Field Experience

Field Experience broadens participants' experience in classroom practice, and provides opportunities for reflection on their studies and teaching. Participants can improve their practice by testing out new ideas and applying pedagogical principles in classroom teaching.

Important Note: The University will ask students of our full-time teacher education programmes to declare whether they have been convicted of or are being prosecuted for any sex-related offence in Hong Kong or elsewhere, and to provide relevant details prior to undertaking teaching practice. Such information may be released to their placement schools. The University reserves the right not to allow these students to attend the block teaching practice. If so, they won't be able to meet the graduation requirements of the programmes.

Teaching Requirements

PGDE (Primary)

The medium of instruction in the vast majority of Hong Kong schools is Cantonese and/or English. Participants are required to possess a proficient level of language skills (oral, listening and written) to enable them to perform the duties during Field Experience.

For Full-time PGDE(P) Participants

Full-time participants will be arranged to undertake 4^# and 8 weeks of full-time block practice in Semester One and Two respectively in local Primary Schools. The teaching load for participants with Teaching Subject Studies 1 & 2 is normally 12-16 periods per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle (with a minimum of 4 periods per Teaching Subject Study) throughout the block practice period. 

For One-TSS route participants, they are required to have at least 8-12 periods of their chosen TSS per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle.

# except that FT PGDE(P) participants who have chosen English or Putonghua as their TSS1 will take part in the compulsory immersion programme in Semester One.

For Part-time PGDE(P) Participants

The part-time programme is primarily designed for serving teachers. Participants in the programme are required to fulfill the following teaching requirements for Field Experience;

1. About teaching periods

1. For participants having a full-time teaching post in primary schools ^{note 1}
   They are required to have a minimum of 4 periods ^{note 2} per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle for each of the two chosen Teaching Subject Studies during the course of study in the programme. 
    
2. For participants without a relevant teaching post
   They are required to make own arrangements to undertake 6 consecutive weeks of full-time block practice in primary schools ^{note 1} during the FE supervision period ^{note 3} in each FE and teach at least 12 periods ^{note 2} per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle for the two chosen Teaching Subject Studies (with a minimum of 4 periods per subject) throughout the block practice period.

For One-TSS route participants, they are required to have at least 8 periods ^{note 2} of their chosen TSS per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle.

2. About class setting and class size

All participants are required to conduct teaching / teaching practice in regular class settings with a minimum of 10 pupils in a class ^{note 4}.

3. About teaching mode

All participants are required to conduct teaching / teaching practice in simulated mode, virtual mode (synchronous and/or asynchronous modes) and authentic mode of classroom teaching as required by the programme / subject. In case of prolonged class suspension that the requirements of the authentic mode of classroom teaching cannot be fulfilled, an Extended School Attachment will need to be arranged.

Note 1: It refers to local primary schools adopting local primary school curriculum.
Note 2: Each period normally refers to a 30-40 minutes duration.
Note 3: FE Supervision period is normally from November to early May of the academic year.
Note 4: For special schools, the minimum number of pupils in a class is 8 according to the actual class size.

Notes to PT PGDE(P) participants choosing Special Needs as a Teaching Subject Study (TSS) 

For Teaching Subject Study of Special Needs, the teaching periods should be arranged in another chosen Teaching Subject Study to demonstrate understanding of and to cater for pupils with learning difficulties in classes. For example, a participant with TSS in General Studies and Special Needs is required to conduct Field Experience in General Studies subject during the course of study in the programme / throughout the block practice period. 

A summary of Field Experience Requirements for Part-time PGDE (Primary)/(Secondary) programmes is provided here for easy reference.

PGDE (Early Childhood Education)

For Full-Time PGDE(ECE) Students

Full-time students will be arranged to undertake 4 and 8 weeks of full-time block practice in Semester One and Two respectively in early childhood education settings in Hong Kong.

For Part-Time PGDE(ECE) Students

The two-year part-time PGDE(ECE) programme is designed for untrained teachers serving in early childhood education settings in Hong Kong. Students are required to teach a regular class of at least 10 children aged 3-6 years old with minimum of 3 hours per day for 10 consecutive days in Year One and 15 consecutive days in both semesters in Year Two for the supervisory teaching period.

PGDE (Professional and Vocational Education)

PGDE(PVE) programme caters for professionals involved in pathways that offer an alternative to academic studies such as career-oriented studies, associate degrees, vocational professional training and re-training. The programme aims to enable participants to develop and integrate the professional knowledge, skills and attitudes required for effective teaching and learning of professional and vocational education (PVE) in different settings, including Applied Learning context. Participants are required to hold a recognised degree or equivalent and a teaching position in a PVE context to undertake relevant teaching during the specified Field Experience (FE) Supervision Period to fulfill the following FE requirements:

1. About teaching setting and periods

Students are required to have a relevant full-time teaching post in local education institution(s) offering PVE related course(s) to fulfill the following FE requirements:

• To teach in PVE related discipline ^{note 1}
• To have a minimum of 5 periods of teaching for 4 consecutive weeks for FEI and 8 consecutive weeks for FEII with not less than 36 teaching hours in total for each FE during the Field Experience Supervision Period ^{note 2}
• To conduct teaching in regular class settings with at least 8 learners in a class

Note 1: The relevancy of the teaching subject / area is subject to review by FE Coordinator and supporting document(s) about the subject curriculum information may be required.
Note 2: FE Supervision Period is normally from October to April of the academic year.

2. About teaching mode

All students are required to conduct teaching / teaching practice in simulated mode, virtual mode (synchronous and/or asynchronous modes) and authentic mode of classroom teaching for FE. In case of prolonged class suspension that the requirements of the authentic mode of classroom teaching cannot be fulfilled, an Extended School Attachment will need to be arranged.