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

This Postgraduate Diploma in Education is a taught programme to be completed in two years by part-time study. The primary aim of the programme is to provide professional training for local school teachers who have obtained a bachelor's degree in an academic discipline. In the capacity of a teacher, a person may have to assume several roles in the education circle, some being more prominent than others at different stages of his or her career. The roles identified to be the focus of this programme are those of: a social and autonomous individual, a facilitator of learning, an educational innovator, and a professional educator. The objectives of the programme are:

Traditional Stream

  1. To develop in students personal qualities which support their 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 professionalisation of teaching, educational management, organisation and policy.

Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

  1. To develop in students expertise in subject knowledge and pedagogical skills pertaining to a specialising 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 specialising subject; and
  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; and
  6. Demonstrate a reflective and sensitive mind in educational practices and social issues to uphold professional integrity and advancement of the profession.

Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

  1. Develop subject knowledge pertaining to a specialising school subject which is not the major subject in students’ university study;
  2. Develop pedagogical content knowledge for effective teaching of the specialising school subject;
  3. Acquire effective strategies for planning, conducting and evaluating of teaching of the specialising school subject;
  4. Demonstrate a reflective and sensitive mind in educational practices and social issues; and
  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 structure of the curriculum is as follows:

Traditional Stream

I) Required Courses 20 units
II) Elective Course 2 units
III) Field Practice Course 4 units
    26 units

Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream

I) Subject Teaching and Field Practice Courses 10 units
II) Subject Knowledge Courses 18 units
    28 units

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

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 grade S 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

I. Required Courses 20 units
  EDUC7270 Professional Teacher Development 4 units
  EDUC7280 Education Foundations 4 units
  EDUC7391 Subject Teaching I 3 units
  EDUC7392 Subject Teaching II 3 units
  Either  
  EDUM7480 Classroom Management and Communication (Primary School Focus)  3 units
  Or  
  EDUM7500 Classroom Management and Communication (Secondary School Focus)  3 units
  Either  
  EDUM7490 Curriculum and Assessment (Primary School Focus)  3 units
  Or  
  EDUM7510 Curriculum and Assessment (Secondary School Focus)  3 units
     
II. Elective Course* 2 units
  Each student must select one course from the elective courses listed below. Students will be advised to base their decisions on their interest as well as the relevance to their career development.
  Area A: Social and Autonomous Individual  
  EDUC7070 Student Self Development 2 units
  EDUC7110 Psychology of Adolescence 2 units
  EDUC7150 Creative and Critical Thinking 2 units
  EDUC7230 Advanced Communication Skills 2 units
     
  Area B: Facilitator of Learning  
  EDUC7170 School Guidance 2 units
  EDUC7200 Information Technology in Education 2 units
  EDUC7901 Teaching of a Second Subject (Chinese) 2 units
  EDUC7902 Teaching of a Second Subject (Information and Communication Technology) 2 units
  EDUC7903 Teaching of a Second Subject (History) 2 units
  EDUC7904 Teaching of a Second Subject (Mathematics) 2 units
  EDUC7905 Teaching of a Second Subject (Economics) 2 units
  EDUC7906 Teaching of a Second Subject (Putonghua) 2 units
  EDUC7907 Teaching of a Second Subject (Science Education) 2 units
  EDUC7908 Teaching of a Second Subject (Liberal Studies) 2 units
  EDUC7909 Teaching of a Second Subject (Geography) 2 units
  EDUM7540 Introduction to STEM Education 2 units
     
  Area C: Educational Innovator  
  EDUC7130 School Management and Decision Making 2 units
  EDUC7180 Action Learning in the Classroom 2 units
     
  Area D: Professional Educator  
  EDUC7100 Education System and Policy in Hong Kong 2 units
  EDUC7140 Teaching as a Profession 2 units
  EDUC7290 Moral and Civic Education 2 units
     
III. Field Practice Course 4 units
  EDUC7930 Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment 4 units
    26 units

* 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.

Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream – English

I. Subject Teaching and Field Practice Courses 10 units
  EDUC7391 Subject Teaching I 3 units
  EDUC7392 Subject Teaching II 3 units
  EDUC7930 Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment 4 units
     
II. Subject Knowledge Courses 18 units
  EDUC7660 Phonetics and Phonology 3 units
  EDUC7670 Lexis, Morphology and Semantics 3 units
  EDUC7680 Grammar for Teaching 3 units
  EDUC7690 Written and Spoken Discourse 3 units
  EDUC7700 Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics in English Language Teaching 3 units
  EDUC7710 Literature and Language Arts 3 units
    28 units


Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream – Liberal Studies

 I. Subject Teaching and Field Practice Courses 10 units
  EDUC7391 Subject Teaching I 3 units
  EDUC7392 Subject Teaching II 3 units
  EDUC7930 Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment 4 units
     
 II. Subject Knowledge Courses 18 units
  EDUC7870 Self and Personal Development 3 units
  EDUC7880 Globalization Studies 3 units
  EDUC7920 Issues in Hong Kong Society and Culture 3 units
  EDUC7940 China and Chinese Culture in Global Society 3 units
  EDUC7950 Public Health 3 units
  EDUC7980 Energy Technology and the Environment 3 units
    28 units


Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream – Mathematics (Junior)

 I. Subject Teaching and Field Practice Courses 10 units
  EDUC7391 Subject Teaching I 3 units
  EDUC7392 Subject Teaching II 3 units
  EDUC7930 Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment 4 units
     
 II. Subject Knowledge Courses 18 units
  EDUC7420 Foundational Mathematics 3 units
  EDUC7430 Development in Mathematical Thinking 3 units
  EDUC7440 Understanding Number Theory 3 units
  EDUC7460 Geometries in Perspective 3 units
  EDUC7470 Statistics and Society 3 units
  EDUC7990 Mathematics in Action—Applications of Contemporary Mathematics 3 units
    28 units


Subject Teaching and Subject Knowledge Stream – Physical Education

 I. Subject Teaching and Field Practice Courses 10 units
  EDUC7391 Subject Teaching I 3 units
  EDUC7392 Subject Teaching II 3 units
  EDUC7930 Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment 4 units
     
 II. Subject Knowledge Courses 18 units
  Two of the following courses: 
  EDUC7770 Scientific Foundations of Physical Education in Schools 3 units
  EDUC7780 Humanities and Social Sciences Foundations of Physical Education in Schools 3 units
  EDUC7790 Independent Inquiry Study in Physical Education 3 units
   
  Four of the following courses: 
  EDUC7800 Athletics and Swimming in Schools 3 units
  EDUC7810 Dances and Gymnastics in Schools 3 units
  EDUC7820 Ball Games in Schools 3 units
  EDUC7830 Racket Games in Schools 3 units
  EDUC7840 Outdoor Pursuit and Tai Chi in Schools 3 units
  EDUC7850 Fundamental Movement and Fitness Training in Schools 3 units
    28 units

 

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