Over the past decade, numerous studies and technologies have emerged exploring how to provide the most appropriate interventions to help students with special educational needs (SEN), who need assistance due to cognitive or developmental disabilities, to learn and achieve higher added value in school. In this work, we focus on data analysis to scrutinize the learning behavior and intervention effectiveness associated with the different types of SEN students. Specifically, we investigated the learning behaviors of students with special educational needs in terms of extracurricular activities (ECA) participation and prosocial behavior, based on data collected from a Hong Kong secondary school. We found that different types of disorders are associated with distinct learning behaviors. Moreover, the effectiveness of interventions varied across students with different disorders, indicating the need for individualized strategies in supporting these students. Copyright © 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

Entrepreneurship is crucial for fostering innovation and opportunity in a rapidly evolving global economy. Introducing it in secondary schools is challenging due to potential cognitive overload and the complexity of the skills required. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Learning Management System (LMS) using Cognitive Load Theory for improving entrepreneurial skills among secondary students in Hong Kong. In the study, 280 students from 16 schools completed the LMS intervention. Through a series of t-tests, ANCOVAs, and multilevel models, we examined the effects of an LMS on students' entrepreneurial attributes and aspirations. The results indicated that the LMS enhances students' perceptions of entrepreneurial concepts. However, the effectiveness of the LMS was influenced by two key factors: the level of student engagement with the system and their previous entrepreneurial experiences. Higher engagement with the LMS and more extensive prior entrepreneurial experiences were found to significantly boost students' entrepreneurial attributes and aspirations. The outcomes indicate that by organizing content to minimize cognitive overload, the LMS facilitated the development of sophisticated cognitive schemas essential for entrepreneurial thinking. Copyright © 2024 The Author(s).

This study examines how new ways of learning (NWL) affects students’ study engagement and learning satisfaction with online teaching, and whether subject lecturer support moderates the effect of NWL and study engagement on learning satisfaction. Undergraduate students in Hong Kong were invited to complete a survey about their experience of online teaching. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that NWL were positively related to study engagement and learning satisfaction. Subject lecturer support moderated the relationship between NWL and study engagement, which mediated their interactive effect on learning satisfaction. The results imply that academic institutions can transform traditional face-to-face teaching into online teaching that achieves learning satisfaction for students. © 2023 The Author(s).

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered learning and teaching approaches in higher education. Research concerning COVID-19 revealed inconsistent results on student engagement, which is a robust predictor of academic performance in higher education. This exploratory study examines the relationship between grit and student engagement in the pandemic through the mediating role of negotiable fate. Although previous research demonstrated that grit could positively predict student engagement, there have been inconsistent findings between the two sub-factors of grit: consistency of interest (grit-CI) and perseverance of effort (grit-PE). Besides, there is a lack of theoretical explanation of the mechanism between grit and engagement. The adaptation of negotiable fate seeks to provide one of the pathways of how grit would be associated with student engagement. To examine these hypotheses, the present study recruited 339 undergraduate students from two universities in Hong Kong to participate in an online survey. The results showed that grit, grit-PE, and negotiable fate positively correlate with student engagement, but the path of grit-CI did not reveal any significant results. After accounting for the mediating effect of negotiable fate, grit-PE still positively correlates with student engagement, suggesting a partial mediation model. This study provides empirical evidence that grit positively predicts student engagement with the mediation of negotiable fate. However, only grit-PE was positively associated with other variables, while grit-CI did not reveal any significant predictions. The present study (1) extends the understanding of the mechanism between grit and student engagement and (2) explores the mediating role of negotiable fate in this relationship in the higher education context. Theoretical and practical implications of this mediation model among grit, negotiable fate, and student engagement were discussed. Copyright © 2023 SAGE Publications.

There is evidence showing that the triarchic model of grit and its dimensions (i.e., "perseverance of effort," "consistency of interests," and "adaptability to situations") predict engagement and well-being outcomes in high school and undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. However, there has been limited research on how this model of grit relates to engagement and optimal psychological outcomes in primary school students. This research investigates the association of grit's dimensions with academic engagement in math and science as well as well-being outcomes (i.e., positive emotions, negative emotions, and flourishing) in primary school students. Participants were primary school students (M[subscript age] = 10.42; SD[subscript age] = 1.26) from Hong Kong (n = 279) and Macau (n = 124). Results showed that "perseverance of effort" positively predicted cognitive and behavioral engagement in math as well as positive emotions even after controlling for demographic covariates (i.e., age, gender, setting, and year level), conscientiousness, and achievement goal orientations. "Adaptability to situations" positively predicted cognitive and social engagement in math and flourishing. "Consistency of interests" negatively predicted both cognitive engagement in science and negative emotions. Indeed, this study indicates that "perseverance" and "adaptability" may facilitate children's positive academic and psychological functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Copyright © 2023 SAGE Publications.

Within the context of the broad application of online teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, this chapter aims to explore two questions: What are the well-being challenges for Hong Kong university students in online learning during the pandemic? And what are university students’ responses to these challenges? This chapter is based on a quantitative analysis of the well-being-related survey data collected from 1227 Hong Kong university students. From the perspective of well-being, this chapter finds that the sudden transformation to online learning has brought many issues related to Hong Kong university students’ physical (like eye fatigue) and psychological (like increased stress) status. These issues have been augmented by the compact living situation of some university students from low-income families in Hong Kong. This chapter proposes that higher education institutions and instructors should ensure students’ physical and psychological well-being through course restructuring (e.g., scheduling frequent breaks and applying interactive tools to increase student engagement) and relevant professional development programs for instructors (e.g., online platform training and online course design and delivery). Copyright © 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Research has shown that the triarchic model of grit scale (TMGS)—a measure that assesses tendency to show perseverance, passion, and adaptability for long-term goals—has been valid in different contexts such as the Philippines, Japan, Poland, mainland China, and the United States. However, there is limited research on the validity of this scale in Hong Kong. Against this backdrop, this research examined the structural, convergent, and criterion-related of the TMGS among secondary school students in Hong Kong. A total of 298 secondary school students in Hong Kong participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the structural validity of the three-factor model of grit. Correlational analysis was conducted between grit's dimensions and school satisfaction to assess the criterion-related validity of this scale. CFA showed that the scores from the three-factor model of grit underpinned by perseverance of effort, consistency of interests, and adaptability to situations were valid and reliable. There was mixed evidence on the convergent validity of the scale based on the subscales’ composite reliability (CR) estimates. Whereas perseverance of effort and adaptability to situations were positively correlated to school satisfaction, consistency of interests was negatively linked to the said criterion variable. This research demonstrates the potential applicability of the TMGS in Hong Kong. Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Psychology in the Schools Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This mixed-methods study investigates whether and to what extent positive psychology constructs (classroom enjoyment, grit, and growth mindset) and Extramural English predict primary school students’ willingness to communicate in a second language (L2 WTC) both in the classroom (a fictitious but common setting for English communication among English as an Foreign Language [EFL] students) and outside the classroom (a natural and increasingly prevalent environment for EFL communication). We collect and analyze survey data from 160 EFL primary school students in Hong Kong (ages 6–13 years old). Hierarchical regression analyses reveal that L2 WTC in the classroom is predicted by classroom enjoyment, grit, and Extramural English. A slightly different picture emerges outside of the classroom, with grit, growth mindset, and Extramural English predicting L2 WTC. Semi-structured interviews (N = 8) confirm and elaborate on the quantitative findings. Our findings suggest that through grit- and Extramural English-integrated intervention programmes, EFL teachers can improve young learners’ L2 WTC both inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, teachers can improve young learners’ L2 WTC in the classroom by creating a positive learning environment, while also improving their L2 WTC outside of the classroom by cultivating their growth mindset system. Copyright © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

The issue of the “research-practice gap” has been a long-standing concern in the education community. To tackle this issue, there is a growing interest in research–practice partnerships (RPPs) to connect research with practice by providing solutions for improving practice in schools. Although studies have reported that constructive relationship would produce positive outcomes, establishing long-term and mutually beneficial RPPs requires further investigation. In Hong Kong, the Learning Study (LS) approach with Variation Theory derived from phenomenology as the theoretical framework for pedagogical design has been adopted as a RPP model and has sustained for two decades. Like many RPPs models, LS approach has been facing different challenges when teachers are increasingly held accountable for meeting new demands from education reform. In this respect, this paper explores the challenges and strategies of the LS approach as a RPP model and its conditions of success. It reports a case study of how a group of English Language teachers adopting a LS approach while integrating education initiatives in their instructional design. The findings have identified trust building, teacher’s capacity building and visible outcomes as possible key factors of effective RPP model. This paper may shed light on the implementation of research–practice partnerships. Copyright © 2022 National Institute of Education, Singapore.