This paper investigates the concerns of teachers and the work of small class teaching (SCT) for integrated learning in Liberal Studies (LS) in the current New Senior Secondary (NSS) curriculum implemented beginning in 2009 in Hong Kong. The interconnectedness of learning in the NSS LS has been highlighted, with emphasis on linkages in learning within and beyond the subject. Relevant literature on the debate of class size reduction generally reveals the benefits of SCT. Several studies further indicate that students benefit from integrated learning in a small class setting. Other studies on group work format have recommended various approaches to integrated learning in a small class setting. Therefore, facilitating students with quality integrated learning in a small class setting for LS is crucial for its successful implementation in Hong Kong. An international study reported that the Hong Kong school system is regarded as ‘sustained improver’ and ‘good to great’ performance stage. Therefore the findings of this study in Hong Kong could provide valuable implications for school teachers, teacher educators and policy makers all over the world.
[Copyright © 2014 James Nicholas Publishers]

現時香港出生率大幅下降，引致縮班殺校問題，香港各界普遍認同小班教學是解決學校收生不足的長遠策略，為提升香港教育質素提供良好契機，以及是最能協助弱勢學生的策略。政府於300多間小學推行小班教學，許多中學也有小班教學的嘗試。本文報告「香港中學推行小班教學現狀及需要的問卷調查」及跟進訪談的調查結果，展示香港中學推行小班教學的現狀、意向、困難及需要，並探討小 班教學在香港中學推廣的可行性。
[Copyright © 2014 香港教師中心]

香港政府自 2009 年在小學推出小班教學政策，至 2013 年 9 月已有 344所小學推行小班教學，不少學校已推廣至小學五年級。小班教學的成效如何？本文結合文 獻對小班成效的綜述，透過對推行小班教學的兩所學校共 10位教師進行焦點團體 訪談，初步剖析香港小班教學政策下的教師教學實踐，並提出進一步調整或深化 政策的意見和建議。
[Copyright © 2014 香港教師中心]

This project evolved from the efforts of foreign lecturing staff at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. It was found when they first started teaching pre-service teacher education courses, that the language of instruction, although English, was not universally known at a sufficient competence level that all students could understand what was being discussed. The combination of large class size and differential culture expectations, found the lecturing staff themselves in a dilemma of how best to communicate effectively with their students. The following research objectives had to be addressed: 1. Increase collaborative Learning through quality learning teams; 2. To enhance academic outcomes of individual members of the quality learning team; 3. To inculcate a constructivism culture within the quality learning teams; 4. To enhance both learning and instruction strategies; 5. To encourage and increase motivation of both the quality learning team and each of its individual members; 6. To increase student achievement and create a positive student attitude of quality learning teams and their individual members; The formulation of a strategy whereby small groups (maximum of 5 students) took an independent assignment, worked as a "Quality Learning Team", reported back to the class and then with a combination of jigsaw and team presentation styles, a very satisfied, if somewhat initially frightened, group of students emerged. The departure from hand feeding, which was firmly put to one side, resulted in a more independent reflective individual. Team leaders were quickly established, friendships firmly made, trust in ones peers established, relaxed interdependency accepted as the norm, respect of ones peers accepted, leading to the emergence of highly motivated 'Teams' and individuals. The eventual consequence was all of these changed strategies created extremely motivated students for the most part and for those students whose learning style was not suited to this sharing

Assessment and learners’ achievement have an affinity in enhancing teaching and learning in education. At the time academic achievement is stressed, educators ought to re-think the following questions: How is achievement defined? Who defines achievement and in whose interest? What is the purpose of achievement? Who grades? Who defines the criteria for grading? On the other hand, teacher education programs have educated student-teachers to work effectively with one dominant culture. Teachers are then unprepared to acknowledge the cultural differences and educational inequalities that schools often perpetuate. Some teachers find it difficult to understand that minority and poor students have the potential to be successful; they often are not given the opportunity to develop their academic and social skills. All of these barriers may result in the disadvantaged learners’ underachievement (Sleeter & Grant, 1986, 1988). Assessment for learning has an emotional impact as well, i.e. teachers’ comments, marks and grades can have effect on learners’ confidence and enthusiasm (QCA, 2004). Obviously, the diverse awareness of teachers will affect their use of assessment and students’ learning achievements will then be determined. This article will demonstrate that teacher’s multicultural education beliefs are important in a pluralistic society, where teachers must be prepared to make professional decisions about how best to meet the educational needs of all students, especially the disadvantaged learners. This study reports a group of Chinese pre-service teachers and experienced school teachers’ attitudes of cultural difference with the Chinese pre-service teachers and experienced school teachers’ attitudes of cultural difference with the use of an instrument, Cultural Diversity Awareness Inventory, CDAI (Henry, 1991). The study is trying to understand: (1) the cultural sensitivity levels towards alternative assessment of Hong Kong teachers; and (2) the general assessment practices