Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Two-Year Part-Time)

Programme Director: Dr LEUNG, Allen Y L

This Postgraduate Diploma in Education is a taught programme to be completed in two years by part-time study. The overall aim of the programme is to provide degree holders with professional education for teaching in local schools. The programme enables students to develop their personal qualities, knowledge skills, abilities and philosophies thus putting them in a fit position to assume their roles within the teaching profession. The programme focuses on four key roles of a teacher: social and autonomous individual, facilitator of learning, educational innovator, and professional educator. The aims of the programme are:

Traditional Stream

1. To develop in students personal qualities which support their daily work and professional development. These personal qualities include interpersonal effectiveness, creativity, self-understanding, and the motivation and readiness for self-reflection and self-improvement;
2. To develop in students a functional knowledge of disciplines which informs educational practice. A functional knowledge of disciplines means basic knowledge of psychology, sociology and philosophy essential for the understanding of the aims and processes of education;
3. To develop in students expertise as subject specialist teachers in local schools. This expertise consists of effective strategies for the planning, conducting and evaluating of teaching of given school subjects; and
4. To develop in students knowledge essential for effective functioning within the profession and the wider school context. This knowledge encompasses issues in the professionalization of teaching, educational management, organization and policy.

Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

1. To develop in students expertise in subject knowledge and pedagogical skills pertaining to a specializing school subject which is not the major subject in their university study. The pedagogical skills include effective strategies for the planning, conducting and evaluating of teaching of this specializing subject;
2. To enhance teachers personal qualities which support their daily work and professional development. These personal qualities include interpersonal effectiveness, creativity, self-understanding, and the motivation and readiness for self-reflection and self-improvement.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the programme, graduates are able to:

Traditional Stream

1. Develop functional knowledge of psychology, sociology and philosophy that are essential for the understanding of the aims and processes of education.
2. Develop pedagogical content knowledge for effective teaching of given school subjects.
3. Develop essential knowledge for effective functioning within the profession.
4. Acquire effective strategies for planning, conducting and evaluating of teaching of given school subjects.
5. Enhance generic skills to support their daily works and professional development.
6. Demonstrate a reflective and sensitive mind in educational practices and social issues to uphold professional integrity and engage in life-long learning.

Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

1. Develop subject knowledge pertaining to a specializing school subject which is not the major subject in students’ university study.
2. Develop pedagogical content knowledge for effective teaching of the specializing school subject.
3. Acquire effective strategies for planning, conducting and evaluating of teaching of the specializing school subject.
4. Demonstrate a reflective and sensitive mind in educational practices and social issues.
5. Show commitments to uphold professional integrity and advancement of the profession.

Double Registration

Unless otherwise approved by the University, students admitted are normally not permitted to register part-time or full-time for any other qualification either at the University itself or at any other local institutions of higher learning. Students breaching this regulation are subject to discontinuation of their studies at the University.

Structure

The Traditional Stream consists of 26 units, comprising required courses, elective courses and Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment, to be taken in two years of part-time study. Students have to take 6 Required Courses (20 units), 1 Elective Course (2 units), and the Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment (4 units).

The Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream consists of 28 units, comprising Subject Teaching courses, Subject Knowledge courses and Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment, to be taken in two years of part-time study. Students have to take 2 Subject Teaching Courses (6 units), 6 Subject Knowledge Courses (18 units), and the Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment (4 units).

The Programme adopts a variety of teaching and learning strategies to support the classroom learning and teaching practice. The Programme is conducted through lectures, lecture-discussions, seminars, workshops, active learning, action learning, problem-based learning, e-learning, micro-teaching, supervised teaching practice, on-site peer observation, and criteria referenced assessment strategies. These strategies emphasize reflection, creativity and continuous development.

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

Requirements

For graduation, students must (1) complete a total of 26 units (for Traditional Stream)/28 units (for Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream), (2) obtain grade C- or above in all courses, (3) obtain a pass in Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment, and (4) achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher. To be awarded distinction for the programme, students should attain a cumulative GPA of 3.67 or above, with no course grade below B- and no repeated courses. Students attaining a cumulative GPA between 3.40 and 3.66 will be awarded merit.

Normally students should complete the programme in two calendar years. With special permission a student may extend the programme of study for a period of not more than 12 months. 

Traditional Stream

* The provision of electives, including options of EDUC 7901-9 Teaching of a Second Subject, will depend on students’ needs and resources of the Department.

English Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

Liberal Studies Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

Mathematics (Junior) Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

Physical Education Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream