This paper describes a simulation exercise that allows business students from two tertiary institutions, namely The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) to learn a particular domain of E-Commerce – online auction. Results of student evaluation of the online auction game were analyzed within the same group and across groups. The results indicated that students from two tertiary institutions like to learn the on-line auction using simulation approach, which is one of the active learning strategies that have been used in the two institutions. We have found that business student teachers from HKIEd, who are better equipped with pedagogical knowledge and skills, tended to rate the online action game (OAG) higher than their PolyU fellows in a number of areas. The favorable comments from the pre-service teachers are informative and conclusive. In this case, simulation approach in teaching and learning online auction has proved itself to be effective. It is believed that active learning strategies such as simulation game should be adopted to maximize learning effects in various E-Commerce domains.

Social education in the primary education arena of Hong Kong has taken many forms. This chapter traces the development of Social Studies in the formal curriculum of local primary schools from the 1960s to the 1990s. It critically analyzes the foci of change as stated in the curriculum documents. Based on these official documents, the relationship between the curriculum intent and pedagogy advocated is discussed with reference to the current literature. Learning activities suggested in the syllabi of various decades are compared on a continuum of teaching-learning strategies and evaluated against stated learning targets. Their implications on teaching styles are discussed. Criteria for selecting activities are recommended for readers' reference. This chapter ends with recommendations for further investigation. It is hopeful that the chapter will become a useful reference for investigations on social education in primary schools in terms of curriculum and pedagogy advocated for effective learning.
[Copyright © 2000 The Hong Kong Institute of Education.]

本文透過對香港中學商業教育的歷史回顧及課程發展的探討，分析商業教育在不同社會經濟發展階段所起之質性變化，及其正負面影響，並建議未來之發展方向。歷史回顧部分分作三個階段，包括二十世紀五六十年代的萌芽發展期，七十至九十年代的穩步增長期及二千年後的高速更新期；當中課程的演變經歷 “職業”、“技術”、“科技”及“專科與職業分家”等不同方向的發展，各有優勝及不足之處，但只要取得發展上的平衡，商業教育在職業預備上、智能發展上及公民教育上的全面性功能可以有所發揮，令經濟急速發展下的每一名學子均可受惠。
[Copyright © 2007 教育史研究編輯部.]

Inquiry learning (IL) is one of the most prominent features of the New Senior Secondary Curriculum reform and has become a major approach in the teaching and learning of many subjects. However, it remains open to what teachers’ perception of IL is and what extent IL is actually used in day-to- day teaching. In the study presented here we elaborate— from the perspective of social science teachers—the current status of IL in day-to-day teaching and the difficulties they encountered in implementing IL, based on the analysis of relevant data collected from a survey, interviews, classroom observations and documents. Further, in order to gain insights on multiple factors that influence teachers’ perception and implementation of IL, a comparative study between two case schools was conducted. We present selected results from this comparative study that for the first time provides general ideas of senior secondary social science teachers’ perceptions and current use of IL, as well as how school context, curriculum and measurement, the support from students and parents affect teachers’ perceptions and implementation of IL in the context of Hong Kong.