General Education Learning Outcomes and Demographic Correlates in University Students in Hong Kong

Although there are studies showing that higher education would benefit university students, empirical research that comprehensively assesses student general education learning outcomes and related demographic correlates based on longitudinal data is minimal, especially in the Chinese context. To address the research gaps, the present study was conducted to investigate learning outcomes amongst university students in one university in Hong Kong based on a four-year longitudinal design (N = 460). Four dimensions of student general education learning outcomes were measured, including effective reasoning and problem solving, leadership, moral character, and integration of learning. Results suggested a U-shaped pattern of student learning outcomes for most dimensions, with no improvement or even a decrement in the second year and a steady growth thereafter. While family background did not affect student development, gender showed a significant moderating effect on students’ development in two dimensions (i.e., effective reasoning and problem solving, and integration of learning). These findings suggest that students benefit from general education-embedded university study in multiple dimensions, especially after the first year of transition period. Practical implications of the findings and future research directions were also discussed

Student classroom misbehavior: An exploratory study based on teachers' perceptions

This study aimed to examine the conceptions of junior secondary school student misbehaviors in classroom, and to identify the most common, disruptive, and unacceptable student problem behaviors from teachers' perspective. Twelve individual interviews with teachers were conducted. A list of 17 student problem behaviors was generated. Results showed that the most common and disruptive problem behavior was talking out of turn, followed by nonattentiveness, daydreaming, and idleness. The most unacceptable problem behavior was disrespecting teachers in terms of disobedience and rudeness, followed by talking out of turn and verbal aggression. The findings revealed that teachers perceived student problem behaviors as those behaviors involving rule-breaking, violating the implicit norms or expectations, being inappropriate in the classroom settings and upsetting teaching and learning, which mainly required intervention from teachers. © 2012 Rachel C. F. Sun and Daniel T. L. Shek.published_or_final_versio

To serve and to learn - students’ reflections of the service learning experience in serving the migrant children in Shanghai

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Secondary 1 training program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong: an evaluation based on program participants

A total of 1744 participants comprising 44 groups participated in a 3-day Secondary 1 Training Program of Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong. At the end of the training program, the participants were invited to respond to a subjective outcome evaluation. Results showed that the assessment tools are internally consistent. Descriptive statistics revealed that evaluations of the respondents are positive in terms of the training program content, interaction, trainers' performance, self-performance, administrative arrangement, and overall satisfaction. Overall satisfaction was predicted by training content, trainers' performance, self-performance, and interaction. Training content and trainers' performance explain half of the total variance. The present findings reiterate other studies regarding the effectiveness of the training program of Project P.A.T.H.S. in promoting the participants' knowledge, attitude, and skills in delivering the program.published_or_final_versio

[Book review] Evidence-based social work : a critical stand

2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Review of books or of softwareAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Objective outcome evaluation of the project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong : findings based on individual growth curve models

2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Personal construction of cough medicine among young substance abusers in Hong Kong

2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe