Innovation in pedagogy by technology integration in kindergarten classroom has always been a challenge for most teachers. This design-based research aimed to explore the feasibility of using Augmented Reality (AR) technology in early art education with a focus on the gains and pains of this innovation. A case study was conducted in a typical kindergarten in Hong Kong, with a class of four- to five-year-old children (N=30) and their class teacher, ICT teacher as well as two parent volunteers. A series of art education activities using AR was designed and implemented in the class. Effectiveness of the activities was evaluated through a triangulation of semi-structured interviews with teachers, principal and parents, and surveys administered to children. The results indicated that (1) all the children could design, control and interact with the animated objects generated by the AR application; (2) all the stakeholders interviewed were supportive of this pedagogical innovation and (3) the principal, teachers and parents were concerned about the side effects of using AR in early childhood education. Possible improvements and implications to AR-based art education were also addressed.
[Copyright of Early Child Development & Care is the property of Routledge]

This study investigated how the Performance Indicators (PIs), a quantifiable check of school effectiveness and accountable issued by the government, was used by Chinese preschools to do self-evaluation and improvement in Hong Kong. Sixty-four representative pre-primary institutions of 15 035 children and 1 600 practitioners, and 9 project members worked collaboratively through the self-evaluation and improvement cycle within 18 months. Post-project surveys, group interviews, documentation analysis, and multiple case studies were conducted to gauge the participants’ views on the progress and problems regarding school improvement. The results indicated that: (1) the revised 7-step Chinese model of self-evaluation and improvement was workable for Hong Kong pre-primary institutions; (2) the institutions did benefit from the project and got better understanding of the PIs, reflections on children’s learning and teacher’s teaching, professional development, heightening of organizational morale and team spirit; (3) the common difficulties encountered in the processes were time limitation, lack of resources, and under-qualified teachers; and (4) the successful experiences might include strong leadership, team work with deep collaboration, school-based training, peer observation, useful instruments, and support from external advisor. The sociocontextual factors and the educational implications of these findings are discussed.
[Copyright © College of Education and Human Development, University of North Dakota. The publisher website is located at http://www.und.edu/dept/ehd]

The assumption of most western literature on civic education is that its purposes are largely linked to the democratic regimes and their maintenance. But as time goes on, global experience has witnessed the emergence and prosperous development of civic education in many non-democratic societies. It seems to suggest that civic education does not have to be identical with Western liberal democracy. Since non-democratic regimes view citizen preparation as important, what kind of citizen do they produce? In what ways is it different from democratic civic education? The purpose of the study is to explore how civic education is influenced by regime type though comparing the scholars’ representation of good citizen in three Chinese societies (Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland). The societies in which there are explicitly different regime types (democracy, hybrid regime, and authoritarianism) in order to highlight the significance of any possible variations. Document analysis of date related to civic education from three databases will provide us a clear understanding of ideal good citizen under democracy, hybrid regime, and authoritarianism.

15-year free education has been implemented in Macau and some parts of Mainland China in recent decade. In light of the implementations, local early childhood educators and experts have since been debating whether Hong Kong should follow suit to offer the 3 years of early childhood education (ECE) for free on top of the existing 12-year free education. With reference to the policy implementation and outcomes in Macau and Mainland China, as well as the ECE context in Hong Kong, this paper seeks to (1) delineate the dilemmas in the debate about 15-year free education in Hong Kong; and (2) suggest how free ECE could be offered in a context-appropriate manner. We will discuss the issues based on the “3A1S” theoretical framework, which looks into the affordability, accessibility, accountability, and sustainability of ECE. Practical solutions for settling the ceaseless debate about 15-year free education in Hong Kong will also be proposed.
[Copyright © 2014 Hong Kong Teachers' Centre]