Campus Digest

Fulbright scholar speaks at SCE lecture on how to enhance children’s learning experience

08 Dec 2016

The School of Continuing Education organised a Fulbright Lecture on 29 November with Professor Lily Chen-Hafteck, Professor of Music Education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Chair of the Faculty of the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Her lecture entitled “Toward a Comprehensive, Creative and Culturally Responsive Early Childhood Music Curriculum” attracted over 150 child educators and members of the public.

Professor Chen’s presentation on an action research project supported by a Fulbright research award examined various measures to develop the childhood music curriculum in Hong Kong kindergartens. The study was conducted with 10 teachers from three local kindergartens. With the assistance of the research team, the teachers reviewed and suggested improvements for the existing curriculum and instructional strategies to construct an integrated curriculum.

Professor Chen also discussed preliminary findings on ways for teachers to shape their lessons by integrating music and other subjects in order to create a holistic and creative learning experience. She pointed out that preschool children have inborn musical talents, and teachers should provide opportunities for them to showcase and strengthen their potentials. It is hoped that children can enhance their self-expression ability and creativity through well-designed lessons that integrate music with other learning areas.

Professor Chen is currently a Visiting Fulbright Scholar of the Department of Education Studies of HKBU. She has published numerous journal articles and book chapters, and has held leading positions in the International Society for Music Education as a member of its Board of Directors, Chair of its Young Professionals Focus Group, and Early Childhood Commission.