To broaden her students’ knowledge of how schools in other countries manage resources in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector, Ms. Carman Choi invited Dr. Li Minyi, Associate Professor from Beijing Normal University, to give an online guest lecture on Environmental Sustainability in Mainland China and Norway on 17 April 2023 with a question-and-answer session with her BEd part-time students.
Dr. Li is a prolific writer, skilled translator, well-sought-after investigator and collaborator in local, national, and international research projects. She specialises in research topics such as comparative research in ECE, kindergarten curriculum and instruction towards education for sustainable development, and kindergarten teacher professional development and capacity building.
Ms. Choy, who joined the Department in December 2022, is grateful to Dr. Li for giving her students an insightful and thought-provoking lecture. She shared: “Her expertise and passion for the subject were evident throughout the presentation. My students learned so much from her insights and perspectives. It is truly an honour to have her speak in my classroom.”
Many of Ms. Choi’s students, who are currently working as teachers, agreed. They found Dr. Li’s talk about sustainability education in different countries enlightening and valuable. For example, one teacher appreciated how Dr. Li provided many examples of “free play” and outdoor learning to enhance the relationship between children and the natural environment.
The teachers learned many useful tips from other countries on engaging their pupils in the classrooms, such as the Japanese strategy, where pupils are encouraged to take photographs of their environments. Another teacher mentioned that she learned how sustainable development begins with first understanding your own city and culture and designing a plan according to the local environment and social culture.
Ms. Choi added that her students were inspired by the positive outcomes of implementing sustainability education in Shenzhen and became more curious about sustainability issues in China and other countries, such that they wished to start their own sustainability education initiatives and prepare funding proposals.
Written by Sofie Chua (schua@eduhk.hk), COIL Facilitator