Faculty of Education - Theses

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    School organization as an internal teaching context : case studies of two Hong Kong aided secondary schools
    Wong, Siu-Chi ( 1996)
    In this study, school organization is investigated as a teaching context from the teachers' perspective. The study investigates the theoretical position that characteristics of the school organization affect teachers' job-related attitudes which, in turn, affect educational outcomes. A review of the literature shows that various characteristics of school organization are related to teachers' attitudes and performance and educational outcomes of schools. In this study, the case study approach is adopted and both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used. The teachers' job-related attitudes of two aided secondary schools in Hong Kong are analyzed. The internal teaching contexts of the schools are then described in terms of structural, cultural and social relations perspectives. Factors of school organization which may affect teachers' attitudes are identified. The findings from this study provide support for previous research into the influence of teachers' working environments or the internal context of teaching on school effectiveness. Implications for efforts directed at improving workplace conditions in Hong Kong secondary schools and an agenda for further research are discussed.
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    Attitudinal differences of gifted students to school, work, teachers, parents and friends: Chinese and Australian perspectives
    Aeschliman, Carol ( 1998)
    This study investigated the views, perceptions and attitudes of gifted Chinese and Australian students towards school, teachers, parents, work and friends. The sample consisted of 275 secondary school students in Hong Kong and Melbourne, Australia. The ages of the students ranged from 10 to 18, and there were over twice as many girls as boys. Literature reviewed for the study focused on relevant aspects of gifted education as related both to Chinese and Australian students. The study used survey methodology with a questionnaire requiring responses based on a five-point Likert scale. The results of the survey indicated that there were differences in attitude between Chinese and Australian gifted students in relation to friends, school, academic school work, teachers and behaviour at school. Chinese students did not generally feel as positive about school or as confident about their academic performance as their Australian peers. They were not as negative about their teachers, although they felt their teachers gave them too many tests and not enough advice. Chinese students also felt their parents expected more of them than did parents of the Australian sample. The findings of the study suggest that there are a number of significant differences in attitude which affect the performance of Chinese gifted students in Australian schools. The study offers therefore some support for the need for greater awareness of the social and academic needs of international students. Recommendations are also made for an extension of the role of international student coordinators, together with greater provision for professional development for both their E.S.L. and mainstream teachers.