Silence has been identified as a defining characteristic of Asian students in second language contexts. Recent qualitative studies in this area indicate that taking this as a generalisable characteristic of Asian learners may be an over-simplification. Therefore, there is a need to rethink Asian students’ silent behaviour in learning interactions. Problem-based learning (PBL) provides a high level of communicative demand; however, no in-depth qualitative work has been done to date on students’ silence in PBL tutorials in Asian contexts. Given this lack of research, this study investigates students’ silence in PBL interactions in an Asian English medium of instruction (EMI) university. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to explore the functions of silence and factors contributing to silence in PBL small group interactions. In this research, a sociocultural theoretical orientation formed the foundation for the conceptualisation of silence in situated learning. A case study was conducted to investigate the complexities and subtleties of silence in PBL interactions. The focus of the case was first year students’ experience of PBL tutorials in an undergraduate dental curriculum. A variety of data, including questionnaires, post-survey interviews, observations, audiovisual recordings, and stimulated recall interviews, were collected. Analysis of over twenty hours of PBL tutorials then drew upon traditions from interaction theories and studies of silence to provide an explanatory perspective. Thus, students’ silence in PBL interactions was examined from communicative functional and critical perspectives. From a communicative functional perspective, findings indicate that students’ silence in PBL interactions is not only a means of non-participation or an effect of possible constraints, but is also enacted as a learning and communicative strategy. Based on this understanding of silence for communication and learning, the issue of silence was further explored based on critical discourse analysis. Data analysis indicates that students’ silence occurred when multiple identities, shifting relations, and a specific learning and professional community in an Asian EMI context were constructed, challenged, and reconstructed in PBL discourse. Two key factors were found to influence students’ silence in PBL tutorials: the immediate contextual factor and the power relation. This study has theoretical and practical significance for higher education pedagogy. Findings underline the importance of investigating silence in depth in order to compose a more insightful picture of interaction in small group learning. The study also develops insights into a proposed re-conceptualisation of silence in PBL discourse and offers a novel viewpoint to locate the issue of silence in small group interactions for PBL. Lastly, based on the analysis of a substantial body of qualitative data, this study has increased understandings of student silence in PBL tutorials in an Asian EMI university. Such a study not only contributes towards theorizing silence in higher education but also provides teaching staff and education policy makers with useful information about learners in small group learning in an EMI context. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Wong Wing Shuen Sibyl. / Thesis submitted in: November 2004. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 238-252). / Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Identification of problems --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Purpose of the study --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- Significance and contribution of the study --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Research questions --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Review of the literature --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1 --- The Hong Kong chemistry curriculum for secondary schools --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2 --- Students' understanding of chemical knowledge --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3 --- Chemistry students' problem solving skills --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4 --- Factors affecting students' understanding of chemistry knowledge and their problem solving skills --- p.34 / Chapter 2.5 --- Nature of Problem Based Learning --- p.40 / Chapter 2.6 --- Differences between Problem Based Learning and other teaching method --- p.42 / Chapter 2.7 --- Development of Problem Based Learning units --- p.48 / Chapter 2.8 --- Implementation of Problem Based Learning in classroom --- p.54 / Chapter 2.9 --- Effects of Problem Based Learning on students' learning --- p.60 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- Understanding of subject matter knowledge --- p.61 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- Students' problem solving skills --- p.63 / Chapter 2.9.3 --- Students' attitudes towards Problem Based Learning --- p.66 / Chapter 2.10 --- Limitations of the past PBL studies --- p.68 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Research methodology --- p.69 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research design --- p.69 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Sample --- p.69 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Development of Problem Based Learning units --- p.71 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Implementation of Problem Based Learning units --- p.75 / Chapter 3.2 --- Development of instruments --- p.78 / Chapter 3.3 --- Data collection --- p.81 / Chapter 3.4 --- Data analysis --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Researcher's reflective journal --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Implementation video data --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Chemistry teacher's interview data --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Students' performance in the pre-test --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Understanding of chemistry knowledge (Post-test) --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Problem solving skills (Post-test) --- p.88 / Chapter 3.4.7 --- Students' attitudes towards Problem Based Learning --- p.88 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Results and Discussion --- p.90 / Chapter 4.1 --- The characteristics of an effective Problem Based Learning unit in secondary school chemistry --- p.90 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Results from the review of literature --- p.91 / Chapter 4.1.1.1 --- The first PBL unit ´ؤ Spectacle Frame --- p.95 / Chapter 4.1.1.2 --- The second PBL unit - Wool damage --- p.98 / Chapter 4.1.1.3 --- The third PBL unit - Hydrogen Fuel --- p.101 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Results from the researcher's reflective journal --- p.104 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Summary of the characteristics of an effective Problem Based Learning unit in secondary school chemistry --- p.107 / Chapter 4.2 --- Factors facilitating and hindering the implementation of the Problem Based Learning units by a chemistry teacher --- p.110 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Factors identified from the researcher's reflective journal --- p.111 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Factors identified from the video data --- p.123 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Factors identified from the chemistry teacher's Interview --- p.125 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Summary of the factors facilitating and hindering the implementation of PBL in secondary school --- p.129 / Chapter 4.3 --- Differences in students' understanding of content knowledge and problem solving skills between the Problem Based Learning and didactic instruction groups --- p.135 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Chemistry knowledge gained by PBL and didactic instruction students --- p.135 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Problem solving skills gained by PBL and didactic instruction students --- p.140 / Chapter 4.4 --- Chemistry students' attitudes towards Problem Based Learning --- p.143 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Reliability of the questionnaire data --- p.143 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Students' attitudes towards PBL after the second PBL unit was implemented --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Students' attitudes towards PBL after the third PBL unit was implemented --- p.146 / Chapter Chapter Five --- Conclusions / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary of the study --- p.153 / Chapter 5.2 --- Implications for teaching and learning of chemistry in secondary schools --- p.155 / Chapter 5.3 --- Limitations and recommendations for future research --- p.158 / Appendix 1 Evaluation Report of the 1st PBL Pilot Study --- p.160 / Appendix 2 PBL experts' comments on 'Wool damage' and 'Hydrogen fuel' --- p.170 / Appendix 3 Evaluation Report of the 2nd PBL Pilot Study --- p.171 / Appendix 4 Student's PBL package ´ؤ 'Spectacle frame' --- p.176 / Appendix 5 Facilitator's PBL package - 'Spectacle frame' --- p.182 / Appendix 6 Student's PBL package - 'Wool damage' --- p.189 / Appendix 7 Facilitator's PBL package - 'Wool damage' --- p.196 / Appendix 8 Student's PBL package - 'Hydrogen fuel' --- p.207 / Appendix 9 Facilitator's PBL package - 'Hydrogen fuel' --- p.214 / Appendix 10 Multiple Choice Questions --- p.225 / Appendix 11 Questionnaire --- p.233 / Appendix 12 PBL package evaluation form --- p.235 / Appendix 13 Presentation rubric --- p.237 / Bibliography --- p.238

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This study attempts to explore the perceived value of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in training teachers of students with behavioral disorders (E/BD) in Hong Kong. It represents an effort to improve the predominately lecture focussed approach adopted in many preparation programs. Data on the training needs of Hong Kong teachers were also acquired and 31 knowledge/skills areas related to teaching students with E/BD were identified. Subjects viewed the PBL approach as dynamic, interesting and incentive driven. It develops skills involved in group learning, self-directed learning, use of information resources and problem-solving. Most important, teachers felt they were supported to explore the practical problems they personally encountered in the classroom and actions they could take to resolve them. Difficulties in using PBL included a lack of resources and the tendencies of most Chinese students to accept rather than challenge others' ideas.