Faculty of Social Sciences

Master of Social Sciences in Teaching and Learning

This is a taught postgraduate programme leading to the award of the degree of Master of Social Sciences in Teaching and Learning. The programme emphasises the importance of evidence-based research as a foundation for excellent educational practice, and for the development of students’ capacity for critical inquiry and professional reflection.

Aims

This programme aims to:

1.	Develop students’ leadership in curriculum planning and implementation;
2.	Advance students’ professional knowledge in emerging pedagogies for their own subject specialties through action learning; and
3.	Develop students into reflective practitioners and effective facilitators of learning.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the programme, graduates are able to:

Knowledge﹣
1.	Demonstrate an understanding of the key issues pertinent to leadership for curriculum and pedagogical change.
2.	Develop their professional knowledge of the advancement in pedagogical practices of their own subject specialties.
Skills﹣
3.	Interpret classroom data to inform curriculum development and pedagogical decisions.
4.	Lead change in curriculum design and pedagogical practice.
5.	Respond flexibly in catering for the different learning needs of individual students, including those with special needs.
Attitudes﹣
6.	Demonstrate an awareness of student diversity and its implications for curriculum design.
7.	Value the importance of advancing their practice through self-reflection and research evidence base.
8.	Alert to the latest development and advancement in curriculum and pedagogical design.

To cater for the changing needs for advancing teachers’ professional knowledge in emerging curriculum and pedagogical innovation, the programme comprises a variety of specialisms. Upon entry into the programme, each student must select one specific specialism and takes all core courses in that specialism together with the common core courses and elective courses. To address students’ diverse needs, the elective courses can be chosen from those stipulated in this Programme and the MEd programme. The specific concentrations offered may vary each year.

1. English Language Education Specialism

This specialism is intended for practising teachers and related professionals who seek to gain the professional knowledge and skills they need to advance their career. It addresses core issues in English Language Education and changes in English Language Teaching in both local and global contexts. Upon completion of the courses, the graduates will gain a better understanding of current advancements in ELT and more effective pedagogies for English language students in Hong Kong. With a sound knowledge of contemporary ELT issues and challenges and the latest developments in ELT curriculum and assessment planning, the students will be able to undertake critical reflective practice during the course of study.

Specialism Core Courses
	EDUM	7340	Contemporary Issues in ELT: Policy, Practice & Pedagogy in English Language Education	3 units
	EDUM	7350	Managing Change in ELT	3 units

2. Chinese Language Education Specialism

The specialism on Chinese language education is targeted towards teachers who have had basic training in language teaching in PGDE or other education programmes, and seek to further advance their knowledge and pedagogical designs in Chinese language education. Upon completion of the courses, the graduates will have a deeper understanding of the principles and spirit behind the new Chinese language curriculum. New teaching and learning strategies are to be addressed and implemented during the course of study. This specialism helps students conduct their own action research in their schools by realizing the important aspects in Chinese language teaching, such as the formulation of a school-based curriculum, new ways of assessment, new pedagogical approaches, the enhancement programme in Chinese writing, etc.

Specialism Core Courses
	EDUM	7360	Chinese Language Education in a Changing Context	3 units
	EDUM	7370	Creative Chinese Language Teaching	3 units

3. Mathematics Education Specialism

This Specialism is intended for school mathematics teachers at junior levels (P1 to S3) and cognate professionals. It caters for the changing needs of the professional community by advancing teachers’ critical awareness and understanding of the major contemporary curriculum and pedagogical issues, as well as curriculum and professional development matters. This Specialism aims at enabling students to: (1) develop greater awareness and appreciation of the importance of theory-driven and research-based mathematics teaching and assessment practices, and critical understanding of their implications for curriculum development; (2) develop knowledge and skills in action learning and reflective practices; and (3) develop curriculum leadership to advance mathematics education at junior levels.

Specialism Core Courses
	EDUM	7280	Theory, Research & Pedagogical Issues of Number & Algebra	3 units
	EDUM	7290	Theory, Research & Pedagogical Issues of Shape & Space	3 units

4. Liberal Studies Education Specialism

This specialism is intended for school teachers who have recently began teaching Liberal Studies or related subjects in secondary schools in Hong Kong. With special emphasis in the Senior Secondary LS curriculum, the specialism is designed to strengthen students’ subject knowledge and pedagogical abilities through integration of contemporary issues with pedagogies. It also aims to improve students’ facilitation of their students’ learning of LS through developing their professional skills in: (1) supervising student’s independent enquiry studies (IES), (2) supporting students’ enquiry with the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and (3) facilitating learning outside the classroom.

Specialism core courses
	EDUM	7380	Teaching Liberal Studies - Integrating Issues in Instruction	3 units
	EDUM	7390	Facilitating Liberal Studies Learning	3 units

5. Inclusive Education Specialism

Each year sees the emergence of new interventions and treatments for individuals with developmental disabilities, intellectual impairment and autism related disorders. With each new approach come advocates and skeptics. Leadership in inclusive education requires the ability to independently evaluate interventions, treatments, programs and approaches. In this specialism, students will learn how to identify and critically evaluate emerging trends in the education and treatment of children with developmental disabilities, intellectual impairment, autism and related disorders. This specialism is intended to develop student’s skills in the critical analysis of inclusive education interventions for children with developmental disabilities and intellectual impairment.

Specialism Core Courses
	EDUM	7400	Managing Learning Diversity in Inclusive Education Settings	3 units
	EDUM	7410	Teaching Individuals with Developmental Disabilities	3 units

The structure of the curriculum is as follows:

I)	Common Core Courses	9 units
II)	Specialism Core Courses	6 units
III)	Elective Courses	6 units
IV)	Reflective Practice & Independent Action Learning Project	6 units
		───────
		27 units

Requirements

For graduation, students must successfully complete a programme of study adding up to 27 units comprising three common core courses, two required specialism courses, two elective courses and a Reflective Practice and Independent Action Learning Project focused on a particular specialism and obtain (1) C- or above in all courses, and (2) a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.

I.	Common Core Courses			9 units
	EDUM	7310	Introduction to Theories of Curriculum & Assessment*#	3 units
	EDUM	7320	Leadership in Curriculum Development & Pedagogical Design	3 units
	EDUM	7330	Testing, Measurement & Assessment in Education	3 units

*	Students who have already completed a similar course at PGDE level with good performance or possess evidence of substantial working experience in the area of curriculum and assessment in school may choose to apply for exemption.
#	Students who have been exempted from taking this course may choose to take one elective course in Semester 1.

II.	Specialism Core Courses			6 units

III.	Elective Courses			6 units
Students are required to take two courses selected either from (1) the list of elective courses offered in this MSocSc in Teaching and Learning programme, or (2) core courses from other specialisms.
	EDUM	7270	Mathematics Curriculum Development at Junior Levels	3 units
	EDUM	7300	Theory, Research & Pedagogical Issues of Data Handling	3 units
	EDUM	7370	Creative Chinese Language Teaching	3 units
	EDUM	7420	Supervision & Mentoring in School	3 units
	EDUM	7430	Knowledge Building with Ubiquitous Technologies	3 units
	EDUM	7440	Teaching Chinese in Dialect Speaking Area	3 units

Subject to prior approval of the Department, students may choose their elective courses from the core and selected courses of the MEd concentrations.

IV.	EDUM	7451-2	Reflective Practice & Independent Action Learning Project	6 units
				──────
				27 units