D.Ed. (Teaching Studies) / The traditional method of lesson presentation has in recent years come under scrutiny from various education quarters concerned with approaches to teaching and learning. The reason for this being the changing swing of thoughts concerning knowledge and learning, the new integrated lifelong learning approach for general and further education (NQF:1995a) and the shift of emphasis in teaching strategies. The realization has dawned on educationalists that presentation lessons should perhaps not be "the one skill to which most attention is directed during [in-service] training" (Ashman & Conway, 1993:61), but one of many skills that should receive undue attention by all lesson presenters. The aim has not been to eradicate the process of lesson presentation in its present format but rather to oscillate the emphasis due to the growing interest in the manner in which learning matter is presented (Durniny & Sohnge, 1986:98). Learning activities should be "planned in such as way that most [all] of the learners are involved in [thinking] activities at all times of the lesson and not excluded as commonly appears to be the case" (Elston, 1992:71). Unfortunately initiative, creativity and other teacher input is not a prerequisite for lesson and content presentation as is proven when examining policies brought about by education departments regarding requirements for the planning and presentation of lessons. It must however be mentioned that these are changing drastically and we, as educators in so doing have to adapt (Osborne, 1993:2). Hardy (1992:56) believes that there should always be a prototype [lesson plan] according to which all instructional activities should take place. Obviously some structure or guidelines are essential, especially pertaining to new, inexperienced teachers, but has one not been "too reliant for too long on hierarchical and sanction ridden modes of 'instructional supervision'" (Smyth, 1991:81) which includes lesson presentation...

M.Ed. / This study was influenced deeply by among other issues the current sociopolitical reforms in South Africa, an overt paradigm shift in education and educational practices, growing concern for the environment and the need to empower teachers with environmental education knowledge, action competencies and skills through participation in curriculum development activities at both local and national level. The main aim was to uncover barriers towards the meaningful involvement and subsequent participation of teachers in environmental education curriculum development processes. This was done by determining teachers' perceptions about involvement in environmental education curriculum development processes. The literature review in this study revealed that teachers have been passive recipients and implementers of externally developed curricula both in South Africa and world-wide. No significant open-ended strategies have been formulated to involve teachers in curriculum development. The use of both the questionnaire and group interviews for this study proved to be very useful for providing insights into teachers' perceptions about the issue of curriculum development and their involvement in such processes. Several obstacles towards successful environmental education curriculum development and the subsequent involvement of teachers have been highlighted. The findings and recommendations of this research are expected to help elevate teachers' interest and awareness on issues of curriculum development for environmental education and to enable them to realise the need to engage in collaborative participatory curriculum initiatives. Based on the findings of this study, it can be argued that networking among environmental educators from various schools at local, provincial and national level, as well as with other informal environmental education providers should be encouraged by establishing appropriate policy and structural support systems in the Department of Education and Training. An appropriate model which highlights this idea, has therefore been developed.

No description available.

PhD (CS) / Department of Curriculum Studies and Educational Management

Recommendations have been given in the areas of teachers, the subject and the school according to the data collected in the study. Teachers need to change their attitude towards the use of course books, otherwise, a comprehensive degree (i.e., breadth and depth) of curriculum decision making is hard to be developed. The subject team should utilize the common planning period more effectively by designating targets and developing a work routine. It is also crucial to establish a harmonious working relationship within the team while the panel chairperson is required to lead a professional role. Teachers' professional developments should go hand-in-hand with curriculum development and more efforts should be focused on integrating scattered strengths into the team. At school level, more support should be given to curriculum decision making policy and its culture. Moreover, more professional development opportunities should be provided. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / The New Edition of the Chinese Language Curriculum was introduced in all secondary schools in September 2002. Major features of the reform cultivate the migration from a single model passage to a more holistic teaching unit, teaching focus has switched from just reading and writing to comprehensive aspects of speaking, reading, listening and writing. While the role of a teacher has shifted from dominating to facilitating, the role of the students has shifted from a passive receptor to an active learner. The aim of language teaching has changed from imparting language knowledge to cultivating generic skills. As a whole, the New Edition of the Chinese Language Curriculum has extended the work scope of the teachers in their curriculum and teaching decision making. For instance, they are able to adjust the course books according to the circumstances of the school. Adjusting the course books or developing school specific teaching resources is a complicated task which requires co-operation and creative input of the teachers. With this in mind, some schools have started the reform of the Chinese Language subject by allocating a common planning period, making room for the teachers to increase their opportunities in curriculum input and decision making. / The present research started in the second year after the introduction of the New Edition of the Chinese Language Curriculum. By applying qualitative research methods, five schools were chosen as case studies, with the teachers of Secondary One as research target, to explore the state of teachers' participation in the curriculum decision making, to understand how the curriculum decisions were made within a subject team, and to investigate the factors influencing the decision making. The data was collected via interviews, participatory observations and document analysis. / The study has concluded six points. (1) Sparing a common planning period by schools cannot guarantee the quality of curriculum decision making. (2) Teachers' degree of understanding towards the curriculum affects their decision making on curriculum content. (3) Teachers' viewpoints on course books will affect their decision making on curriculum content too. (4) The sense of co-operation determines the degree of contribution and involvement by the teacher in the curriculum decision making. (5) The leadership and co-ordination of a panel chairperson is crucial to cultivate a harmonious working relationship between team members. (6) The factors affecting a school are inter-related. / The study reveals that at present, schools have not carried out any restructuring because of individual subject reforms. The common planning period in certain schools is merely the subject policy, not a unified policy in the school. While it has contributed to the significant opportunity for teachers to participate in curriculum decision making, the policy cannot guarantee the quality of the decisions. There are a few fundamental issues which determine whether a curriculum decision making can be developed to a profound and extensive degree. The teachers must be well prepared for the new curriculum by having participated in the pilot program organized by the Education and Manpower Bureau at the time; the subject team must use the common planning period effectively by developing a work routine, and by distributing responsibilities among teachers in the team to make sure that they are engaged and able to contribute; the subject teaching attribution should focus on and reflect the needs of the students as well as the implementation of changes in the curriculum to improve teaching; and lastly, in addition to providing teachers with a common planning period, the school also needs to allocate more resources in the theme of policy making, such as flexible timetables and on-going professional development opportunities. If these factors are missing in the academic subject, teachers will rely heavily on course books and when dealing with curriculum content decision making, they will seldom consider other elements, such as teaching methodology and teaching activities, in a curriculum. / 高慕蓮. / Adviser: Lee Chi Kin. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-03, Section: A, page: 0787. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 489-508). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Gao Mulian.

楊鑫. / "2013年9月". / "2013 nian 9 yue". / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 334-362). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in Chinese and Englisha. / Yang Xin.

As called New Curriculum Reform (NCR), a nation-wide curriculum reform has been implemented since the Guidelines for Curriculum Reform of Basic Education (trial version) issued by the Ministry of Education of The People's Republic of China in June 2001. Considering the background of the reform and cultural tradition, the importance of school curriculum leadership and teachers' commitment to the reform was notified. The purpose of the present research is to explore the impact of school curriculum leadership on teachers' commitment to NCR. The following three research questions have been formulated to guide my research: (1) What are the main reasons that influence teachers' commitment to NCR? (2) What strategies and measures do school curriculum leaders adopt in the process of implementation of NCR? (3) What is the impact on teachers' commitment to NCR of such strategies and measures? / Qualitative case study methods were adopted in this study. A primary school which started to carry out the reform in September 2001 has been chosen as the case. Three months has been spent in the field. Research methods include conducting participant observation, document collection and in-depth interviews. Grounded theory method was used to code and analyze data. And triangulation and participants checks were used to clarify the validity issue. / The present research shows that primary teacher's commitment to NCR is a strategic selection process with a deep-seated psychological mechanism of identity work. In such a process, teachers have to deal with the more complex working context and social context brought by NCR and the development of society. Only when they are able to cope with both contexts will they commit to NCR. Faced with contradictions and conflicts, school curriculum leadership will turn to impression management as a major strategy. However, there is a conflict between the school curriculum leadership aimed at impression management and teachers' commitment with a deeply psychological mechanism of identity work. Thus the school leadership makes very little positive impact on teachers' commitment to NCR as showing in the case study. On the contrary, some negative impacts have been identified. / The present study deeply analyzed the response of school curriculum leaders and teachers in the process of curriculum reform implementation in Chinese culture. How they interact in the reform also has been discovered and thus made the study significant in both theory and practice. Some knowledge-base for further study was also provided in the study. / 于澤元. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2005. / 參考文獻(p. 339-382). / Adviser: Wong Hin Wah. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: A, page: 2455. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in English. / School code: 1307. / Lun wen (Zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2005. / Can kao wen xian (p. 339-382). / Yu Zeyuan.

Chan, Kin-sang, Jacqueline. / "August 2003." / Thesis (Ed.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 278-291). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Furthermore, whether they have the conscious and courage to break through the restraint which is given by the educational bureau and the school or not, they could be divided into two categories: the dependent inner-control empowerment and the transcendent inner-control empowerment. For example, if teachers confine their reflection within the existing value norm, we describe it as dependent inner-control empowerment. As for the LATQ teachers, they possess outer-control empowerment which makes teachers analyze and judge their own teaching practice from others' standards. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Lastly, in terms of how practical reflections influence teachers' professional development, the reflections of HTQ and LATQ teachers share a common characteristic. That is, they are both an active learning process of the teachers, even though the reflections are the results of outside forces. And the differences among the two groups of teachers are as follows: (a) the HTQ teachers look at their own professional experiences as the important basis reflection. (b) In terms of the process of reflection, the outcomes of the point by point summarizing process lead to the incremental change in teaching style while the outcome of systematic inquiry is the fundamental change in the renovation of espoused theories and theory-in-use. (c) As for the HTQ teachers, the ability of understanding, controlling and creating practice from reflections has given them inner-control empowerment. / Secondly, practical reflection results from the interaction between teachers' habitus and school field. The main factors in teachers' habitus that influence teachers' practical reflection are the attitudes and motivations of teachers' professional development, educational beliefs, the time of reflection and the competence of inquiry. The main factors in school field that influence teachers' practical reflection include principals' assumption of teachers' learning motivation (compelling), the need of school image management (performance), freedom for teachers' professional development (freedom), the concept of teaching and learning (focus on student learning) and teachers' culture (learning & communication). / The great demands of creative talents in knowledge economy and the pursuit of better humanistic teaching and learning challenge teachers' professional competency. Teachers are expected to be more adaptive and creative in curriculum implementation. Theoretically, teachers' practical reflection is the process of curriculum deliberation and creation. In this context, the inquiry into practical reflection has important theoretical contributions on how to advance curriculum implementation and teacher professional development. / The main research findings are as follows: Firstly, there are intrinsic differences in contents, levels and process of practical reflection between HTQ and LATQ teachers. / The present study addresses the following three questions. (1) What practical reflection has been done in curriculum implementation? (2) Which factors influence teachers' practical reflection? (3) How practical reflection affects teachers' professional development? / 趙明仁. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2006. / 參考文獻(p. 261-272). / Adviser: Hin Wah Wong. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: A, page: 0869. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Lun wen (zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2006. / Can kao wen xian (p. 261-272). / Zhao Mingren.

Many studies show that teacher beliefs strongly influence their instructional decisions, which in turn affect classroom practice and curriculum implementation. Studies also reveal many curriculum reforms in the past failed because teacher beliefs had been neglected in the design and implementation process. / The new secondary Chinese language curriculum implemented in 2002 in Hong Kong is of student-centred basis, and thus teachers are required to change their beliefs. This qualitative study aims at investigating teaching beliefs of Chinese language teachers and their influence on curriculum implementation. By examining teaching beliefs of teachers, light can be shed on the problems and prospect of curriculum implementation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observations. Twelve teachers were selected purposefully from three different types of secondary schools, namely band 1, 2 and 3; which represent different range of students' academic competency. In each type of school, two expert teachers and two novice teachers with a variety of educational backgrounds and rankings at school were selected. / The results of this study indicate that teaching beliefs of teachers and their teaching behaviours are interrelated. It also highlights that the existing beliefs of transmission-oriented teachers are incongruent with the underlying philosophy of the new curriculum. This may hinder the implementation of the intended curriculum. But most of the beliefs held by the heuristics-oriented teachers are in line with the intended curriculum, which is likely to facilitate its successful implementation. The findings also have important implications for curriculum developers and teacher educators: curriculum implementation must be accompanied by continuous teacher development which fosters changes of beliefs and practices. / This study finds out that there are underlying commonalities in beliefs among the twelve teachers. In their opinion, the conception of Chinese language is "wen dao he yi", that means the subject does not only aim at developing students' communication skills but also providing positive values. Nevertheless, teachers' beliefs on teaching could be divided into two main orientations, namely transmission and heuristics. Transmission-oriented teachers believe that they transmit knowledge and act as directors and disciplinarians; while students are recipient of knowledge. Their major concerns of teaching are reading and writing but listening and oral practices are of secondary importance; these four areas of language are unlikely integrated in teaching. On the contrary, the heuristics-oriented teachers favour two-way and interactive teaching approaches. They regularly arrange group activities for students in diversification, and let peers learn from each other. Therefore students can be active learners while teachers are facilitators. In their view, integrating reading, writing, listening and speaking in teaching can facilitate students' learning. / 譚彩鳳. / 呈交日期: 2005年12月. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2006. / 參考文獻(p. 240-261). / Cheng jiao ri qi: 2005 nian 12 yue. / Advisers: Lam Chi Chung; Yu Nae Wing. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: A, page: 4087. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Lun wen (zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2006. / Can kao wen xian (p. 240-261). / Tan Caifeng.