On November 18, Dr. Lan Li, Director of Center for Learning Enhancement and Research and Associate Professor of English Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Shenzhen, visited Centre for Teaching and Learning to give a presentation titled Interactive Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Challenges and Practice with UIC staff and students in terms of her experiences in teaching and learning. Before joining CUHK-Shenzhen, she had worked at Hong Kong Polytechnic University for nearly 20 years.

Dr. Yi-Lung Kuo delivering welcome remarks to Dr. Lan Li

Faculty and students in the sharing session

To begin with, Dr. Lan Li introduced theories and principles of interactive learning followed by quoting a Chinese old saying from Lao-tse to get audience thought about what is learning.

Dr.Lan Li sharing her experiences

Dr. Lan Li further elaborated several theories and principles of classroom interaction to the audience in simple words, and supported with lively exemplars and her own experiences. Dr. Li also raised some potential problems and difficulties embedded in daily teaching practice and suggested several possible solutions accordingly. She also shared the classroom layouts specially designed by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen to illustrate the ideas of teaching interaction.

Faculties and students actively interacting with Dr. Lan Li

More importantly, Dr. Lan Li put great emphasis on the importance of the use of technologies in teaching. She demonstrated her practice of using the Wenjuanxin in her class, to show the convenience and importance of technology in teaching and learning.

Dr. Lan Li exchanging ideas with staff and students after sharing session

After the sharing, staff and students actively engaged with Dr. Lan Li to discuss their daily teaching and learning problems. Her genuine experience of interactive learning and teaching brought new insight to the audience, and stimulated them to have more deep thinking of this teaching style.