The Postgraduate Diploma in Education is a one-year full-time taught programme. The overall aim of the programme is to provide university graduates with professional training for teaching in local schools prior to their joining the teaching profession. The programme is designed to help students to develop their knowledge, abilities, personal qualities and philosophies that enable them to adequately assume their roles within the teaching profession.

AIMS

1. To develop in students 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;
2. To develop in student 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 student 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 student knowledge essential for effective functioning within the profession and the wider school context. This knowledge encompasses issues in the professionalisation of teaching, educational management, organization and policy.

PROGRAMME INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (PILOs)

Upon the completion of the programme, graduates are able to:

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.
6. demonstrate a reflective and sensitive mind in educational practices and social issues to uphold professional integrity and advancement of the profession.

STRUCTURE

Students are required to complete a total number of 32 units consisting of eight required courses (18 units) and one elective course (2 units). Students must also satisfactorily complete the Integrated Practicum (12 units) to be taken in one year of full-time study. The Integrated Practicum includes the teaching of a specializing subject* (8 units), School Experience (0 unit) and Supervised Teaching Practice (4 units).

Structure of the programme is as follows:

Area A: Social and Autonomous Individual

Area B: Facilitator of Learning

Area C: Educational Innovator

Area D: Professional Educator

* Students of the English specialising subject are required to attend  a 6 – 8 week Immersion Programme in an English speaking country.

PROGRAMME DELIVERY

The Programme adopts a student-centred approach, using a variety of teaching strategies to support classroom learning and teaching practice. On-site supervision and peer observation are included in different aspects of the Integrated Practicum.

Students may be required to attend late afternoon classes and Saturday morning classes.

Normally students should complete the Programme in one calendar year.

Both Chinese and English languages are used in the Programme. The choice of medium of instruction depends on the nature of individual courses.

FIELD PRACTICE

Field Practice is an essential element of the Programme for pre-service teachers at Hong Kong Baptist University. It consists of two components: School Experience and Supervised Teaching Practice.

The purpose of School Experience is to introduce teaching in a school context and the roles of a teacher in schools. During this period, students are expected to pursue knowledge about schools and schooling from both theoretical and practical standpoints through observation, reflection, participation in school activities and classroom teaching.

Supervised Teaching Practice aims at providing an opportunity for student-teachers to integrate theories of education and teaching methodology in practice. To encourage constructive collegial exchange of pedagogic ideas, the host school will appoint a School Mentor to advise the student-teacher during Field Practice.

Students will be visited normally two times by supervisors from the Department of Education Studies. All visits will take place during the Supervised Teaching Practice Period and constitute the Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment. Students’ performance during this period will be formally assessed.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS & ACADEMIC AWARDS

To be eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education, students must:

1. complete a total of 32 units as required by the Department;
2. obtain Grade C- or above, or S where applicable, in all courses;
3. obtain Grade S in School Experience and Supervised Teaching Practice Assessment; and
4. achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or above.

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.