This study aims to explore the relationship between the supporting factors and learning outcomes of a teaching practicum model for an initial teacher education programme in Hong Kong. Identifying the predictive relationships of the supporting factors for pre-service teachers’ teaching practicum and their learning outcome could help promoting the quality of the programme. There were 229 pre-service teachers participated to a questionnaire survey of a quasi-experimental design. Confirmatory factor analysis and reliability test were used to confirm the constructed validity and reliability of the survey instrument. A Structural Equation Model was applied to explore the predictive relationship between the supporting factors and their learning outcomes. Results show that campus-based courses, school mentor support and pre-service teacher’s self-efficacy were identified to be the supporting factors for their learning outcomes which include instructional design, managing learning activities and assessment. Strengthening school partnerships, providing mentor training and enhancing the element of assessment for learning in campus based course are recommended to the teacher education programme.

This paper presents an evaluative study exploring a tripartite field experience model of an initial teacher education programme for enhancing pre-service teachers’ learning. The learning process of the model incorporates campus-based courses, school mentor supports, and activating pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy. A cross-sectional quasi-experimental questionnaire was applied to collect data from 229 pre-service teachers of the biggest teacher education institute in Hong Kong. A structural equation model was applied to explore the relationships between the learning process and their learning outcomes in their teaching practices. The results show that the model could improve pre-service teachers’ skills in instructional design, assessment strategies, and managing class activities.
[Copyright © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.]

Though the notion of a mentor or cooperating teacher in initial teacher education has been implemented in other countries for many years (Haberman, 1971; Spillane & Levenson, 1976), it was first attempted in initial primary teacher education in Hong Kong only in 1994. The present study aims to investigate this new attempt by the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) to foster supporting relationships in teacher education. The paper focuses on the Cooperating Teacher Scheme (CTS) as a learning experience for student-teachers and the different roles of the school, cooperating teachers, and HKIEd lecturers. The study includes a quantitative component and a qualitative component. Eighty schools were selected randomly from a list of 130 schools participating in the Scheme in 1995-96. Four agents, viz. school heads, co-operating teachers, lecturers and student-teachers involved in the CTS were invited to complete a questionnaire and representatives from each category were interviewed. The findings consider student-teachers' learning as well as varying perceptions of the roles of the four agents in the scheme. Based on the findings, implications of the CTS in initial and further teacher education as well as the collaboration between schools and the Institute are drawn.
[Copyright © 1998 Routledge.]

This paper is concerned with a qualitative study of how 15 pre-service PE teachers, who are taking the two-year full-time teacher training course, develop professionally in their second field experience. With the interpretive research paradigm as conceptual framework, data were collected through interviewing and writing of reflective journals. Groups of pre-service PE teachers were found possessing different professional learning experiences concerning their conceptions and socializing strategies. Their professional conceptions included "educating pupils to learn", "seeing PE as catharsis, discipline and having fun". Their socializing strategies composed of finding means to improve teaching, and adopt social tactics for managing pupils and defensive attitude for handling crisis. The study provides an understanding of pre-service PE teachers in the Hong Kong Institute of Education and their learning-to-teach processes. The findings serve as the backdrop for recommending possible pedagogical changes for facilitating desirable professional development of pre-service PE teachers.
[Copyright © 2007 Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University.]

The study involved student teachers enrolled in the Bachelor of Education English Language Programme at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Students (N = 77) participated in a pilot study by electronically submitting their field experience portfolios in their third and fourth year of study. Student teachers were invited through e-mails to participate in focus group interviews. The purpose of this interview was to examine the merits and challenges of digitising the existing FE paper-based portfolio, using a digital portfolio platform, and to plan for future development using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the research framework. All participants were required to create e-portfolios to showcase their achievements, the effects of actual system used led to long-term behavioural intention to use, diverging from the TAM's original model, which predicted actual system use. Student teachers either participated in a semi-structured interview (n = 7) or replied via e-mails (n = 2). The results indicated that attitude towards usage (ATU) evidenced a direct relationship to behavioural intention to use. Furthermore, for those who had mixed ATU, perceived usage was the determining factor. The findings provide insightful information not only for the next implementation phase of an e-portfolio, but also for those considering implementing e-portfolios.
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