published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

In this study, the attitude of foundation phase teachers to the inclusion of learners who experience barriers to learning in the education system was explored. The following were discussed about the problem: Clarification of the concepts, a profile of learners who experience barriers to learning and development, the research design, analysis of the research results and recommendations were made. From this core problem, four underlining sub-problems were identified, namely: - Learners who experience barriers to learning are a heterogeneous group of learners. - Teachers' knowledge of barriers to learning and development is inadequate. - Teachers' attitude towards collaborative teaching and cooperative learning need to be addressed. - An outcomes-based-education approach influences inclusive education. It was found that teacher training in inclusive classrooms, barriers to learning, cooperative learning and collaborative teaching could enhance the attitude of teachers in inclusive education. When well planned for and maximizing the available resources, inclusive education can be a reality. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Special Needs Education)

The aim of this research was to determine the motivation levels of Zimbabwean rural secondary school teachers, and to identify and discuss the factors that influence their motivation so that management interventions could be designed to enhance teacher motivation. A quantitative research design, involving the descriptive sample survey method to collect data by means of self-administered structured questionnaire was adopted. The sample consisted of 175 rural secondary school teachers in Bikita District. The information was statistically analysed with the aid of a computer after which it was interpreted. Results indicated that teachers were not highly motivated and satisfied with their jobs, and that their motivation was affected by several aspects of their work. Working conditions emerged as a primary demotivator while interpersonal relations was a principal motivator. The data also showed that certain biographical variables affected teacher motivation significantly. Subsequent to these results recommendations to enhance teacher motivation were made. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

English language learners need teachers who are knowledgeable about the children they are teaching and they must be willing to learn more about their students' cultures, backgrounds and languages in order to make their educational experience meaningful.

Considering the characteristics of research questions, The study adopted qualitative approach and case study strategy. Six teachers from two elementary schools in a district of Shanghai were chosen as cases. Data was collected through observations, interviews and documents, and then coded and analyzed them by Nvivc8. / Shanghai launched its curriculum reform since the late 1980s, which was followed by the second round curriculum reform started in 1998. Owing to those constantly wheeling processes of reform, curriculum materials, teaching methods, curriculum evaluation, curriculum organization, accountability and people's conception of curriculum experienced a big change. These changes challenged teachers' traditional understandings of curriculum and teaching as well as their ways of acting. The practice of teaching becomes more and more complicated, and there are a lot of conflicts and uncertainties in it. Rather than choosing between the right and wrong, teachers make their decisions through negotiations with many elements in the dynamic field. Based on these considerartions, this research focuses on the content of decisions teachers make at the level of classroom along with analysis of these processes which are framed in a perspective of negotiation. / The findings of this research indicate that: (1) The content of teachers' curriculum decision-makings at the level of classroom concentrated on teaching goals, content and process, while emphasizing evaluations after classroom instead of instantaneous evaluations in teaching. (2) Thenegotiation with situation factors was the main avenue teachers took to decide teaching goals and contents. When conflicts emerged between teachers' beliefs and situation factors, most of teachers were inclined to step back and make compromise with situation factors. (3) Teachers' negotiation with other people provided accesses for teachers to getting emerging curriculum ideas, learning processes and methods of teaching. People who have authority in experience of teaching, professional knowledge and administrative power were important evidences for teachers' decision-making. (4) Along with accumulation of experience in teaching, teachers' decisions mainly depended on their negotiations with themselves. (5) Teachers' final decisions were co-products of their negotiations with situation, other people and themselves, while each of these three elements played different role in this process. / Through analyzing content and process of decision-makings of teachers in elementary school in Shanghai, this research summed up the characteristics of negotiation embodied in the Chinese teachers' decision-making at the level of classroom. Those findings will shed some light on the improvement of curriculum reform in Chinese basic education as well as on teacher development domain. / 杨兰. / Adviser: Pingkwan Fok. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-03, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 345-362). / 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, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Yang Lan.

In the first part of the thesis, the researcher intended to describe the complexity of the educational environments in which how teachers practice organizational learning in schools of Shenzhen, mainland China and to examine the effectiveness of organizational learning in those environments. In the second part, the researcher conducted a quantitative survey of high schools as learning organizations in Shenzhen and attempted to distinguish their capabilities of organizational learning. Two kinds of high schools were included in the survey, state-run schools and privately-run schools. / The key characteristic of learning organizations is organizational learning. Organizational learning is also a process to raise the adaptability and the creativity of an organization through a complex system to cope with the challenges arisen from the unpredictable circumstances. Organizational learning is a result of deep collective conversations and dialogues among staff members and a result of self-reflection in a certain cultural context. It not only brings new arrangements in organizational structures, but also changes the school culture and transformation of behavior patterns. Organizational learning is the pre-requisites of surviving and continuous development of the organization. / There were three phases in this study, namely, a pilot study in which a small scale survey were conducted, a main study which included a large scale survey and a case study of four selected schools from the sample in the large scale survey. In the first stage, a pilot study was conducted in order to trial run an instrument which attempted to assess the characteristics of organizational learning of high schools in Shenzhen. After establishing a preliminary framework of organizational learning in schools and an instrument for the study, an attempt was made to assess the capabilities of organizational learning in a greater sample of high schools in Shenzhen. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / This study has based upon the existing problems that teachers faced in the process of curriculum reform in basic education within mainland China. Under the complexity of the environments in educational reform and school organizational development, this study aims to examine the characteristics of schools as learning organizations in mainland China, especially in Shenzhen, and their relations to educational reforms and sustainable school development. / 張兆芹. / Advisers: Sun-Keung Pang; Nai-Kwai Lo. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: A, page: 0470. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 331-353). / 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. / Zhang Zhaoqin.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

黃晶榕. / Thesis (Ed.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 298-348) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / Huang Jingrong.

by Li Yeuk Sheung Jessie, Poon Polly. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 94). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.vii / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.viii / Chapter / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Objectives --- p.2 / Background Information --- p.3 / Rivalry among Established Firms --- p.3 / The Threat of Substitute Products --- p.4 / Potential Competition --- p.5 / The Bargaining Power of Buyers --- p.5 / The Bargaining Power of Suppliers --- p.6 / The Role of Macro environment --- p.6 / Chapter II. --- METHODOLOGY --- p.9 / Research Design --- p.9 / Data Collection Method --- p.10 / Secondary Data --- p.10 / Primary Data --- p.10 / Sampling --- p.12 / Fieldwork --- p.14 / Qualitative Method --- p.14 / Quantitative Method --- p.15 / Chapter III. --- LIMITATIONS --- p.16 / Chapter IV. --- FINDINGS --- p.18 / Interviews and Observations of Schools --- p.18 / Quantitative --- p.18 / Information Technology in Education (ITE) --- p.18 / Teaching and Learning via Network --- p.19 / Educatonal Software --- p.19 / Chapter V. --- DATA ANALYSIS --- p.21 / Hypothesis 1 --- p.21 / Hypothesis la ´ؤ The Present ITE Resources are Sufficient in Hong Kong Secondary School --- p.21 / Interviews and Observations --- p.21 / Questionnaires --- p.23 / Hypothesis lb ´ؤ The Current Government Policy of Implementing ITEis Compatible With That of Hong Kong Secondary Schools --- p.24 / Interviews and Observations --- p.24 / Questionnaires --- p.25 / Hypothesis lc -- Hong Kong Secondary Schools Face No Difficulties When Implementing ITE --- p.25 / Interviews and Observations --- p.25 / Questionnaires --- p.26 / Conclusion of Hypothesis 1 -- It is Feasible for Hong Kong Secondary Schools to Use ITE --- p.27 / Hypothesis 2 --- p.27 / Hypothesis 2a ´ؤ Teaching & Learning via Networks is Accepted by Teachers --- p.27 / Interviews and Observations --- p.27 / Questionnaires --- p.29 / Hypothesis 2b Teachers Think ITE Infrastructure is Sufficient to Implement Teaching and Learning via Networks --- p.30 / Interviews and Observations --- p.30 / Questionnaries --- p.31 / Conclusion of Hypothesis 2--It is Suitable for Hong Kong Secondary Schools to Implement Teaching and Learning via Networks --- p.32 / Hypothesis 3 --- p.32 / Hypothesis 3a -- Educational Software is Not Commonly Used --- p.32 / Interviews and Observations --- p.32 / Questionnaires --- p.33 / Hypothesis 3b -- The Contents of Current Educational Software is Not Compatibility with the Course Contents --- p.34 / Interviews and Observations --- p.34 / Questionnaires --- p.35 / Hypothesis 3c -- The Current Mode of Educational Software is Not Compatible with the Contents of Courses --- p.35 / Interviews and Observations --- p.35 / Questionnaires --- p.36 / Conclusion of Hypothesis 3 -- Current Educational Software is Unsuitable for Hong Kong Secondary Schools to Implement ITE --- p.37 / Chapter VI. --- RECOMMENDATIONS --- p.39 / Define and Segment a Market --- p.39 / Adopt Product Differentiation --- p.40 / Tailor-make the Contents to Local Schools --- p.40 / Target Specific Subjects --- p.41 / Provide Suitable Modes of Educational Software According to Local Tastes --- p.41 / Adopt Price Differentiation Strategy on Specific Subjects --- p.42 / Provide Augmented Services --- p.43 / Tailor-make Packages for Individual Schools Based on Their Needs --- p.43 / Long-Term Contracting with Publishers --- p.44 / Expertise Obtained from Outside --- p.44 / Provide Training Courses to Teachers --- p.45 / Marketing Mix Strategies --- p.45 / Distribution Strategies --- p.45 / Promotion Strategies --- p.46 / Product Strategies --- p.47 / Pricing Strategies --- p.47 / Modify the Company Structure --- p.48 / Chapter VII. --- CONCLUSION --- p.49 / APPENDIX --- p.51 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.94

In 2002, the United Nations designates 2005-2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. In China, Education for Sustainable Development [ESD] has been recognized as an important component in the new educational reform. However, there is an implementation gap between government policy and classroom practice. Teachers play a pivotal role in curriculum implementation. Therefore, knowing what teachers' think about ESD is the first step towards understanding the implementation of ESD. / Key words. sustainable development; education for sustainable development; teacher's belief; geography teacher; instrument development; values; teaching belief; China / Quantitative research methods supported by interview are used in this research. After analyzing relevant literature on ESD and interviewing 16 Beijing geography teachers, it is found that the ESD beliefs comprised two components: sustainability values [VESD] and teaching beliefs of ESD [TESD]. Based on ESD principles and some environmental beliefs instruments, a first draft of VESD instrument was developed and piloted among Yinchuan and Beijing geography teachers. A second draft was then developed and tested with over 300 Guangzhou and Changchun geography teachers. The final VESD instrument with four dimensions has been found with a stable structure and acceptable reliability and validity. These four dimensions are respect and care for the community of life; ecological integrity; social and economic justice; democracy, nonviolence and peace. / The aim of this research is to develop an effective and easy-to-use ESD instrument to reveal teacher's beliefs about ESD. In the process of developing the instrument, it is essential to study: What are teachers' ESD beliefs? Are ESD beliefs made up environmental values and teaching beliefs? What are the structure and content of the values and teaching beliefs of ESD? / The TESD instrument is found to have three factors with good reliability and validity. These three factors are namely: relevance to daily life, student's need in the future, and integrated teaching. / With these two instruments which can be used to tap teacher's ESD beliefs in China, researchers interested in ESD implementation can conduct future researches on teachers' beliefs about ESD and the potential implementation problems. / 楊光. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2006. / 參考文獻(p. 256-274). / Adviser: Chi Chung Lam. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: A, page: 0867. / 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)--Xiang gang Zhong wen da xue, 2006. / Can kao wen xian (p. 256-274). / Yang Guang.