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Multimodal Reading in the Digital Age

Books Worth Knowing 應知書

What are “Books Worth Knowing” (應知書)?

The concept of “Books Worth Knowing(應知書)was first introduced by Mr. Nie Zhenning (聶震寧), a leading advocate of national reading promotion in Chinese Mainland. Unlike “must‑read books” (必讀書), which carry a sense of rigid prescription, “Books Worth Knowing emphasize the reader’s individuality. They begin with the reflective question — “Why should you know this book?” — inviting readers into a dialogue that helps them discover the kinds of books that truly resonate with their own growth and curiosity.

At Methodist College, our teachers embrace the spirit of “Books Worth Knowing, connecting it organically with the current developments in society, our nation, and the world, as well as with school priorities and Learning and Teaching directions. From six broad themes, teachers recommend “Books Worth Knowing to students, encouraging them to use these as starting points for Multimodal Reading(多模態閱讀).

Through this journey, students are guided to build their personal “Books Worth Knowing” lists based on their interests and life aspirations — becoming not only lifelong readers, but also lifelong learners who read with purpose, passion, and reflection.

At our school, every student completes a V.A.R.K. learning style analysis. When readers engage with texts using their dominant learning style while also integrating other learning modalities, they process information through multiple senses and pathways. This multimodal approach significantly enhances comprehension and amplifies the effectiveness of reading, resulting in a truly enriched learning experience.

V — Visual: Prefer to organise their reading reflections through visual elements such as charts, flowcharts, mind maps, videos, animations, and infographics.

A — Auditory: Prefer to engage with reading through interaction and discussion, such as lectures, podcasts, audiobooks, group discussions, or verbal retelling. Some may even use AI tools to create chatbots for book conversations.

R — Read/Write: Prefer to express their reading reflections through written formats, such as blogging, note‑taking, writing summaries, or sharing their thoughts on social media.

K — Kinesthetic: Prefer to connect their reading with hands‑on experiences and real‑life applications — for example, integrating reading with activities that involve movement or practice. (It is recommended to use HK Youth+ to explore cultural or recreational events related to the books they’ve read, helping to build a healthy and balanced lifestyle.)

At our school, junior form students use the “Solid Memory” application to strengthen their accumulation of English vocabulary, with a particular focus on academic language. By integrating technology with reading, the programme helps students enhance their ability to use English as a medium of learning effectively.
 

Our school has always been committed to promoting reading through a diversified pathway approach, curating various reading activities on campus. Information technology is one of the key strategies driving this initiative.

Earlier, our school was honoured to receive a visit from a Xinhua News (新華社) Agency reporter, who had a friendly and engaging conversation with our students about how to make good use of the OnePile “Smart Book Cabinet” (一沓紙智能漂書機)to promote reading within the school.

👉 Click the photo to read the full report.