The way forward for the development of Liberal Studies: How teachers perceive its introduction and implementation in Hong Kong secondary schools

The way forward for the development of Liberal Studies: How teachers perceive its introduction and implementation in Hong Kong secondary schools

• Fung, Dennis The University of Hong Kong
• Lui,Wai Mei The University of Hong Kong
• Liang, Tim The University of Hong Kong
• Su, Angie The University of Hong Kong

Asia Pacific Education Review, 18(1), 123-134, 2017

Springer Netherlands

2017

• G Curriculum, Teaching & Learning: Specific Disciplines
  • GJ Interdisciplinary
• F Learning & Teaching
  • FA General Teaching Strategies, Different Instructional Methods
• M Teachers & Education for Teachers
  • MG Identities, Attitudes & Opinion of Educational Workers
• Q Philosophy of Education, Educational System & School At Different Levels
  • QD Secondary Education

Education Curriculum Development Curriculum Review Liberal Studies Pedagogical Challenges Pedagogy Teacher Attitudes Secondary Education Secondary School Teachers Hong Kong

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Secondary Education

This study reveals the perceptions of over one hundred Hong Kong teachers who were asked to reflect upon the implementation of Liberal Studies in secondary schools in response to the latest government review of the subject's curriculum. Questionnaire-based surveys and semi-structured interviews were conducted to probe the participating teachers' perceptions and suggestions in such areas as the subject's objectives, content and assessment, with the ultimate goal of tracing the subject's developmental trajectory. The findings indicate that, whilst the teachers appear to have faith in Liberal Studies' objective to develop students into critical and independent thinkers, they feel that the pedagogical challenges with which they have been confronted have influenced their teaching motivation and support for the subject's mandatory status in secondary education. Further, the potential tension between the challenges they have encountered in reality and the ideal outcomes envisaged by policymakers raises the question of how Liberal Studies can move forward in giving teachers a greater role in educational reform. Recommendations for relieving that tension, as well as the findings' implications for future research on curriculum development in Hong Kong and elsewhere, are also discussed.
[Asia Pacific Education Review is a copyright of Springer, 2017]

• English

Journal Articles

• 15981037

• 10.1007/s12564-017-9471-z

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/en/bibs/07405d7e

2017-10-09