We meet students from Stamford American School who have been busy filing feature stories and creating apps as part of their school’s work experience programme.
Cornerstones
Cornerstones is an intensive project-based learning course that allows G9 and G10 students from Stamford American School Hong Kong to work alongside seasoned professionals in leading industries. In semester one, the school partnered with the likes of Oxfam, South China Morning Post and the MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node; students completed projects or business prototypes to showcase their learning. We hear from those involved in two of these exciting projects.
#1 SCMP Project
Student: Jayee, Grade 9
What have you learnt about journalism from this project?
Before taking part in the SCMP Project, I imagined journalism to be a bunch of reporters asking questions and scribbling down notes. Now, I know that it’s much more than just asking questions. Journalism is about seeking the truth and conveying the message to others via social media or print.
What did you write about?
The topic I chose for my final project was, “The struggles of teachers and students during COVID-19”. I interviewed my homeroom teacher and three other students – one from Grade 3, one from Grade 9, and another in Thailand.
What do you think makes the project unique?
Learning about journalism from an experienced journalist is a whole different experience. The SCMP Project has deepened my understanding of social media, what to avoid, and how to identify fake news. We also met with the video director of SCMP and had the chance to interview him.
A word from the project’s Teacher Coordinator, Michael Galligan
“Students who participated in the South China Morning Post (SCMP Young Post) journalism project were exposed to a range of industry-standard themes and concepts. They honed their communication skills, practiced collaboration skills and developed a better understanding of the differences between fact and opinion.”
#2 MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node
Students: Yuvraj & Gerhard, Grade 10
What did you learn about innovation through this experience?
That teamwork makes the dream work! It’s also always better to first understand the problem and then provide a solution.
What was your final project?
Our topic was about littering and how it affects people in Hong Kong; our proposed solution was a smart trash bin that makes the process of throwing, finding and cleaning trash efficient. The bin is installed with sensors inside that will indicate when the bin is full by turning on the light on top of the bin.
A word from the MIT Project Teacher Coordinator, Tristan Benson
It wasn’t until the final day of MIT Cornerstones, when students presented their “Green Cities” work to a panel of judges, where I truly saw what they had achieved. Every presentation was slick and clean, the students were well prepared, and they handled the Q&A with the judges with grace. Truly a proud teacher moment!
Stamford American School is at 25 Man Fuk Road, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon.
2500 8688 | sais.edu.hk
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This article first appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
