This study investigates the differences in pragmatic competence between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland university students. Participants included 19 native speakers of English, 115 Chinese mainland students, divided into those who had spent time abroad in an English-speaking country (CM A) and those who had not (CM NA), and 97 Hong Kong students, divided into those from an English-medium secondary school (Hong Kong EMI) and those from a Chinese-medium school (Hong Kong CMI). Linguistic proficiency was measured by a C-test, and pragmatic competence by a Metapragmatic Knowledge Test, an Irony Test and a Monologic Role Play. Group scores were compared using ANCOVAs to control for differences in proficiency. The results point to a continuum of pragmatic competence-EMI > CMI > CM A > CM NA-reflecting the groups' access to English in real-life contexts. The differences between the Hong Kong groups and the Chinese mainland groups were clearest in those tests measuring processing capacity (i. e., Irony Response Time and the Monologic Role Play). CM A, but not CM NA, performed as well as the Hong Kong groups on measures of metapragmatic awareness. The results are discussed in terms of Bialystok's (1993) distinction between analyzed representation and control of processing. Copyright © 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH.

This research delves into the washback effects of the Hong Kong Diploma of Education Examination (HKDSE) on the learning strategies employed by secondary school students in Hong Kong. By surveying 50 students to assess their English learning strategy profiles, this study seeks to identify potential biases in strategy selection indicative of examination influence. A subset of participants was further interviewed, enabling a deeper exploration of the underlying reasons behind their strategy choices. Thematic analysis of these interviews revealed that while students recognize the intended washback of the examination on their learning strategies, its actual influence might be diminished by their reservations regarding high stakes testing's effect on authentic English learning. The overarching sentiment expressed frustrations and conflict between the study of English language, and exam-centric pressures. Copyright ©2024 King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi School of Liberal Arts.

The Caregiver Strain Questionnaire assesses the three dimensions of caregiver strain, namely the objective, subjective externalized and subjective internalized strain. It was validated among caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United States and Mainland China with promising psychometric properties. This study aimed to develop and validate the Chinese (traditional script) version of the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (C-CGSQ) among 198 caregivers of children with ASD in Hong Kong. The C-CGSQ showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.958) and test-retest reliability (Spearman’s r  = 0.966). Concurrent, convergent, divergent validity and a three-factor structure (consistent with previous studies) were established. The C-CGSQ demonstrated promising psychometric properties in measuring caregiver strain among caregivers of Chinese ASD children in Hong Kong. Copyright ©2024 Springer.

This study aims to develop and validate a comprehensive scale for assessing students’ sustainability competence in education for sustainable development (ESD). Existing ESD assessment tools have faced criticism for lacking rigorous design and validation. Following a three-phase procedure proposed by Boateng et al., the study utilized qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and validate the scale. The scale was administered to 708 students participating in an extracurricular eTournament on Sustainable Development Goals organized by a Hong Kong university. The validation process involved expert panels, cognitive interviews, factor analyses, and assessments of internal consistency. Using Wiek et al.'s five-competence framework, 16 ESD learning outcomes were generated, forming the basis for the scale items. The survey included a mini-scenario introduction to enable students’ evaluation of sustainability practices, even with limited experience. Data analysis revealed a four-factor structure that could be both distinguished and integrated under a single upper-level factor. The scale is developed with the aim to better measuring tertiary students’ sustainability competence via a holistic and integrated approach, which completes the constructive alignment of current ESD, particularly in extracurricular settings. Copyright ©2024 Taylor & Francis.

Against the background of expanding parental choices and declining global birth rates, schools are experiencing rising competition regarding student enrolment. Schools have responded by strategically presenting information about their students' academic achievement and whole-person development orientation in the hope of attracting parents' interest. However, few studies have investigated the impact of these factors on student enrollment, particularly in the context of diverse school types and educational orientations. Accordingly, this study utilized data from 327 secondary schools in Hong Kong to examine the effects of academic achievement orientation and whole-person development orientation on student intake. Using hierarchical regression analysis, we found a positive association between high whole-person development orientation and student intake in aided schools with a strong academic development orientation. The result implies parents are increasingly concerned about their children's academic achievement and whole-person development at school. The study contributes to a broader understanding of the factors influencing parental choice in high-performing education systems, providing valuable insights for policymakers and educators seeking to improve educational offerings, enhance school transparency, and be better aligned with parental expectations. Copyright ©2024 Springer.

In recent years, schools started to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into computer science/STEAM curricula. However, few validated measurements have been designed to examine how secondary students develop AI literacy and perceive their learning outcomes. AI literacy has been measured from students' knowledge and skill acquisition, and behavior and attitudes. This research aims to develop and validate an instrument to assess AI literacy for secondary students. A questionnaire with 25 items measured in a 5-point Likert scale was created. In a pilot study, the questionnaire was administered to a sample of 363 secondary school students from two different schools in Hong Kong. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted and grouped into six factors: (1) intrinsic motivation, (2) self-efficacy, (3) behavioral intention, (4) behavioral engagement, (5) know and understand, and (6) use and apply AI. The questionnaire showed a good fit model to support internal consistency reliability in most of the factors, with Cronbach's Alpha levels ranging from.58 to.88. A less-parsimonious model was proposed that help educators measure a wider AI literacy skill set with an acceptable model fit, with Cronbach's Alpha levels ranging from.91 to.94 based on affective, behavorial, cognitive and ethical (ABCE) learning framework. Further studies are needed to confirm the factor structure. Copyright © 2023 IEEE.

External quality assurance (EQA) has expanded from the traditional academic sector to the vocational and professional education and training (VPET) sector in Hong Kong since the launch of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (HKQF) in 2008. Since then, awareness of VPET by the whole community and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been rising. Beginning with the Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2011-2012, VPET (rebranded from vocational education and training (VET) in 2016) has continuously been a standard item on the Government’s policy agenda. While the Government has made efforts to promote VPET with the establishment of two task forces which made a series of recommendations to further improve the image of VPET, VPET is still considered by the major stakeholders, including learners and teachers, as an inferior choice for pursuing further study. Although EQA has been playing a crucial role in ensuring the quality of VPET providers and programmes, it is interesting to the researcher that none of the recommendations made by the two task forces are related to the EQA mechanism for VPET being implemented by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) through accreditation. Even though the accreditation system has gone through a review during 2015 to 2018, the engagement of stakeholders seemed to be limited in the sense that two major stakeholder groups, namely learners and teachers, were not identified for collection of their views by the HKCAAVQ. With the continuous development of the VPET sector reflected in the rising number of corporate academies established by different industries, such as the railway and aviation industries, seeking HKQF recognition through accreditation conducted by the HKCAAVQ, EQA for VPET in Hong Kong, covering accreditation principles, standards and approaches, deserves a systematic study of whether the major stakeholders in the community consider it effective. This study

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the reliability of a game-based assessment tool to assess the four dimensions of career adaptability (i.e., Curiosity, Control, Confidence, Concern, hereafter called “4C”) among students with special educational needs (SEN). The 4C tool is a board game developed in relation to the short form of the career adaptability scale (CAAS) for SEN adolescents. Unlike self-reported CAAS without specifying career-related scenarios, the board game provides researchers and practitioners with an assessment platform to evaluate SEN students’ 4Cs in multiple employment-related scenarios. Participants in this pilot study were 44 secondary school leavers with SEN. They were studying in a training course organized by Youth Academy for SEN. They were assessed through the board game assessment tool before and after the training in the year. Statistical analyses included spearman’s rho coefficient and intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). It was noted that the 4Cs assessed by the board-game are 1) positively correlated with each other (correlation coefficients ranged from .42 to .63, p<.05), 2) with good inter-rater reliability, rs= .688(92), p<.01, 95% CI [.565, .797], and 3) with moderate test-retest reliability, ICC = 0.66, p<.001, 95% CI [.433, .805]. These findings supported the reliability of this game-based assessment tool for assessing the 4Cs of SEN youths. Aside from self-reported data, this game-based assessment tool can provide supplementary information on the 4Cs of school leavers with SEN from other assessors (e.g., teachers and practitioners) across career-related scenarios. The presentation will further discuss limitations and further direction of research. Copyright © 2023 The Education University of Hong Kong.

There is a global trend in the increased adoption of e-assessment in school classrooms to enhance learning. Teachers, as classroom-based assessment designers and implementers, play a vital role in such assessment change. However, little is known about school teachers' classroom-based e-assessment practices and the underlying reasons. To address this research gap, this study identified the factors influencing Hong Kong primary school teachers' e-assessment practices underpinned by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). A large-scale survey was issued to 878 teachers via Qualtrics. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis shows that primary school teachers' intentions of using e-assessment and perceived behavioural control of it were the two strongest factors predicting their e-assessment practices in a general way. Specifically, teachers' intentions outweighed perceived behavioural control in determining their use of alternative e-assessment tasks and e-feedback, but this reversed for e-tests/exercises. The impact of perceived behavioural control was consistent across the three types of e-assessment practices. Furthermore, teachers' attitudes significantly influenced their intentions to use alternative e-assessment tasks, while subject norms primarily predicted their intentions to use e-feedback. The findings have implications for primary schools to take countermeasures to facilitate the successful implementation of e-assessment at the classroom level.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic E-assessment has the potential to influence learning. E-assessment has often been used in a controlled environment with a relatively small sample size. The past 3 years have seen a surge in discussions and research around using e-assessment in classroom settings, mostly in higher education. What this paper adds Primary school teachers used more e-tests or exercises than alternative e-assessment tasks and e-feedback in their daily teaching. Teachers' intentions

This study utilizes the 2015 data from the Hong Kong sample of the Program for International Student Assessment to examine the relative importance of various factors on the science learning performance of Hong Kong students. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), we examined the effect of students’ affective characteristics, involvement, and perceptions of science by parents and school environment on science achievement in Hong Kong. The results of HLM demonstrated that school characteristics explain 33% variance in science achievement, which indicates that school is a critical predicting factor in identifying science achievement. The findings highlighted that identifying as male, having high socioeconomic status (at the student and school levels), high self-efficacy, low test anxiety, less parental support, positive view of science by parents, more school resources, and less teacher autonomy positively influence the science achievement of students. In the final model, school-level predictors, such as disciplinary climate in science classes and teacher-directed science instruction, explained 58% of variance at the school level in positive directions. Lastly, the study discussed the implications of achievement gaps between gender and socioeconomic status and between parents and school influence. Copyright © 2024 Education Research Institute, Seoul National University.