Teaching development grants final and financial report: The new culture of learning and teaching in the subject of Visual Arts - Lessons learned from teaching design, practice, lesson analysis and reflection

One of the main focuses of the curriculum reform in Hong Kong is on enhancing student learning and the quality of teaching (CDC, 2000, p.11). The Education Bureau (2007) reiterates that in order to implement the education reforms successfully, the most important step is to develop a new teaching and learning culture that will effect real changes in school life. Therefore, helping students to 'learn how to learn' becomes an important part of teachers' professional development. Both teacher educators and student teachers alike need to be able to identify the elements and characteristics of the new culture of learning and teaching. The Education Bureau believes that "only with the support of government policies, enhancement of teachers' professionalism, active participation by parents, and the support from society, a new culture of learning and teaching can then be evolved to bring about real changes in classrooms and to create a wider learning space for students to develop their potential" (CDC, 2000, p.11). However, some of our VA students have stated that they failed to change their role in their Block Practice [BP]. As frontline teacher educators, VA colleagues would like to respond to the demands of the curriculum change and help VA students investigate how to make the shift in their teaching approach from one of transmitting knowledge to one of helping students learn how to learn and provide more opportunities for students to explore their aptitude and potential. The project will also give our colleagues opportunities to investigate through applied research the difficulties faced by student teachers in making this paradigm shift, so as to enhance the Institute's research and development capacity.