Corpus technology (CT) as an effective technology for language learning is slowly being adopted by in-service language teachers. However, there is limited focus on pre-service language teachers, who first need to experience CT and gain a basic corpus literacy as learners. Therefore, this research aimed to demonstrate the learning benefits of CT to pre-service teacher and explore their intentions for future use of CT. A corpus pedagogy supported by constructivism, socio-cultural theory, and noticing hypothesis, was designed to help three-classes of pre-service ESL teachers in Chinese Hong Kong to improve citation skills using Parallel EAP Corpora. A mixed-method design was adopted by collecting data via tests, surveys, classroom interactions and interviews. The results revealed that the participants learned to use reporting verbs for citations, acquired adequate corpus literacy, positively evaluated the theory-supported pedagogy, and expressed strong intentions to use CT for learning vocabulary and academic writing, conducting research to complete course assignments, and facilitating future teaching. The findings highlight the significance of designing corpus-based learning activities through theory-supported pedagogy and reveal that introducing CT to pre-service ESL teachers who have multiple identities as language learners, novice researchers, critical thinkers, and future teachers, can have important pedagogical implications. Copyright © 2024 the author(s), published by De Gruyter and FLTRP on behalf of BFSU.

With the advancement of technology, eLearning is increasingly adopted as an instructional method in a wide range of educational settings and has opened up new possibilities in teaching and learning practices. However, there is insufficient empirical evidence to illustrate how eLearning benefits teaching and learning practice in its real-world applications. Therefore, an important question is raised--How can eLearning technology facilitate pedagogical advancement practically in the classroom? In this study, we focus on constructivist pedagogies, emphasizing the dramatic educational reform from teacher-centered pedagogy to a student-centered, constructivist approach. Based on observations of 79 eLearning classes in eight primary schools, four secondary schools, and two special education schools in Hong Kong, this study illustrates how eLearning technology can advance at least five constructivist pedagogies: 1) active learning, 2) student-centered learning, 3) peer learning, 4) personalized learning, and 5) differentiated learning. We illustrate that the interactive, self-paced, repetitious, and customizable features of eLearning systems facilitate the implementation of these five constructivist pedagogies. Successful examples from classroom observations are drawn to illustrate how teachers make practical use of eLearning technology. This article serves to stimulate further discussion on how eLearning can be applied across various settings to advance the effectiveness of constructivist pedagogies and to encourage practitioners to consider how to make use of eLearning technology in the classroom. Copyright © 2021 Springer.

This study investigated the pedagogical interactions between teachers and young children in six sampled Chinese kindergarten classrooms. Altogether 4320 turns of dialogue were coded from 27 videotaped pedagogical activities, and the 12 class teachers were surveyed and interviewed. The results revealed a unique Chinese pedagogical interaction that is a fusion of participatory and transmissive pedagogies: teachers directed the interactions with open-ended questions and whole-class dialogues, whereas children responded with short answers based on the learning content. This was reported by the teachers to be associated with the joint influence of related child, teacher, and cultural factors.
[Copyright of Teaching and Teacher Education is the property of Elsevier Ltd.]

Differentiated instruction (DI) is nothing new and is believed to be an effective research-based strategy to cater for learner diversity. Differentiation involves finding multiple ways to structure a lesson so that each student is provided with an opportunity to work at a moderately challenging level. Previous studies, however, found that teachers were not well prepared and insufficiently equipped with skills and knowledge about DI. In the recent Hong Kong curriculum reform, DI has been highlighted as one of the ways to catering to learner diversity. The purpose of the study is to examine in-service teachers' readiness for using DI strategies and perceived challenges in its implementation. Using a mixed-methods design, a questionnaire was used to investigate teachers' perceived readiness for and obstacles toward using DI strategies, as followed by semi-structured focus group interviews that were done to in-service teachers of two schools. Qualitative data as obtained from the interviews was used to explain the quantitative data. With the use of factor analysis, two factors were identified in the survey, including Factor 1 Teacher-centred approach and Factor 2 Student-centred approach. Findings indicated that teachers generally tended to be ready for using DI strategies; however, they were more ready for using teacher-centred approach. Three perceived obstacles toward DI were identified: class size and diversity, time, and understanding of teaching strategies. Implications for curriculum development, professional development and research directions will be discussed at the end of the paper.

This study aims to examine the factors influencing pre-service Physical Education (PE) teachers' perception of a specific constructivist approach — Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) in Hong Kong. By adopting a qualitative approach, 20 pre-service PE teachers were recruited for individual semi-structured interviews. Deductive data analysis was utilised to identify unique themes with broad aspects of influencing factors. Using Piaget's cognitive constructivism and Vygotsky's social constructivism as the theoretical frameworks, individual factors such as game knowledge, teacher beliefs, learning and teaching experience and social factors including government policy, teacher support and professional culture were identified as key influences in pre-service teachers' perception of TGfU. Furthermore, individual and social factors interplay with each other. In conclusion, cognitive and social constructivism was identified as a useful theoretical framework for illustrating and analysing the factors influencing pre-service teachers' perception of TGfU.
[Copyright of Sport, Education and Society is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2011.607954]

香港新高中課程改革的「通識教育科」，注重「專題研習」的學習。由於有別於本土的傳統教學，「專題研習」可供老師參考的課程實施經驗不多，尤其學生對自主學習的體會。本文嘗試從學習者的角度，透視「專題研習」在實際的學校環境中，出現怎麼樣的「通識教育科」教學和學習的特點。透過分析小組同學的訪談內容，我們發現學生能夠了解和適應「專題研習」的學習要求及肯定其中的學習經歷和價值，他們同時深感憂慮新的學習，嚴重受考試導向的教育現實所牽引。
Liberal Studies has given a due weight to project learning in Hong Kong's New Senior Secondary curriculum reform. Different from mainstream teaching in the past, teachers have little practical experience on project learning in their curriculum implementation, particularly on students' independent learning. This paper is an attempt which examines for characteristics of project learning in Liberal Studies in the local school context from students' perspectives. An analysis on the focused group interview with students has found that they can grasp the main points and cope with the new learning needs of project learning. While they recognize the values of this new learning mode, they are deeply worried that the examination-driven educational reality has greatly affected their study through project learning.
[Copyright of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre Journal is the property of Hong Kong Teachers' Centre at http://www.edb.org.hk/hktc]