Overview

Programme Aims

This programme aims to equip secondary school teachers with sound knowledge and hands-on practices of e-Learning pedagogies specific for English teaching, and strengthen teachers’ both competence and confidence in delivering and sustaining e-Learning in secondary English curriculum.

On successful completion of the programme, participants will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical underpinnings for realising student-centered language learning in the paradigm of learning and teaching for the secondary school curriculum;
• advance knowledge about principles and strategies of pedagogical integration of e-Learning elements for realising student-centered learning;
• apply knowledge and skills of pedagogical principles and strategies for integrating e-Learning elements into subject-specific pedagogical designs for the English curriculum in Hong Kong; and
• strengthen both competence and confidence in delivering and sustaining e-Learning in secondary English curriculum.

Programme Structure

The programme comprises the following three core courses of 3 credit points each:

Pedagogical Design and Practices in e-Learning Environment

This course will start with an introduction to the general contexts and pedagogical goals of e-Learning environments for achieving active, constructive and interactive learning and authentic learning under the learner-centered learning paradigm. There will be a discussion about the generic principles for the design and practice of pedagogies premised on theoretical models, frameworks and strategies such as the Technical Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, Mobile Learning, Seamless Learning, and Flipped Classroom pedagogical models respectively in e-Learning environments. Participants will be engaged in a reflection on how teachers’ knowledge of pedagogical designs, disciplinary contents and technological applications interact with each other and contribute to effective learning and teaching in e-Learning environments.

Effective Use of e-Resources in Secondary English Classrooms

This course introduces a wide range of e-resources and their applications in promoting effective English teaching and learning in Hong Kong secondary schools. The course provides secondary teachers with principles, concepts and pedagogical practice that will help to integrate e-resources into their school-based English curriculum. Focus will be given to using e-resources to achieve objectives of Key Stages 3 and 4 of the English subject curriculum, including integration of classroom and independent learning; life-wide learning; IT for interactive learning, and catering for learner diversity. The course will facilitate teachers in arousing students’ interest in English, increasing their interaction and collaboration with teachers and other English language learners, and assisting them to be more flexible, independent, motivated and engaged in their own learning, thus developing life-long language learning skills. The effective evaluation of e-resources will also be included. IT resources covered in the course include a variety of readings, websites, software packages and hardware tools appropriate to the learning needs of secondary students.

Sustainable Development of e-Learning in Schools

This course will explore different resources and strategies to continue developing a sustainable e-Learning environment in school for a key learning area at both short term and long term, such as school-based planning, project funding, project management, teachers’ professional development activities, and learning resources deployment. The course provides participants with conceptual and practical experience in developing a feasible e-Learning development plan and proposal for funding an e-Learning project to be implemented at school upon the completion of the course. Relevant planning and project management models will be introduced as the guiding framework to develop school-based e-Learning plan and project proposal. Participants will be engaged in intellectual learning design and interactive discussions throughout the study. The aim is to stimulate sustainable ideas for future learning and teaching demands with digital environment at schools.

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction is English.

Entrance Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants should be:

• in-service secondary school English language teachers; and
• recommended by school principals.

Award

To be awarded a Certificate of Completion, participants must obtain a pass in all assessment tasks required and successfully fulfill the attendance requirements as stipulated by the programme.

Other Information

This Government-funded programme is supported by the Education Bureau (EDB). Schools which release teachers to take this programme are eligible for supply teachers, if deemed necessary. Government and aided schools shall contact the EDB for detailed arrangements. Private and DSS schools shall make their own arrangements for the employment of supply teachers.

Participants who complete our PDPs are eligible to apply for credit transfer if they enroll in our postgraduate programmes. Their applications will be considered on an individual basis.