The main purpose of this study was to investigate changes in skills, motivation to learn and
construction of knowledge in activity learning with business subjects through the operation of
a Commerce Festival in a secondary school in Hong Kong. The results of this study clearly
indicate the students’ positive perceptions of skills improvement. Holding the Commerce
Festival by conducting activity learning in business subjects created a positive atmosphere,
which enhanced students’ motivation to learn and develop generic skills. Nonetheless, there
are areas in the activity learning approach that need improvement, such as task structure,
students’ readiness for activity learning and teachers’ readiness for a paradigm shift in
teaching practice.published_or_final_versio
