Experiential learning and the cultivation of critical thinking in liberal studies in Hong Kong secondary school

Abstract

This research aims at finding out the relation between experiential learning and the cultivation of critical thinking in the context of Liberal Studies classroom in Hong Kong. Adequate studies have been done in the two fields respectively, but for experiential learning, limited ones focus on its implementation in the classroom, and even less literatures are available specified on it’s influence on thinking skills in Liberal Studies classroom. Therefore, research was conducted in a local EMI secondary school to investigate the learning outcome of experiential learning. Both tests and in-depth interviews were carried out to find out students’ improvement in critical thinking, and their personal feedback of the learning journey. The result demonstrated a positive relationship between experiential learning and critical thinking, and meanwhile its difficulty and limitation of implementation, which point out the value of the conception and enable space for further studies.