Postgraduate Diploma in Education(Primary) Programme (Two-year ...

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN EDUCATION
(PRIMARY) PROGRAMME
Programme Code : C2P035
Mode of Study : Two-year Part-time
Programme Leader : Dr Pang I Wah
Programme Co-ordinator : Dr Ho Fuk Chuen
Programme Aim
The programme aims to provide teacher education for untrained graduate teachers in
Hong Kong primary schools to the standard required to obtain the qualified teacher status.
It is designed to further develop the teachers' professional knowledge and skills; their
awareness and understanding of life-long learning; and the responsibilities and obligations
that a professional teacher should possess and fulfill.
Programme Structure
This is a two-year part-time modularized programme consisting of 36 credit points (cp)
over two academic years. Programme participants will normally be required to attend two
evening classes (tentatively on Tuesday and Thursday for the first year) per week, each of
approximately 3 hours. Some Saturday sessions may be required. The Programme comprises
an orientation programme and the following components:
1. Teaching Subject Study 1 6 cp
2. Teaching Subject Study 2 6 cp
3. Professional Studies 10 cp
4. Optional Studies 6 cp
5. Field Experience 8 cp
SM

Orientation Programme
All programme participants must attend an orientation programme. During the orientation
week, participants will receive information about the programme, facilities and services
provided by the Institute and participate in an IT workshop.
Teaching Subject Studies
Teaching Subject Studies (TSS) are focused on the primary curriculum, teaching
methodologies and special features of the subject. Participants will choose two Teaching
Subject Studies, TSS1 and TSS2. For TSS1, participants already have knowledge in these
subjects in their first degree. TSS2 is designed to develop participants' basic competence
in a second teaching area. The subjects offered are:
ART
The Art subject study is inquiry-oriented and promotes participants' reflection along
the interwoven domains of art production, art history, art criticism, aesthetics as well
as a range of art and craft activities. The modules are designed to enhance programme
participants' knowledge and skills in various art forms, and their understanding of art
in cultural context.
Participants will be
expected to apply
theories and studio
experiences to their
classroom teaching.
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CHINESE
Please refer to the Chinese version of the Prospectus (P.42) for details.
ENGLISH
The English subject study is designed to enhance participants' knowledge about the
theoretical and empirical foundations of learning English as a second language.
Participants are also introduced to approaches, methods and strategies in teaching the
subject in the primary school curriculum.
Participants taking English as their Teaching Subject Study should note that exemption
from Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers (LPAT) requires a relevant degree
recognized by the Education Department AND relevant initial teacher education with
specialization in English and supervised English teaching practice. This programme is
recognized by the Education Department as providing initial teacher education which
can contribute to exemption, but all participants, including those with exemptions
from the LPAT, will be required to achieve the prescribed standard in classroom
language during the programme. They should also note that exemption from LPAT is
determined by the Education Department. Participants should refer to the Education
Department for the criteria and procedures for exemption. (For more details see
http://www.ed.gov.hk/aid/english/language/teacher/audit.htm.)
SO

GENERAL STUDIES
The General Studies subject study is designed to equip participants with the necessary
knowledge, skills and attitudes for the teaching of the subject. The modules focus on
the development of generic skills that are essential for learning in the information era
and for making sense of what is going on in society and the environment. Through
carefully structured learning experiences in the modules, participants will be
familiarised with the spirit and framework of inquiry and equipped with social and
scientific inquiry skills that are necessitated in the process of General Studies teaching
and learning.
MATHEMATICS
Participants will study mathematics and the teaching and learning of mathematics
through interesting investigations and a variety of pedagogical approaches. Issues to
be addressed include topics related to the primary mathematics curriculum, learning
theories, use of technology in teaching mathematics, initiatives in assessment, special
educational needs, recreational mathematics, and the development of mathematical
ideas. Teaching and learning will be enhanced through the use of facilities provided in
the Mathematics
Laboratory and
the Mathematics
Learning Centre of
the Institute.
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MUSIC
The Music subject study emphasizes on providing opportunities for participants to
acquire professionalism in music teaching. The modules of this programme allow
participants to conceive school music through the perspectives of curriculum, pedagogy,
literature, and assessment. These music education programmes enable participants to
effectively apply their degree-programme-trained musical knowledge and skills into
teaching situations in the primary school classroom setting.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The Physical Education subject study is designed to equip participants with the
professional competence to teach fundamental skills to junior primary school children,
and the more traditional physical activities such as athletics, gymnastics, swimming,
dance, fundamental movement, team ball games, racket ball games and outdoor
education knowledge to senior primary school children. Participants' subject level in
sports science and skills will be enhanced to teach competently and reflectively at
primary school level.
PUTONGHUA
Please refer to the Chinese version of the Prospectus (P.44) for details.
SQ

SPECIAL NEEDS IN EDUCATION
The participants will attain an understanding of the issues involved in special needs in
education. Strategies for teaching pupils with learning difficulties will be introduced.
Participants will also analyze the issues of providing support for pupils who, for a
variety of reasons, experience learning difficulties, regardless of the setting.
Remarks: All of the above subjects are available in both TSS1 and TSS2 areas, except
Putonghua which is only offered in TSS2 area.
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Professional Studies
Professional Studies (PS) provide theme-based content drawn from the area of educational
foundations. Content is selected to provide basic understanding in education and to link
with Teaching Subject Studies in order to prepare participants for the increasing professional
demands being made on primary teachers in Hong Kong. Professional Studies adopt a
constructivist approach and seek, through content, discussion and types of assessment, to
build upon participants' ongoing teaching experience as well as to assist them to relate
theory to practice.
Optional Studies
Optional Studies (OS) are offered in order to cater for participants' diverse needs. The OS
domain comprises both TSS and PS modules. Participants will select three optional modules
either from TSS or PS, or a combination of both. The PS optional modules aim to broaden
participants' knowledge and skills to meet the various needs of school development. The
TSS optional modules aim to compensate for any inadequacy in participants' subject
knowledge. The study of subject content knowledge is related to the primary curriculum
and subject teaching. As participants already have a degree relevant to TSS1, they are
allowed to select not more than one optional module in TSS1 area.
Field Experience
The Field Experience module comprises three components, educational experience
activities, field experience seminars and classroom teaching:
(a) The Educational Experience Activities include visits to kindergartens and international
schools, and peer lesson observations;
SS

(b) Field Experience Seminars aim to provide opportunities for participants to share and
organize reflective activities which include portfolio construction, peer observations,
school visits and teaching supervision; and
(c) In Classroom Teaching, participants can try out and test what they have learnt in the
Teaching Subject Studies and Professional Studies modules.
A list of the modules offered is shown in Appendix II.
Medium of Instruction
The medium of instruction is mainly Chinese. English is adopted as the language of
instruction for English subject study and in other appropriate modules.
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IT Competency in Education (ITCE)
Participants (in-service teachers) should note that attainment of the Intermediate Level of
IT competency is a requirement of the Education Department and a graduation requirement.
It is the policy of the Institute that IT components are integrated into the majority of modules.
A number of workshops assist participants to gain IT skills, but in the main, IT integration
is facilitated within modules. Participants, regardless of their teaching subject studies, are
expected to demonstrate and apply their IT skills and knowledge as appropriate, particularly
in the completion of assessment tasks, and when trying out lessons during their teaching.
For more details concerning the IT Competency in Education policy, please refer to the
related website: http://elite.ied.edu.hk/.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants should normally:
1. hold a recognized degree in a discipline related to their Teaching Subject Study 1 # in
the programme;
2. be employed as a teacher in a primary school, a special school, or a special education
setting;
3. be concurrently teaching the two subjects undertaken during the whole period of
study in the programme; and
4. have achieved a satisfactory level of result on the following interview(s)/written test(s),
if necessary:
a) General Suitability Interview; and/or
b) language test(s); and/or
c) subject test(s)/interview(s).
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# Applicants for English who do not hold a degree majoring in English are also welcome
to apply.

Teaching Requirements
On admission to the Programme, participants should have made arrangements with their
serving schools to ensure that they fulfill the teaching requirements for their assigned
subjects. During the whole period of study, they should be teaching a minimum of 4
periods per week in the two subjects undertaken in the Programme.
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