Mathematical literacy is becoming increasingly important and needs to be developed. However, various factors can affect students with different mathematical literacy patterns. This study aims to investigate the effects of students' backgrounds, attitudes toward mathematics, and information and communication technology (ICT) familiarity on the mathematical literacy of different patterns of students. The data of 15,478 secondary school students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan in China, who participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 was analyzed. It was found that students' mathematical literacy can be classified into four clusters: low, medium, moderately high, and high mathematical literacy. In addition, students' personal backgrounds, attitudes toward mathematics learning, and ICT familiarity can jointly predict mathematical literacy in different clusters. Students' economic, social, and cultural status (ESCS), self-efficacy toward formal and applied mathematics, and use of ICT outside the classroom for school activities are positive predictors common to all four clusters. Meanwhile, the other variables have mixed predictive effects on different clusters. Copyright © 2024 Springer.

Coding is a crucial foundation for young children's cognitive development that enhances their logical and computational thinking skills for long-term learning. This study examines how young children in Hong Kong acquire coding skills through integrated STEM activities. In an innovative educational program enacted in a technology-rich 'Creative Lab' with augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and a 3D printer, the study focuses on three children aged 6–8. An explanatory case study approach was employed to collect data from classroom observations and teacher interviews. Observations targeted children's learning progress in coding activities, while the interview unpacked the applied teaching repository. The findings reveal that young children developed early coding skills using various technologies to create and apply symbols. Three strategies scaffold children’s skills enhancement stemmed from situated learning theory: 1) integrating learning content in an authentic context, 2) leveraging learners' intuitive knowledge through inquisitive practice, and 3) providing immersive learning resources. Copyright © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

This study aims to assess the mathematics literacy levels of 15-year-old students participating in the PISA-2022 test, considering the impacts of the frequency of digital device usage, and the influence of printed and digital learning resources in the educational context across Estonia, Finland, China (Hong Kong), Croatia, and Turkey during COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a correlational survey research design, data were sourced from the PISA-2022 dataset, with the sample drawn from the specified target population encompassing students in the selected countries. The analysis involved one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression modeling. Across all countries examined, students using personal laptops, desktop computers, or tablets demonstrated higher levels of mathematical literacy compared to those utilizing other digital tools, except in Turkey where students employing their smartphones exhibited superior mathematical literacy. Furthermore, findings indicated a positive association between live lessons delivered by teachers at school through video communication platforms (e.g., EBA, Zoom™, Skype™) and mathematics literacy levels in all countries. Copyright ©2024 Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning.

This chapter explores the importance of STREAM education by adopting a school-based curriculum exemplar to elucidate the numerous benefits of linguistic, creative, and interdisciplinary development. In this curriculum exemplar, students invented and modified their Micro:bit devices, adopting the Design Cycle to assist individuals with diverse abilities. The STREAM project presented in this chapter exemplifies how STREAM education serves as a niche for cultivating positive humanistic values, exceptionally caring, empathy, and equal opportunity. The integration of ‘Reading across the Curriculum’ (RaC) has further enhanced their learning experience, promoting self-directed learning and fostering an understanding of equal opportunities and barrier-free society. The chapter highlights the transformative power of STREAM education in shaping students into well-rounded individuals with positive humanistic values prepared to make an affirmative impact in society. Copyright © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Huixuan Xu; individual chapters, the contributors.

Using an in-depth case study approach, this study explored the mathematics educational values held by two in-service teachers at the primary and secondary levels in Hong Kong through lesson observations and deep structured interviews. The findings revealed that the primary teacher emphasized fun, flexibility, critical thinking, and coherence, while the secondary teacher prioritized achievement, control, higher-order thinking, and progression. Using Seah and Bishop's five complementary pairs framework, the primary teacher aligned with an activist, relational, relevance, and accessibility perspective, contrasting sharply with the secondary teacher. This reflected a shift in values in response to students’ educational stages, revealing the challenges of balancing social expectations and nurturing future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent. We discussed the implications for local education reforms, including modernizing assessment methods and curricula, reshaping the social climate, and updating professional development to address these tensions. Copyright © 2024 The Author(s).

This empirical study aims to enhance group cohesion, a critical factor for collaborative learning success and immersion in inquiry-based coding activities in a metaverse platform – Learningverse. The study involved two classes of Grade 5 students engaging in a two-hour coding activity, which required them to assemble robotics using VEXcode GO and a Code Base in groups. An inquiry-based learning consisting of ‘engage, explore, create, explain, evaluate’ was adopted in the instructional design. Class A (23 students) as the control group conducted the activity in a traditional classroom setting; while, Class B (28 students) conducted the activity across the metaverse platform and physical classroom settings in an immersive, seamless learning environment. Data collection involved log data in the metaverse, questionnaire on immersion, pre-and post-domain and interviews. The findings show that students in the experimental group showed a higher degree of group cohesion and immersion than those in the control group; and students in the experimental group outperformed those in the control group in conceptual understanding. The study sheds light on the potential of the metaverse in enhancing group cohesion and immersion which, in turn, helps improve group learning performance in an immersive seamless learning environment. Copyright © 2024 The Education University of Hong Kong.

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.