This study trialed a pedagogy of “To Play and Learn, To Inquire, To STEM and Code”. Supplementary with seven hands-on activity worksheets and 19 coding product templates and samples, the pedagogy was designed to expose students to the construction of electric circuits with Micro:bit in STEM classrooms for developing knowledge of electric circuits and problem-solving skills. The pedagogy was implemented as a 280-minute teaching in eight lessons for 23 selected Grade 5 classes, which involved 369 students from nine primary schools at Hong Kong. The results of pre-post-test validate the success of the pedagogy in students' statistically significant growth in all three topic-specific knowledge points. The results of questionnaire survey demonstrate the impact of the pedagogy on students' statistically significant growth in their awareness of and their confidence in applying the target problem-solving skills. The results of focus group interviews confirm that students were satisfied with the experiences and outcomes of the pedagogy in developing topic-specific knowledge and problem-solving skills. This study reveals that the pedagogy is well received by students; noticeably effective to enhance students' knowledge of electric circuits; and potential to promote their development of problem-solving skills. Future directions to extend the pedagogy for senior primary curriculum are discussed. Copyright © 2022 Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.

Assessment is an important aspect of mathematics teaching and learning. This paper aims to explore Hong Kong mathematics teachers’ views on online assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data analysed is part of a larger project comprising an online survey and semi-structured interviews. This paper presents data from the survey responses of ninety-two teachers and from interviews of three teachers. Thematic data analysis is conducted, focusing on teachers’ views on assessment during online learning. Findings show that the forms of assessment that Hong Kong mathematics teachers conducted during the pandemic were similar to those from before the pandemic. They view online assessment mainly as assessment for and of online learning. This paper also discusses suggestions for online mathematics assessment. Copyright © 2022 left to the authors.

Felix Klein's notion of double discontinuity between university mathematics and secondary school mathematics has persisted in mathematics teacher education. Situating this study in Hong Kong, we investigated three prospective secondary teachers' experiences in higher education and secondary mathematics classrooms, including their figured worlds, identities, and mathematical knowledge constructed through those experiences. Our analysis revealed their contrasting experiences in these two contexts, adding to our understanding of the phenomenon of double discontinuity in terms of not only how it is relevant to Hong Kong but also how it may manifest in the specific cultural context. Moreover, we found coherency and continuity during the prospective teachers' secondary-tertiary transition; their learning experiences in both environments served as critical resources upon which they reflected to envision their future mathematics teaching. We conclude with implications and suggestions for mathematics teacher education to support prospective teachers' (and their future students') transitions between high school and university mathematics. Copyright © 2022 Springer.

This study investigated the status of equity in mathematics education in Hong Kong based on data from TIMSS 2011 to 2019 and the changes in education equity across the three cycles. The effects of various student-, family-, and school-level variables on students’ mathematics achievement were examined and compared using multilevel modeling. Results showed that there were significant variances between schools in mathematics achievement in Hong Kong, especially for eighth grade students. Overall, boys performed better in mathematics than girls in these three TIMSS cycles in Hong Kong, except for eighth grade boys in the cycles of 2011 and 2019. The family and school socio-economic status (SES) related to the possession of traditional materials (e.g., desks and books) and parents’ highest education level had positive and significant effects on students’ mathematics achievement, and the effects of the predictors increased from the 2011 cycle to the 2019 cycle. SES related to the possession of home digital devices (e.g., computers and internet connection) also had positive but much less substantial effects. School location and resource availability did not have significant effects. In general, the mean levels of SES and school resource availability in Hong Kong is improving. However, the effects of some important student- and school-level factors on mathematics achievement increased. Suggestions for improving education equity in Hong Kong are discussed. Copyright © 2022 Springer.

Background and aims: Mathematics is one of the critical elements of STEM education. However, the importance of mathematics has not been fully emphasized in the practice of STEM education (Martín‐Páez et al., 2019). Promoting STEM education in mathematics education is one of the focal points of the Hong Kong school curriculum (CDC, 2017). In this study, we introduced an innovative STEM learning activity in the classroom based on the topic of 3D shapes in the primary mathematics curriculum. The aim was to provide an example of a school-based mathematics curriculum integrated with STEM education and offer teachers the design and development of STEM pedagogy.Methodology or process(es) undertaken: Focusing on the learning objective of recognizing the concept of 3D shape, we designed an interdisciplinary STEM learning activity in grade two in a Hong Kong primary school. Students learned the concept of a cylinder in the Funny Zoetrope Project. A curriculum consultant, a mathematics teacher and a visual art teacher collaborated to implement the whole teaching design within seven lessons (five mathematics lessons and two visual art lessons). A series of learning booklets were designed for teaching and learning. Regarding the process of preliminary preparation, teaching arrangement, course implementation, and after-class feedback, the STEM learning activity was incorporated into the school-based mathematics curriculum.Results and conclusions: The STEM learning activity based on the mathematical topic provides students with opportunities to see, know and understand the mathematical concept in STEM education. Students experience interdisciplinary learning during the process of making a zoetrope. They learn to integrate and apply knowledge and skills they have learned in mathematics and visual art. Some generic skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and self-assessment skills are also developed. Copyright © 2022 7th STEM in Education Conference.

The study focused on Hong Kong mathematics teachers’ personal experiences and challenges in online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. A SWOC analysis is adopted. Results showed that they tried to offer e-learning as an alternative mode of teaching to maintain the education service within the pandemic. Hong Kong teachers tended to focus on external factors rather than internal factors in the initial period of online teaching. They agreed that there was a paradigm shift in the role of teaching during the crisis. They were commonly building a sufficient level in using technology, but this was not equivalent to be competent in achieving instructional goals. Mathematics teachers’ professional knowledge is influenced by their personal online teaching experiences. Their attitudes and beliefs are crucial factors in the role and effectiveness of using online teaching. Copyright © 2021 left to authors.

自2009年開始香港教育當局推行新的中學學制，學校課程的核心科目和內容，以及相應的升學考試都發生了改變。在十年的發展歷程中，伴隨著數位學習、STEM教育等議題在學校大力推行，香港的數學教育出現了不少的新變化，同時也面對世界其他地區推行素養為本的教育改革影響。本文透過回顧新學制推行以來香港數學教育的發展變化，評析數學課程實施中出現的問題和挑戰。本文發現香港數學新課程面對的問題是新舊並存，主要體現在照顧學習差異、延伸數學課程的學習、數學與STEM教育、中小學課程銜接、新式教學方法和策略、共通能力和數學素養的關係等方面。更新的課程內容已成既定事實，教師和教師教育者更需要以學養教師的心態反思經驗，發展自身的專業性，為下一輪課程改革做好準備。Since 2009, the Hong Kong Education Bureau has introduced a new academic structure for secondary education. The core subjects and contents in the school curriculum have been changed, and so did the public entrance examination. Within this decade, with the promotion of hot topics such as e-Learning and STEM education, the mathematics education in Hong Kong has undergone many changes, and in the meanwhile facing the influence of competency-based education reforms around the world. This paper aims to review the recent development of mathematics curriculum since the implementation of the new academic system in Hong Kong. The review finds that the old and new problems coexisted in the implementation of the new mathematics curriculum, which are mainly reflected in individual learning differences, the extended mathematics courses, the role of mathematics in STEM education, the transition from primary to secondary curriculum, the emerging teaching methods/strategies, and the relationship between generic skills and mathematical competency. The updated curriculum has become a fact. These require teachers and teacher educators to reflect on the past experiences, and with the attitude of a scholar-teacher, to develop their professionalism and prepare for the next round of curriculum reform. Copyright © 2021 高等教育文化事業有限公司.

This study examined pre-service primary teachers' (PSPTs) mathematics performance on a set of question items measuring at the sixth grade level in Hong Kong. These items covered the five learning strands of the local primary mathematics curriculum – number, algebra, measures, shape and space, and data handling. The participants of the study were 152 PSPTs who had chosen mathematics as a major in an undergraduate teacher education program. Their strengths and weaknesses in particular mathematics topics were identified. Across all four years of the teacher education program, only 6% of the participants were able to provide fully correct mathematical responses to all five items. Further, it is surprising that merely 14% of graduating cohorts achieved a full mark for the mathematical word problem that required them to show their working steps. These findings suggest that issues relating to the preparation of mathematics specialists should be further considered in primary mathematics education. Copyright ©Routledge.