[Archive] Consultation Document on the Third Strategy on Information Technology in Education - FAQ

FAQs

Action 1

Q1.1	What is the purpose of developing a depository of curriculum-based teaching modules?
A1.1	To facilitate teachers to use the right technology at the right time for the right task, a web-based depository will be developed to provide teachers with practical advice on how to integrate IT into learning and teaching as well as for building up their IT capacity.

Q1.2	What will be the key components of the curriculum-based teaching modules?
A1.2	Each teaching module will include advice on how to use the appropriate digital resources, software or on-line tools for lesson planning, student activities and assessment.

Q1.3	How will the resources hosted in the Hong Kong Education City be correlated with those to be developed in the depository?
A1.3	The Hong Kong Education City will serve as a platform for the proposed depository of teaching modules whereby teachers can make reference to further integrate IT into learning and teaching by adapting the practical advice and the digital resources which will be organized in a more structured and accessible way to meet their needs.

Q1.4	Will both English and Chinese versions of the depository be developed?
A1.4	Both English and Chinese versions of the practical advice on how to use and integrate IT into learning and teaching will be provided. However, some of the digital resources, software or on-line tools suggested for learning and teaching may only be in one of the said languages as they are originally developed.

Action 2

Q2.1	What are the key dimensions of teacher professional development under the proposed Third Strategy?
A2.1	The content of teacher professional development will cover four dimensions, viz. technical knowledge, pedagogical integration, managing and leading IT as well as socio-cultural awareness.

Q2.2	What programmes will the Education Bureau organize to sharpen teachers' IT pedagogical skills?
A2.2	The focus in the teacher capacity building programmes will be pedagogical skills on integrating IT into learning and teaching as well as using IT for student-centred learning activities. Regular professional development programmes with stronger emphasis on pedagogical applications of IT in learning and teaching will be organized. New e-leadership programmes for school heads and senior teachers will be designed. To introduce the successful experiences gained by schools through participating in IT in education-related projects and to disseminate pedagogies related to useful applications of the depository, other modes of professional development programmes such as "school cluster" approach in which a number of schools that share a common pedagogical problem and wish to devote efforts to solve the problem through the use of IT will be adopted and the feasibility of the mode will be explored.

Q2.2

What programmes will the Education Bureau organize to sharpen teachers' IT pedagogical skills?

A2.2

The focus in the teacher capacity building programmes will be pedagogical skills on integrating IT into learning and teaching as well as using IT for student-centred learning activities. Regular professional development programmes with stronger emphasis on pedagogical applications of IT in learning and teaching will be organized. New e-leadership programmes for school heads and senior teachers will be designed. To introduce the successful experiences gained by schools through participating in IT in education-related projects and to disseminate pedagogies related to useful applications of the depository, other modes of professional development programmes such as "school cluster" approach in which a number of schools that share a common pedagogical problem and wish to devote efforts to solve the problem through the use of IT will be adopted and the feasibility of the mode will be explored.

Action 3

Q3.1	Why are schools encouraged to draw up their own IT in education development plans?
A3.1	A school-based IT in education development plan should be an integral part of a school development plan. It can facilitate cultural change and capacity building, and to foster collaborative efforts among school management, teachers and technical support staff for successful integration of IT into learning and teaching.

Q3.2	What kind of support will be provided to assist schools to draw up and implement their own IT in education development plans?
A3.2	The Education Bureau will develop an IT in education roadmap for schools’ reference and organize workshops for school management teams to develop and implement their IT in Education development plans in accordance with their needs and priorities.

Action 4

Q4.1	What resources will be provided to enable schools to maintain effective IT facilities?
A4.1	Schools are encouraged to make flexible and strategic use of various types of block grants to meet recurrent operating expenses, including the ongoing replacement / upgrade costs of IT facilities. Furthermore, the Education Bureau will continue to explore the feasibility of enhancing the flexibility of the recurrent resources disbursed to schools. It is also proposed in the consultation document that budget be set aside for schools to procure additional IT hardware and software to integrate IT into learning and teaching more extensively.

Q4.1

What resources will be provided to enable schools to maintain effective IT facilities?

A4.1

Schools are encouraged to make flexible and strategic use of various types of block grants to meet recurrent operating expenses, including the ongoing replacement / upgrade costs of IT facilities. Furthermore, the Education Bureau will continue to explore the feasibility of enhancing the flexibility of the recurrent resources disbursed to schools. It is also proposed in the consultation document that budget be set aside for schools to procure additional IT hardware and software to integrate IT into learning and teaching more extensively.

Q4.2	What is the basis for allocating about $200 million for the one-off grant to procure additional hardware and software? Any likely scenario on what a school may do with the one-off grant?
A4.2	The allocation of the one-off grant is estimated with reference to the Government's past investment in providing the IT facilities to schools and the schools' needs arising from their school-based IT in education development plans. With a commitment to drawing up their school-based IT in education development plans, schools may use the one-off grant to procure IT facilities such as projection systems, wireless LAN ready IT facilities (e.g. Pocket PC, Wi-fi ready notebook computer, etc.), network recovery and backup facilities, visualizers, and interactive whiteboard, etc.

Q4.2

What is the basis for allocating about $200 million for the one-off grant to procure additional hardware and software? Any likely scenario on what a school may do with the one-off grant?

A4.2

The allocation of the one-off grant is estimated with reference to the Government's past investment in providing the IT facilities to schools and the schools' needs arising from their school-based IT in education development plans. With a commitment to drawing up their school-based IT in education development plans, schools may use the one-off grant to procure IT facilities such as projection systems, wireless LAN ready IT facilities (e.g. Pocket PC, Wi-fi ready notebook computer, etc.), network recovery and backup facilities, visualizers, and interactive whiteboard, etc.

Q4.3	In what way will the EDB disburse the one-off grant? What will be the estimated amount per school?
A4.3	To cater to schools' expenses on upgrading and replacing of IT facilities and to align with the development needs at different stages, the EDB has disbursed grants to schools in different forms, such as "Matching Grant" and the "Composite IT Grant". Under this strategy, the EDB proposed to make reference to the number of approved operating classes in the 2007/08 school year when determining the total sum of grant for individual school. And, a flat rate per class will be adopted for all schools irrespective of their structure and category.

Q4.3

In what way will the EDB disburse the one-off grant? What will be the estimated amount per school?

A4.3

To cater to schools' expenses on upgrading and replacing of IT facilities and to align with the development needs at different stages, the EDB has disbursed grants to schools in different forms, such as "Matching Grant" and the "Composite IT Grant". Under this strategy, the EDB proposed to make reference to the number of approved operating classes in the 2007/08 school year when determining the total sum of grant for individual school. And, a flat rate per class will be adopted for all schools irrespective of their structure and category.

Q4.4	How can schools be ensured that they have enough resources to replace the obsolete equipment and procure emerging IT facilities useful to learning and teaching in future? Will there be any increase in the provision of recurrent grants to schools?
A4.4	The Education Bureau will continue to disburse recurrent resources to schools and keep review of schools' needs to cope with the advancement of technology and associated pedagogy. In this respect, schools are encouraged to make strategic use of appropriate facilities for the appropriate tasks at the right time which requires careful planning and prioritization of initiatives to recycle and reconsider the ways existing facilities are used and procure new facilities if necessary. In addition to meeting the recurrent expenses on the procurement of consumables, technical services, Internet access service, and the employment of school-based technicians, the Bureau will also explore the feasibility of expanding the scope of the recurrent Composite IT Grant (CITG) to allow schools to purchase IT hardware. Schools can also continue to apply for QEF funds to carry out relevant innovative measures in deployment of IT in learning / teaching.

Q4.4

How can schools be ensured that they have enough resources to replace the obsolete equipment and procure emerging IT facilities useful to learning and teaching in future? Will there be any increase in the provision of recurrent grants to schools?

A4.4

The Education Bureau will continue to disburse recurrent resources to schools and keep review of schools' needs to cope with the advancement of technology and associated pedagogy. In this respect, schools are encouraged to make strategic use of appropriate facilities for the appropriate tasks at the right time which requires careful planning and prioritization of initiatives to recycle and reconsider the ways existing facilities are used and procure new facilities if necessary. In addition to meeting the recurrent expenses on the procurement of consumables, technical services, Internet access service, and the employment of school-based technicians, the Bureau will also explore the feasibility of expanding the scope of the recurrent Composite IT Grant (CITG) to allow schools to purchase IT hardware. Schools can also continue to apply for QEF funds to carry out relevant innovative measures in deployment of IT in learning / teaching.

Action 5

Q5.1	What will be the measures to be taken to strengthen technical support to schools and teachers?
A5.1	Apart from the continual provisions to schools for hiring of technical support staff, the ITeHelp call centre service will be extended and a central technical support team will be set up at the Education Bureau to assist schools and teachers to overcome technical problems in implementing school-based IT in education development plans.

Q5.2	What support will the Education Bureau provide to ensure the smooth operation of IT resources in schools by technical support staff?
A5.2	The ITeHelp call centre service can serve to provide support to technical support staff for handling technical problems and facilitating their adaptation and development of technical expertise in the school environment. In response to the market situation and schools' operational needs, they may increase the Composite IT Grant (CITG) resources by virement of funds under other recurrent block grants in order to offer more attractive and competitive employment packages for technical support staff, if necessary.

Q5.2

What support will the Education Bureau provide to ensure the smooth operation of IT resources in schools by technical support staff?

A5.2

The ITeHelp call centre service can serve to provide support to technical support staff for handling technical problems and facilitating their adaptation and development of technical expertise in the school environment. In response to the market situation and schools' operational needs, they may increase the Composite IT Grant (CITG) resources by virement of funds under other recurrent block grants in order to offer more attractive and competitive employment packages for technical support staff, if necessary.

Action 6

Q6.1	What is the purpose of raising parents’ information literacy?
A6.1	To equip our students to meet the challenges of the information age, they should develop capabilities for life-long learning. As there is great potential for students to engage in on-line self-learning activities at home, it is envisaged that parents who are information literate can play a significant role in guiding their children to use IT ethically and legally for learning purposes at home.

Q6.2	Will there be any continual provisions of resources for schools to organize IT in Education related programmes for parents?
A6.2	Instead of direct disbursing special cash grants to schools, it is proposed in the consultation document that resources will be made available to commission non-governmental organizations to develop resources and programmes to empower parents to guide their children to use IT appropriately and intelligently for learning purposes.

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