single period 4 4 5 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 Double period 3 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 0
Samples of Timetable generated by WebSAMS version 1.21 (Build 02032006)
We will continue to upgrade WebSAMS or develop other tools for schools to perform timetabling – further trial runs and your support needed
Reading to Learn OLE for Other Learning Experiences
Requirements No planned lesson unscheduled At least 1 Chinese Language scheduled on each school day At least 1 English Language lesson scheduled on each school day At least 1 Mathematics lesson scheduled on each school day Degree of meeting the requirements 100% 100% for S1 to S3 58% for S4 to S6 (5 classes with 1 school day without Chinese) 100% for S1 to S3 83.3% for S4 to S6 (2 classes with 1 school day without English) 100% for S1 to S3.
75% for S4 to S6 (3 classes with 1 school day without Mathematics) 100% No multiple periods (e.g. double period or triple period) across break such as recess or lunch No PE lessons just after the lunch time Teacher with no more than 6 periods on each school day All lessons scheduled in the special rooms required All non-PE OLE lessons scheduled after lunch 100% 84% 8 teachers with 7 periods on the same day 100% 100%
How about the teacher workload?
Teacher with no more than 6 periods on each 84% 8 teachers with 7 school day periods on the same day • On average, each teacher will be teaching about 30 periods per cycle (as shown in a table on flexible grouping later). The actual workload depends on how flexible grouping is employed to address specific needs identified by the school and the school management can use the additional resources like CEG, SSCG, etc flexibly to address the needs. In the present case, the school deploys more resources to improve students’ English standard and on learning and teaching of LS.
This teacher is teaching 30 periods per cycle (48 periods).
More about Flexible Grouping
Flexible Grouping
• Provide a better learning environment to students • Adjust the size of a group according to actual needs (Sometimes larger than the class size; sometimes smaller)
Different Ways to Implement Flexible Grouping
• Several elective subjects put together in groups to allow for different subject combinations • For core subjects like Chinese, English and Mathematics, several classes come and mix together to form smaller groups for small-class teaching (e.g. 4 classes becoming 5 groups, or just the 2 weaker classes becoming 3 groups) • Likewise, small-class teaching may be applied to only some of the lessons in the timetable (e.g. for oral practices) • Biweekly mass lecture for Liberal Studies to introduce background concepts • ...
Different Ways to Implement Flexible Grouping
• 4 classes 5 groups e.g. Having Chinese Language periods at the same time, all 4 classes will merge and become 5 groups • Every 2 classes 3 groups, therefore 4 classes 6 groups e.g. Having English Language periods at the same time, 4A & 4B will merge and become 3 groups. It will be easier to arrange the timetable.
4A 4B 4C 4D 4A 4B 4C 4D
Different Ways to Implement Flexible Grouping
• Only 2 periods out of 6 periods splits e.g. Oral lessons in Languages, IES in Liberal Studies
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) Day I LS Teacher A LS Teacher A Day II LS Teacher A Day III Day IV LS (IES) Teachers A & B LS (IES) Teachers A & B Day V LS Teacher A Day VI
Different Ways to Implement Flexible Grouping
• Offers 5 or 6 elective subjects in each elective group (Conduct survey to get initial picture of students’ choices) e.g.
In S4, students study 4 elective subjects Grouping of elective subjects: Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Phy Phy Bio Bio Chem Chem Hist Hist Econ VA Econ Econ Geog Geog BAFS C Hist C Hist ICT ICT ICT In S5 & S6, students study 2-3 elective subjects Group 1 Phy Sci (combined) Group 2 Phy Chem Group 3 Bio Hist Econ Geog C Hist VA Geog ICT Econ BAFS ICT C Hist
Estimation of Teaching Load with Flexible Grouping
e.g.
Subject Level S4 (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D) No. of Groups No. of Periods No. of Pupils per gp. Eng 6 8 26 Chi Maths 4 4 7 7 40 40 S5 (5A, 5B, 5C, 5D) No. of Groups No. of Periods No. of Pupils per gp. S6 (6A, 6B, 6C, 6D) No. of Groups No. of Periods No. of Pupils per gp. 6 4 4 8 7 7 26 40 40 6 4 4 8 7 7 26 40 40 LS Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 26 32 32 32 32 40 6 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 26 32 32 26 6 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 26 32 32 26 OLE 4 5 4 6 40 4 6 40 No. of periods 234 238 238 Teaching load per cycle: No. of periods ／ No. of staff = (234+238+238) ／ 12 X 2.1 = 28.4 ( 23.66 per week)
• With appropriate use of flexible grouping, some of the issues associated with class-size for SBA are automatically solved – No more 40 students per class for science practicals – Smaller groups for oral practices or speaking exercises • Other strategies to address student workload in administering SBA – Staggered arrangement in accordance with the timeline for submitting scores and reports provided by HKEAA – Maintaining a central database on how and when SBA is to be conducted for each subject for each class – Encouraging the use of SBA results to replace some of the mid term test or exam results (formalising the importance of diversified modes of assessment and whole-person development)
Early Planning
• To test the different scenarios • To build up an initial working model for fine adjustment in the future • To develop prototypes for discussion, consensus building, identifying gaps in preparation (e.g. room conversion), etc • To convert some of the uncertainties into certainties (after knowing some of the feasibilities) • To ease teachers anxiety
Ways Ahead
• A project on how timetabling in NSS can be performed using alternative methods • Trial runs of different methods and tools using more school data (schools with different settings and proposed curricula) • Workshop on using WebSAMS to perform timetabling • Enhancement of WebSAMS if appropriate