published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

published_or_final_version / abstract / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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.

Academics in Chinese research universities are confronted by the dilemma of balancing research and teaching in their work. China's pursuit of excellence in higher education through such endeavors as Projects 211 & 985, has led to policies that facilitate the construction of research universities. However, the emphasis on research and quantity has undermined the quality of teaching. It has also drawn academics away from their commitment to teaching. This has become a major issue to be addressed by policy, such as the "Programs of improving teaching quality". / Firstly, characteristics of academics at research universities in China differ from that proposed by Kennedy (1997). The differences are: (1) most academics believe that the duty "to mentor" is accomplished once they accept the appointment of a position for tutoring. (2) Their conception of research is closely related to the quantity of research output, which means that they perceive their duty "to discover" and "to tell the truth" is equivalent to the duty "to publish" and "to get research grants". (3) The definition of "service" is unclear for most of the academics. (4) They are not been "to assist new staff in their teaching role" and "to nurture a new generation of scholars". / Secondly, the conception of "scholarship" and the relationship between teaching and research are changing in Chinese research universities. (1) The academics' views on knowledge include the four types of "scholarship", as proposed by Boyer (1990), these views are hardly sufficient for the construction of "academic communities of practice". (2) Most academics have changed their initial attitude of separating teaching and research in their conception of "academic duties" by accepting the view that teaching and research should be synergized. / The study offers the following recommendations: (1) a free atmosphere with proper competition should be built into the system of academic development of the universities; (2) policy on teaching should focus on improving the level of intrinsic motivation, the assimilation of values, and the satisfaction of three basic needs such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness; (3) through building a commonly shared value system in the university, institutional regulations and rules can be transformed into a force that supports the building of institutional ethics; and (4) the adoption of a moral rationality which is based on substantive rationality should help academics to confront a distorted realities in the system. / Thirdly, the most powerful force which affects the teachers' opinions and performance towards academic duties is the promotion and evaluation system of the universities. Teachers' opinions are also influenced by age, position, discipline, etc., and their opinions can be grouped into four categories by their understanding and reaction to the evaluation system. / This study focuses on the conceptualization of "academic duties" by university teachers and on the factors that mediate their duty implementation. It explores the academics' experiences at two research universities which have different focuses and developmental goals. Data were collected through interviews with 50 participants in the case universities. In addition, university documents and data collected through observations were also analyzed. The analysis has yielded findings as stated in the following paragraphs. / 徐嵐. / Adviser: Nai Kwai Leslie Lo. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A, page: 1960. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 372-387). / 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. / Xu Lan.

Integrated curriculum reform in China is meant to change the traditional teaching culture. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the education authority should implement the reform in a gradual manner and takes cultural changes into consideration. It is also essential to support the reconstruction of teachers' beliefs and their professional identities. / The education system of Mainland China has been dominated by the discipline-based curriculum. One of the major curriculum reform initiatives launched in September, 2001, is curriculum integration. Two new integrated curricula, "Science" and "History and Society" are implemented in junior secondary schools in the experimental zones. The ideology and teaching approach of these new integrated curricula differ from teachers' usual classroom practices. To what extent are the integrated curricula implemented? How have teachers' beliefs changed? What are the factors shaping these changes? / The study reveals that the deep and core belief of teachers is very stable. The factors influencing teachers' belief changes included the personal experience of teachers, the school environment and the societal context. During the reform, teachers were trapped in two contradictory discourses, one treasured humanistic values fostering personal growth, while the other emphasized standard examination and competition. Facing two paradoxical educational value stances, teachers experienced serious conflicts in their educational beliefs, and their professional identities were challenged. The changes of belief reflect the process of adapting and adjusting to their new roles in the education system. / This study, from a cultural-personal perspective, aimed to show teachers' beliefs and their changes. In this study, two schools and fourteen teachers were chosen to be studied. Ethnographic research methods, including in-depth interview, field observation and document analysis were adopted to inquire into teachers' collective daily experiences, their beliefs and their changes, and factors shaping the changes in beliefs. / 張爽. / 呈交日期: 2006年11月. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2007. / 參考文獻(p. 369-384). / Cheng jiao ri qi: 2006 nian 11 yue. / Adviser: Lam Chi Chung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-08, Section: A, page: 3270. / 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, 2007. / Can kao wen xian (p. 369-384). / Zhang Shuang.

Thesis (DAppLing)--Macquarie University, Division of Linguistics and Psychology, Department of Linguistics, 2009. / Bibliography: p. 246-275. / Introduction -- The research context -- Literature review -- Research methodology -- Case study 1 (Lily) -- Case study 2 (Ailing) -- Case study 3 (Xinyu) -- Cross-case study -- Conclusions. / Teacher cognition studies are rare in the mainland Chinese context; they are also rare in other contexts similarly defined by common features such as non-native speaking language teachers, large classes, publicly-funded institutions, and mandated curricula or materials. This broadly qualitative investigation of three tertiary-level Chinese English teachers sought to elicit views and beliefs about language learning and teaching, their sources, and their links with classroom behaviour. A cyclical series of data collection (including autobiographical writing, interviews, lesson observations and stimulated-recall interviews, documentary data, and a group discussion) was employed to produce four linked studies: three individual case studies and a cross-case study. Interpretive data analysis, achieved through a process of constant comparison, was employed to reveal each teacher's views and beliefs. In order to ensure an emic perspective, each teacher's 'voice' is given prominence through the presentation of data. The interpretation of data suggests the importance of various levels of context to teachers' thinking, including the background Confucian approach to education, previous experiences as learners and teachers, and the situation the teachers encounter at both classroom and institutional levels. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / 275, [140] p. ill

王博. / "2013年8月". / "2013 nian 8 yue". / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-153). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in Chinese and English. / Wang Bo.

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.

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.