Experiential Learning

Ocean Park is Hong Kong’s unique home-grown theme park with a heritage of delivering family fun and fond memories. Since its opening in January 1977 as a non-profit organisation, Ocean Park has developed itself to be a world-class attraction connecting people with nature, and gained consistent recognition for its animal husbandry, research and relationship with the community. More than 140 million people have visited Hong Kong’s premier park since its inception, and Ocean Park has remained committed to offering adults and children experiences that blend entertainment with education and conservation. Being the education arms of Ocean Park, the Discovery and Education Department has been providing quality Science and Conservation offerings to schools and the public since 1992.

Project Details

The course will offer students the chance to undertake experiential learning through extended collaboration with Ocean Park’s Discovery and Education Department. By engaging in this project, students will expand their understanding and practice as future education professionals beyond the formal classroom and school context. Students will be assigned to work in pairs/groups to: (a) identify and analyse real-life educational needs of Ocean Park; (b) carry out an observation of guests’ interests through needs analysis; and (c) design pop-up narration offerings for visitors to the Park with a goal of enhancing the in-park guests’ experience. The final exhibits may be placed on display for visitors and may be used by Ocean Park staff after the course finishes.

Students will have the chance to work closely with Ocean Park staff and to contribute their knowledge to the Park’s focus on promoting conservation and awareness about endangered species to local school children and visitors (from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas). All students who select this course will be mentored by the Ocean Park’s Discovery and Education Department and closely supervised under the guidance of Faculty members. Students’ performance in the course will be evaluated through a variety of means including reports from Ocean Park staff, online reflections, and a multi-media presentation at the end of the project.