Book Description

This dissertation, "Investigating Problem-based Learning With ICT in Elementary School" by Wai-kin, Kenneth, Leung, 梁偉健, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract With the aid of ICT, student centered Problem Based Learning (PBL) is now globally being implemented, but the quality of learning outcome and the final product are varied. This is a qualitative action research conducted by a primary teacher of a Hong Kong private school in the academic year 2002-2003. With three years school based IT curriculum since 2000, this research on the ICT aided PBL is a preliminary analysis of the existing situation in school for further improvement. The objectives are basically to find out in what ways students have been enhanced through the ICT aided problem based learning. It is also hoped that the teacher can experience the new understanding of the authentic content and assessment criteria so as to provide an example of how to assess students in such pedagogy. This research is conducted in five primary 5 classes, in which six students from two classes were selected as the focus group to gather more in-depth information on students' learning. Classroom observation, video taking, interviews, questionnaires were deployed explicitly to examine the impact of the ICT aided PBL on the children at elementary level. The data indicated that students' learning became more collaborative and more student-centered, and they were more enthusiastic to speak in the classroom. The impact of PBL with ICT on student learning has been revealed with a constructive indication. During the research process, the teacher was appreciated by the outstanding students' involvement and response towards the ICT aided PBL activity, all student products are well developed. Also, the teacher has experienced the new insight on the development of authentic content and assessment which indicated the students' academic performance in multi-dimensions through the activity. In this report, it reflects the proper scaffolding from both teachers and parents are significant on such a new pedagogy. Also, there is a positive indication of authentic content and assessment can provide more information about the actual learning of student. Furthermore, the needs for the appropriate subject topic and information can lead to a more successful ICT aided PBL process. The report also discusses explicitly the implication and difficulties of implementation of PBL with ICT. DOI: 10.5353/th_b2962280 Subjects: Problem-based learning - Computer-assisted instruction - China - Hong Kong Education, Elementary - Computer-assisted instruction - China - HongKong