Curriculum Features
1. Foster scientific literacy through diverse biology-focused learning experiences
The Biology Department is dedicated to providing a variety of biology-related learning opportunities to help develop our students’ scientific literacy and cultivate their critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and spirit of inquiry. These learning experiences, such as independent projects and innovative investigative studies, allow students to apply the knowledge they have gained in Biology lessons to practical scenarios.
2. Encourage students to explore Biology through field studies
By immersing our students in the natural world, we aim to help them gain a deep understanding and appreciation for the diverse ecosystems and living creatures found in Hong Kong. These field experiences allow students to deepen their understanding of biological concepts related to ecology and biodiversity.
3. Participate in different Biology-related Competitions
The Biology Department encourages students to participate in Biology competitions. These competitions provide an opportunity for students to showcase their skills, knowledge, and passion for the life sciences.
4. Promote science reading across curriculum
The Biology Department promotes reading science news, books, articles, and scientific journals among our students. We especially encourage our senior students to share the knowledge they’ve gained through reading by becoming little instructors. These senior students can then demonstrate experiments to our junior students, helping to promote the learning of science through reading.
5. Equip students to be lifelong learners of life sciences
The Biology Department is committed to instilling important values, such as responsibility, respect, empathy, and a sense of community, as part of our students’ overall biology learning experience. Our goal is to inspire students to continue exploring the wonders of the life sciences with a positive and curious mindset. By integrating these values alongside the Biology content study, we aim to nurture well-rounded individuals who not only excel in the subject matter, but also develop a deep appreciation and care for the natural world around them.
Life-wide Learning
The Biology Department offers a wide range of experiential learning opportunities to our students, helping to enrich their exposure and broaden their horizons.
1. Experimental Learning in Biotechnology
Our Biology teachers take students to the Caritas Chan Chun Ha Field Studies Center to study the applications of DNA fingerprinting and related biotechnology techniques. Students have the chance to use modern instruments and proper techniques to carry out practical work, such as separating DNA fragments using gel-electrophoresis.
2. Biology Experiments and Workshops
The Biology department launch different experiments and workshops throughout the year to further promote student learning in biology. These varied learning activities ensure that our students have ample opportunities to explore the subject in innovative ways.
3. Field Trips
The Biology department organizes various field studies each year, allowing students to explore the distribution and abundance of different species in diverse habitats, such as rocky shores, mangroves, and woodlands. These field experiences give students a firsthand understanding of the natural world and the ecological relationships within different ecosystems.
External Collaborations
The Biology Department actively works to foster connections between our students and different scientific communities. Through joining various programmes organized by universities and community partners, we provide opportunities for our students to engage in real-world research, attend guest lectures, and explore potential career paths in the life sciences.
1. The University of Hong Kong
Our students have the opportunity to engage in professional dialogue with Dr. Benoit Guénard at the University of Kong. Students not only expanded their understanding of systematics, but also learnt the importance of local and regional biodiversity conservation.
2. Swire Institute of Marine Science
Our Biology students joined the lab visit to Swire Institute of Marine Science to understand what kind of research marine scientists do.
3. The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Our Biology students joined the lab visit to Swire Institute of Marine Science to understand what kind of research marine scientists do.
4. City University of Hong Kong
Our Biology students embarked on a visit to the esteemed State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) at the City University of Hong Kong. During this visit, our students were fortunate enough to engage in a professional dialogue with Professor Kenneth Mei Yee Leung. This gave them a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the human impact on the marine environment in Hong Kong, the South China region, and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
5. Rotary Club
To promote environmental protection in schools and raise sustainability awareness, our students jointed with the Rotary Club to visit the Tong Fuk Go Green Organic Farm on Lantau Island. Students learnt some eco-friendly farming practices. The activity raised the students’ environmental protection awareness. It encouraged them to take sustainable environmental actions at both the personal and community levels.
6. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Our department participated in an anti-drug programme organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups for our Biology students. The programme uses STEM as an entry point to raise students’ awareness of anti-drug efforts. The programme allows students to explore drug-related knowledge through hands-on experiments and activities, and understand the harmful effects of drugs to the human body, thereby encouraging the establishment of positive mindset and a healthy lifestyle.
7. Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong
Our school has invited the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Hong Kong to organize the insect hotel programme to promote the understanding of insect pollinators and the importance of insect pollinator ecosystem services in Hong Kong. Our school also joined the BioBlitz @ Country Parks competition to increase the awareness of the rich terrestrial biodiversity in Hong Kong.
8. Southern district joint schools conference
The Southern District School Council organized the ‘Southern District Dragon Culture Education Carnival’, and our school will participate in the ‘Sea Dragon Project’ activity co-organized with Ocean Park. Our Biology students participated in the marine science research activities provided by the Ocean Park Education Department, and they will spread the knowledge they learnt to other secondary schools in the district.