At Renaissance College, we understand that each and every student is different, each with their own strengths and stretches (things that students cannot do yet). We also recognise that each student has learning needs specific to them and that these needs vary and can change over time. Teachers consistently work to remove barriers to learning for students so that student needs can be met, ultimately so student learning can be enhanced.
Our College-wide Learning Enhancement Team (LET) supports teachers, students, and parents across all year levels. LET teachers use their expertise in identifying specific student needs (learning, language, talents, etc.), supporting teachers and students in addressing those needs.
Our vision is to live our beliefs and values around learning diversity and inclusion through the use of leading practices in educational research, working with experts within the school, in both local and global communities, in support of students in achieving their goals and experiencing success.
IB World Schools have the Approaches to Learning and Approaches to Teaching as common elements of their four programmes.
Approaches to Teaching (ATT)
Teaching at Renaissance College is:
- Based on inquiry: students explore real-world contexts to construct meaning
- Focused on conceptual understanding: Big ideas (concepts) are explored in order to deepen disciplinary understanding as well as help students make connections and transfer learning to new contexts
- Developed in local and global contexts: Student learning is connected to real-life contexts and examples with students being supported to process new learning by connecting it to their own experiences and to the world around them
- Focused on effective teamwork and collaboration: Teamwork and collaboration between students is fundamental yet so is teamwork and collaboration between students and teachers.
- Designed to remove barriers to learning: Teaching is inclusive, values diversity, and promotes equity. It affirms students’ identities and nurtures belonging. Educators meet students where they are, enabling every student to develop and pursue appropriate personal learning goals.
- Informed by assessment: Assessment plays a vital role as teachers monitor, document, measure, and report on student learning. Effective feedback is a key component of everyday learning.
Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills
At Renaissance College, we nurture students in learning how to learn - a vital skill for students both in and outside of the classroom. Students at RCHK are supported in developing:
- Thinking skills, including critical thinking, creative thinking, and ethical thinking
- Communication skills, including written, oral and non-verbal communication,
- Research skills, including comparing, contrasting, validating and prioritising information
- Self-management skills, including both organisational skills, such as time management, and affective skills, such as managing state of mind and motivation
- Social skills, including forming and maintaining positive relationships, empathy, and conflict resolution
Within each of these categories of skills, there are associated sub-skills that students learn to support them in becoming self-regulated learners. IB educators ensure students have implicit and explicit opportunities to develop ATL not only as part of their academic learning but their holistic development as well.
The RedDoor Centre (RDC) is a learning technology zone at Renaissance College. The space expands the provisions for all students across the school to strengthen learning through technology in line with Renaissance College’s bedrock principle to transform learning and teaching through the integration of technology.
RedDoor Centre space was set up to:
- Influence vision and strategic directions in the use of technology for teaching and learning
- Conduct instructional and pedagogical coaching in the use of technology
- Develop an understanding of digital and interconnected youth and professional culture, including citizenship and safety
- Provide resources for students developing mastery of filmmaking, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and electronics (maker spaces).
The use of technology tools
At RCHK, all students have access to a 1:1 device for learning. In Year 1 to Year 3, this is an iPad, then a Macbook from Year 4 through until Year 13. Devices are carefully managed to enable access to the best possible online and software experiences for students. These programs have seen new purchases of iPads in the early years and continual updates to the Macbooks provided to staff.
Access to robotics and electronics equipment is growing and students use various tools like Vex123 robots for early Primary and Vex IQ robotics kits for upper Primary and Secondary. These are to be integrated across Units of Inquiry and Secondary curriculum areas.
The RedDoor team have actively been growing the use of electronics and microcontrollers across the school using Micro:bit, Makey Makey and Circuit Playground devices; all are used across the breadth of the curriculum, with everything from moving display boards to giant musical instruments.
Our facilities available for modern fabrication remain state of the art with access to 3D printers and laser cutters. Students use these to realise their prototype designs and experiment with materials.
The Team
The Red Door Team is a blend of teachers, media and creative professionals, helpdesk specialists and systems experts in network, programming and databases.
Having pedagogical, technical and creative minds housed under one roof is what makes Red Door unique and so capable of innovation and systemic approaches at the same time.
RDC’s History
The "Red Door" name was originally given to a group of three creative professionals who worked closely with the ICT team but formed a separate unit. "Door" was chosen as an acronym of "Digital Opportunities On Request" and to symbolise openness and possibilities. Red is regarded as an auspicious colour in Chinese culture. The two teams were eventually merged in 2010 and expanded in 2014 to include instructional coaches.
