KKHo

[Co-Authors] Quek Khiok Seng ;  Soh Kay-cheng 

[Journal]         Compare 

[Issue]            Vol.38, No.1, January 2008

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

Abstract This study attempts to uncover the beliefs regarding various aspects of creativity among trainee-teachers in Hong Kong and Singapore. Trainee-teachers from Hong Kong (N = 188) and Singapore (N = 127) completed a questionnaire on beliefs about creativity. The 30-item questionnaire covering 15 aspects of beliefs regarding creativity was presented to the respondents as a set of six-point Likert scales. Through factor analysis, creativity was found to have five dimensions: (1) physiology, (2) generality, (3) culture, (4) individuality and (5) youth. Hong Kong respondents were found to hold more rigid views of creativity than their Singaporean counterparts. In particular, Hong Kong respondents believed more strongly that creativity is dependent on birth order, effort, health, logical thinking and youth and that there is a critical period beyond which creativity may not develop.   Keywords: Beliefs; Creativity; Culture; Implicit theory, Trainee-teachers

[co-author]     Dr. YUE Xiao Dong
[journal]         New Horizons in Education
[Issue]         Vol.55, No.3 (special issue), Dec. 2007, pp.34-46.
[peer reviewed]      yes

Abstract
        Background: Chinese students generally lack creativity cognition: self-oriented motive for creativity, recognition for aesthetics, sense of humour, multiple recognition, preference of meritorious salience over aesthetic salience.
        Focus of discussion: There exist some common problems in nurturing creativity of Chinese students: normalization of the training of thinking, under-development of divergent thinking, inactive use of learned knowledge, worship of academic authority, extraordinary view of creative persons. The education of Chinese students over-emphasis on: logical-mathematical intelligence, development of submissive learning habits, participation to contest-based academic activities, score-based evaluation, development of learning competence.
        Recommendations: Creativity education should emphasize: multiple intelligence, discovery approach learning, individually learning, humour education and the development of learning intelligence.
        Keywords: creativity, creativity cognition, creativity education.

Internet access:    www.scpe.ied.edu.hk/newhorizon

 [Co-author]   Liao, Iris

[Journal]        Higher Education: Research and Evaluation

[Issue]           No.20, Sept. 2007, pp.40-45.

[Abstract]

Some American universities began to use student evaluation as a tool to assess teaching performance in the first half of the 20^th Century. Research showed that student evaluation should not be the only indicator of teaching performance. It should be supplement by other factors to form a complete evaluation system. The detrimental effect of student evaluation has become serious in tertiary education of some Asian societies.

 

[Keywords] Teaching evaluation, student feedback, tertiary education

    

Co-authors:                 K.C. Soh and B.W.K. Ho 

Journal:               New Horizons in Education.

Issue:                           Vol.54, Nov.2006, pp.45-59.

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

Abstract:

Background: Creativity is associated with many pet beliefs, unfounded or based on limited personal
experiences and observations.
Aims: The intention of the present study is to take the research one step backward to look at possible
antecedents of beliefs regarding creativity, as such knowledge has implications for education where
creativity is concerned. The present study attempts at uncovering the beliefs regarding various aspects of
creativity among tertiary students in Hong Kong.
Sample: Students (N=139) from a teacher education institute (67.6%) and a university (32.4%) in
Hong Kong were asked to complete a questionnaire about beliefs in creativity. Participation was voluntary
and the respondents were assured of anonymity. As the respondents formed a convenient sample (as is true
of many studies of similar nature), no representation is claimed.
Method: A questionnaire of 30 items that included 15 aspects of beliefs in creativity was presented
to the respondents in the form of a series of six-point Likert scales. To avoid possible carrying-over
effect, the two items for the same aspect were separated systematically, with items for the other aspects
intervening. Surveys were conducted and the general written responses received from the respondents
were tabulated.
Results: The respondents agreed more strongly that creativity (a) is dependent of culture, (b) is the
result of consistent effort, (c) can be found in everyone, and (d) is general across many fields. On the other
hand, they disagreed that creativity has to do with gender and birth order. Five aspects were dropped due
to inappropriate reliability.
Conclusion: In view of the complexity of the findings, efforts in developing creativity in tertiary
students need to take into account their demographic backgrounds so that correct beliefs can be further
strengthened and incorrect ones can be rectified early in the creativity training programmes.
Keywords: creativity, beliefs, implicit theory

Internet access:    www.scpe.ied.edu.hk/newhorizon

Co-Author:                     LUO Feng   

Journal:                           International Journal of Progressive Education.

Place of Publication:     USA

Issue:                              Vol.1, No.1, February 2005, 25-44.

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

Abstract:
The article discussed basic concepts of the evolution and characters of family education. It
introduced the Chinese and international views on family education evaluation criteria, analyzed
the principles of constructing these criteria. Family education evaluation criteria consist of
dominant and recessive family education factors. The former one includes the concepts,
contents, methods and strategies of parent education. The latter one includes the human
relationship inside the family, the parents' moral, cultural and living quality, living conditions
and life styles.
Key words: family education, evaluation criteria system, dominant and recessive education
factors

Internet Access:              www.ijpe.info

Co- Author(s): Ho, Belinda Source: Language and Education Issue:               v18, n5, p.400-412, 2004 Pub Date: 2004-00-00 Pub Type(s): Journal Articles; Reports - Research Peer-Reviewed: yes

Descriptors: Foreign Countries; Economic Factors; Language of Instruction; Secondary Schools; Second Languages; Politics of Education; Teaching Methods; Educational Practices; English (Second Language) Abstract: The use of students' second language as the medium of instruction in schools is quite common in former colonies of Western countries. Schools in Hong Kong have had this kind of experience for more than 150 years. In this study, three factors, namely economic, political, and educational, are found to affect the choice of medium of instruction in schools. In particular, the economic factor is found to be the dominant one for most of the time, while the educational factor has the smallest influence. Due to the change of the above three factors and their interactions over time, there were more Chinese-medium secondary schools in the first 100 years (1842-1949) and then more English-medium secondary schools during the transitional period 1950-97. However, the political factor suddenly becomes dominant after the change of sovereignty--there is an abrupt drop in English-medium secondary schools after government intervention in 1998. Educators should be more vocal and involved in politics in order to push the government to make decisions that are educationally right.

A review of moral education curriculum materials in Hong Kong

Co- Author(s):	Ho, Belinda
Source:	Journal of Moral Education

Issue:               v33, n4, p.631-636, December 2004

Pub Date:	2004-12-15
Pub Type(s):	SSCI Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Peer-Reviewed:	yes

Descriptors:

aims and directions,  curriculum material, moral education, textbook, teaching material

Co- Author(s):  Jessie WONG, TOH Kok On Source: Education Issue:                Vol.25, no.1, p.137, Fall 2004 Pub Date: 2004-09-22 Pub Type(s): Journal Articles Peer-Reviewed: Yes

Descriptors: Foreign Countries; Relocation; Second Language Learning; Student Attitudes Abstract: This paper attempts to argue that school relocation deserves more serious attention than it has usually been given, and it affects the people as well as the education of the children as much as any other changes in education. It also seeks to unravel the theoretical and practical reasons, which influence the location and relocation of a school.Taking the history of school relocation of some old schools in Singapore, especially those built in the late 19th and early 20th century, it can be noticed that these schools might have moved 3 to 8 times in history. The reasons for relocation of these schools have been identified as mainly push factors, such as poor building, noise problem, congested environment and the lack of space for expansion. The final result of this study is presented in the outcome space diagram and shows 6 categories of factors and their relationships with each other.

Co-author:   Yip, Kwok Hung Source: International Journal of Lifelong Education, v22 n5 p533-41 Sep-Oct 2003 Pub Date: 2003-00-00 Pub Type(s): Journal Articles; Reports - Research Peer-Reviewed: Yes

Descriptors: Educational Change; Foreign Countries; Inservice Teacher Education; Leaves of Absence; Public Policy; Teacher Employment Benefits Abstract: A questionnaire about inservice teacher education options (partial-pay leave, no-pay leave, other) received 1,363 responses (58%) from Hong Kong teachers. More than 93% supported partial pay, a higher percentage than in two previous surveys. Some supported no-pay leave but 82% thought it was difficult to obtain. (Contains 24 references.)

 

Co-author:                         Dr. Yue Xiao Dong

Source:                              New Horizons in Education  

Issue:                                 No. 45 , Pages 28 - 33 , May 2002

Peer reviewed:                   yes

Abstract

The present study investigated 264 primary and secondary school teachers in Hong Kong about their perception of the most creative people in Chinese history and in modern times. The results indicate that Hong Kong school teachers mostly nominated politicians and scientists as being most representative of creativity but rarely nominated literalists, artists, musicians as being so. This finding may be attributed to the effect of meritorious evaluation bias in Chinese people's perception of creativity that is embedded in the Confucian ideals of learning for the sake of serving the society. This has further led to a tradition of intellectual utilitarianism in Chinese people's pursuit of knowledge. As reflected in evaluating creative people in Chinese history, it leads people to judge creative individuals more in terms of their social merits or influence in society than in terms of their innovativeness in thinking.

Keywords:	most creative people; meritorious evaluation bias; primary and secondary school teachers; utilitarianism

 

Internet access:    www.scpe.ied.edu.hk/newhorizon

[Book]           Ee, J., Kaur, B., Lee, N.H., & Yeap, B.H. (Ed.) New Literacies: educational response to a knowledge-based society.

[Publisher]          Singapore: Educational Research Association.

[Year]                  2001

[Page number]   411-414

Abstract: 

The change of secondary school place allocation method in the last 50 years was an interesting history in education. Due to the increase of population in 1949, the Joint Primary 6 Examination was used to select good primary school graduates for secondary school education. It was then modified in 1962 and renamed as the Secondary School Entrance Examination. Due to the introduction of 9 years compulsory education in 1978, a brand new Secondary School Place Allocation method was adopted. The method was found unsatisfactory after 20 years of administration. The professionals proposed a modified method that they themselves rejected 13 years ago. However, the policy makers suggested another method that was proved theoretically wrong and abandoned 7 years ago. It will be interesting to see what will be the final outcome.

Co-author:              Dr. Yip Kwok Hung

Source:                    Curriculum Forum    

Issue:                       Vol. 10 No. 1, Pages 39 - 44, 2000

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

 

Abstract

This study reveals the change, new image, and content of the teaching profession in Hong Kong. The studies on teachers' attitude towards in-service education in the last fifteen years are reported. The majority of teachers have a continuous de sire to pursue more in-service education through pay or no-pay study leave. Positive reaction towards more part-time teaching positions is also reported. Systematic support in the area of pay and no pay-leave and more encouragement of part-time teaching are recommended.

Jounral	Psychologia [SSCI listed]
Co-author          YUE, Xiao Dong
Issue	Volume 41, December 1998
Page No	226-234

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes Abstract This paper examines the prevalence of common educational and behavioral problems among secondary school students in Hong Kong and the effectiveness of common intervention strategies for dealing with them. Approximately 3000 students, 2300 parents and 600 teachers were samples to complete a specifically-designed questionnaire. The results showed that all three parties acknowledged that student lack of motivation and problems with curriculum were the most serious behavioral problem in schools. They also agreed that establishing a fair discipline system and asking non-motivated students to transfer to vocational schools were effective solutions for dealing with student destructive behaviors. Students' perspectives overlapped much with those of their parents, but seldom with those of their teachers. Creation of greater and more flexible vocational an remedial classes is recommended and more communication between teachers, students and parents is needed. Keywords:  behavioral problems, dropout, intervention strategies

Jounral	Higher Education [SSCI listed]
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
ISSN	0018-1560 (Print) 1573-174X (Online)
Issue	Volume 36, Number 2 / Sept.1998
Page No	195-208

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

 

Abstract  

Academics in Hong Kong universities are urged to increase their research output. This article investigates the measurement of publication outputs among the three faculties of business, education, humanities & social sciences in the six universities of Hong Kong. Data were collected from the 1990-95 annual reports of research and publication outputs of each university. In order to have a fair comparison of publication outputs of each academic, rank, faculty and university, a framework was developed from practical experience and from literature to investigate the problem. Results indicate that the publication outputs of academics in Hong Kong were about the same as other countries in many aspects. Pressing academics for more research publications may raise the figure in the start, but would not necessarily increase the output in the long run.

Co-author:                       Lam Chui Fa

Source:                            New Horizons in Education 

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

Issue:                         No 38, pp. 15-21 (November, 1997) 

Abstract

This is a survey about behavioral problems of primary school students in the Ma On Shan area. There are ten schools in the area. These schools have been found between 3 to 10 years. Each school has a student population of 400 or more. Questionnaires were distributed to the teachers in these schools, the response rate was just more than half. Results indicated that minor offenses like leaving their-own seats in the classroom without prior permission, no homework, etc. fluctuated between 13 to 39% which were about the same as junior secondary school students. The biggest differences between primary and secondary school students was lateness, with very small percentage of late students in the primary schools. Serious offenses like stealing, trunancy, etc. were not high, just around 1 to 4%. This showed that the behavioral problems were still under control.

Keywords:	Ma On Shan; Disciplinary Problems; Primary School Internet access:    www.scpe.ied.edu.hk/newhorizon

Source:    Special Services in the Schools Issue:        v12 n1-2 p137-47 1996 Pub Date: 1996-00-00 Pub Type(s): Journal Articles; Reports - Research Peer-Reviewed: yes

Descriptors: Adolescents; Boarding Schools; Community Surveys; Educational Facilities; Family Needs; Foreign Countries; School Expansion; School Surveys; Secondary Education; Secondary School Students; Student Needs Abstract: Surveyed the boarding needs of junior secondary students in one city as expressed by their guardians. Aims to discover whether the need of these guardians and students are being met. Almost 8% of parents would have liked to send their children to boarding school if places were available.

Source:     Compare Issue:         v26 n1 p51-59 Mar 1996 Pub Date: 1996-00-00 Pub Type(s): Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive Peer-Reviewed: yes

Descriptors: Chinese Culture; Church Related Colleges; Church Role; Communism; Educational Change; Educational History; Educational Policy; Foreign Countries; Government School Relationship; Higher Education; Political Issues; Politics of Education; Power Structure; Private Schools; State Church Separation Abstract: Posits a shaky future for religious schools in Hong Kong after its reunion with communist China in 1997. Although religious schooling enjoys a long history of popular support, education in Hong Kong is clearly recognized as a government responsibility. Includes a history of religious schools in Hong Kong.

Source:           Educational Research Journal

Issue:              Vol. 10 No. 1, Pages 60-66, Summer 1995

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

  

Abstract

The development of new towns around a city will lead to reduction of population density in the city which will in turn lead to the over-supply of school places inside the city. Besides closure of schools, little has been reported in research literature about how to handle the problem. To deal with this problem, the Hong Kong Government has developed a program to relocate the secondary schools from the urban area. There are a total of 49 secondary schools involved in this program. These schools have been or will be moving their own school from the old campus which is located in a district that has an over-supply of school places to a new campus which is located in a district that has not enough school places. Besides the traditional practice of school relocation, the Hong Kong Government introduces another way by phasing out the old campus and phasing in the new campus in several years' time. This article discusses the background of the school relocation and the problems generated in detail. It would be a good lesson for ministries of education in order countries if they encounter similar problems in the future.

Key words:	Urban Area; Over-Supply; School Relocation

 

Source:             Asian Journal of Counselling  

Issue:               Vol. 3 Nos. 1&2, Page 73-77, 1994

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

 

Abstract

This study investigated the need of extra-supervision of junior secondary students after school as indicated by their parents. A questionnaire was administered to 6520 parents of junior secondary students in 22 schools and 80% of the parents replied. Among the respondents, 78.5% of them expressed the need of extra supervision of these students in the area of home work and other activities after the end of a normal school day (i.e. 5:00p.m.). The parents did not mind to pay extra tuition if the school can provide this service. The result would be a challenge to the existion service of the school and the youth center.

Keywords:	Extra-supervision; junior secondary students

 

Source:             Education Journal 

Issue:                Vol. 20 No. 2, Page 173-176, Winter 1992

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

Abstract

Due to the strong objection from the society, the JSEA Scaling Test which was put in practice in 1981 was abolished after 1987. The MER & SSPA standard score method were accepted to replace the scaling test. However, the author pointed out both methods had serious drawbacks which must be modified or replaced as soon as possible.

Keywords:	JSEA Scaling Test

 

Co-author:          Chow Sing

Source:                Educational Research Journal

Issue:                   Vol. 3, Pages 87-93, Summer 1988

Peer-Reviewed:

yes

Abstract

Glancing through the Education Ordinance and the Code of Aid for Schools, one would notice that sponsoring bodies play an important role in the development and administration of schools in Hong Kong. The present study tries to use the survey method to find out the influence of different sponsoring bodies on nine aspects of secondary schools in Hong Kong.

The survey was done by sending a questionnaire to all the secondary schools in Hong Kong. After five rounds of reminders for replies from the secondary schools, a return rate of 98% was reached. Data analysis was carried out along nine different aspects of secondary schools in Hong Kong. They are: founding year of the school, sex of students, curriculum, size of the campus, number of special rooms, extracurricular activities, alumni associations, parents' association and medium of instruction.

Except for the aspect of parents' association, it was found that sponsoring bodies had significant influence on all the other eight aspects of the secondary schools. Furthermore, religious sponsoring bodies have played a very important role in secondary education in Hong Kong ever since the beginning of Hong Kong under the British rule.

Lastly, the results of the study indicate that the number of school places provided for the students in Hong Kong secondary schools have almost met the need of the society. However, the quality of secondary education is still far from ideal.

 

Source:                 Educational Research Journal

Issue:                    Vol. 1, Pages 16-21, Summer 1986

Peer-Reviewed:

Yes

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the problem of medium of instruction in Anglo-Chinese schools in Hong Kong. A sample of 152 Form One pupils from an aided Anglo-Chinese school was chosen for the study. An English attainment test was given to the pupils in order to find out their standard of English before enrolment. Thirty eight pupils of lowest standard in English were assigned to the English remedial class, the remaining pupils were randomly assigned to three classes, 38 each. The study was carried out in these four classes for one academic year under normal teaching condition.

All four classes were taught through the medium of Chinese during the study in the subject of social studies. However, the written language used was different among the four classes: the remedial class used Chinese as written language, two other classes sued English as the written language throughout the whole course of study, the fourth class used Chinese as the written language in the first term and then switched to English in the second term. Three tests were administered to all the pupils involved in each term in order to find whether significant difference would arise among the four classes. The following results were obtained.
(1) The remedial class that learned all things in Chinese performed significantly better in the subject under study when compared with the other three classes.
(2) The fourth class showed about equal performance with the remedial class in the first term when the written language was Chinese. However, they fell behind the remedial class in the second term when the written language was switched to English. Furthermore, their result was significantly better than the other two classes that used English during the whole study.

Source:     NABE: The Journal for the National Association for   Bilingual Education Issue:    v10 n1 p51-64 Fall 1985 Pub Date: 1985-00-00 Pub Type(s): Journal Articles; Reports - Research Peer-Reviewed: yes

Descriptors: Academic Achievement; Bilingual Education; Chinese; Comparative Analysis; English (Second Language); Foreign Countries; Grade 8; Immersion Programs; Language of Instruction; Second Language Learning; Second Language Programs; Secondary Education Abstract: Seventy-four grade 8 pupils in Hong Kong were randomly assigned to an experimental class, with English as the language of instruction, and to a control class, with Chinese as the language of instruction. Pupils in the immersion program were not hindered in academic achievement but did not improve second-language proficiency.

Source:     Journal of Research in Science Teaching Issue:         v19 n9 p761-67 Dec 1982 Pub Date: 1982-12-00 Pub Type(s): SSCI Journal Article; Reports - Research Peer-Reviewed: yes

Descriptors: Academic Achievement; Foreign Countries; Grade 10; High Schools; Language of Instruction; Motivation; Physics; Science Education; Science Instruction; Secondary School Science; Time On Task Abstract: Investigated relationships between physics achievement and language of instruction where instruction was in the second language of both students and teachers. Grade 10 subjects (N=176) studied light/sound in either Chinese (N=90) or English (N=86). No differences in achievement, students' motivation, and time spent in physics were found.