Interview with: Alisha Kwan (Fellow 2023-24)
Written by: Aiman Nadeem, Hayley Lam
Cross-Sector Collaboration to Enhance Underprivileged Students’ 21st Century Skills
Bringing students to gently cradle sea urchins at a research facility on the shores of Hong Kong’s only marine reserve isn’t something you would typically see on a teacher’s agenda. For Alisha Kwan (Fellow 2023-24), her background in marine science inspired her to blend experiential learning in her teaching to equip her students with the essential skills needed to thrive in the 21st century.
After graduating from HKUST with a degree in Ocean Science, Alisha wished to share her passion for the marine world with high school students. Her earlier experience as an intern with Teach For Hong Kong (“TFHK”) during university fueled this desire, motivating her to become a TFHK Fellow to inspire students to explore science. Alisha taught Integrated Science at Delia Memorial School (Hip Wo No. 2 College) (“DMSHW2”), a local secondary school primarily with ethnic minority students.
Observing her students’ challenges in accessing diverse learning resources and often being disengaged in class, Alisha leveraged her passion for marine science and TFHK’s partnership with the Swire Trust to curate learning experiences for students where they can “learning by doing”.
A key aspect of implementing “learning by doing” was lining up a field trip to the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS). Alisha, working alongside Serena Wong (Fellow 2023-24), led a group of Form 4 and 5 Biology students to the research facility. During the tour of the Swire Coastal Outreach Hub, students had the opportunity to explore the laboratory and aquarium, where they particularly enjoyed interacting with small sea creatures such as fish, crustaceans, and echinoderms. This hands-on experience not only allowed them to apply textbook concepts such as biological classification, transect sampling, etc., in an authentic research setting, but also sparked their curiosity towards marine biology.
“There are relatively fewer trips to such institutions for students due to curriculum
and resource restrictions. Bringing them there (SWIMS) increased their exposure
and gave them a broader scope of what Biology includes, helping them to plan their
futures better.” Alisha shared.
Other than experiential learning, Alisha values learning from others’ experiences equally essential.
“My students are very interested in the business field; whenever I ask them about
their future aspirations, they often express a desire to become businessmen and
make money. To support their dreams, I wanted to arrange activities where they
could meet and learn from professionals,” she mentioned.
Coordinating with TFHK and the Swire Trust, Alisha invited Mr. Mark Harper, Group Head of Sustainability at John Swire & Sons, to be a ‘Star Teacher’ and co-teach a Science lesson, sharing his journey with the students.
Mr. Harper shared his educational journey and experiences in corporate sustainability, captivating students with his story. They were inspired to learn that someone as accomplished as he faced setbacks in school and took alternative paths to achieve his current success. His story highlighted that success is rarely a straight line, resonating deeply with students. For many students from low socioeconomic backgrounds who feel uncertain about their futures, Mr. Harper’s journey offered a source of hope and inspiration.
Alisha’s innovative approach to teaching by tapping into cross-sector resources to curate valuable opportunities for her students bridged the gap between classroom learning and real-world careers and possibilities. Underprivileged students often lack access and guidance to explore diverse opportunities. With TFHK and the Swire Trust’s support, Alisha created meaningful engagements, enabling her students to envision their futures with greater clarity and confidence.
Alisha’s Fellowship journey was not without hardships as she navigated classroom management and pondered ways to enhance learning engagement for her students. With the supportive network of other Fellows and Alumni at her school and coaching support from TFHK, Alisha was able to navigate the challenges and embrace the mindset of understanding students with empathy.
“She shared her learning, “It is important to listen, to try and understand what they
have been through, to recognize they could be going through something that led to
behavioral changes or them causing trouble at school. Once you do, students really
enjoy talking to you and are willing to open up about themselves.”
The TFHK Fellowship Program empowers Fellows from diverse backgrounds to leverage their unique expertise and cross-sector resources to create a significant impact on underprivileged students. Alisha exemplifies this mission at DMSHW2, where she continues to nurture her students’ 21st-century skills and broaden their horizons through a variety of enriching learning opportunities.
