Research and Development Projects

A.   Non-UGC Fund

1. An investigation of good practices to enhance English language teaching in English medium and Chinese medium schools in Hong Kong (February 2003 - September 2004) (Project Leader) (Education and Manpower Bureau, Hong Kong Government Consultancy Study) (Amount: $2.96 m HK + $.09 m additional funding)
2. TeleNex Project (Director) (1993 - 2005)
   
   (Total amount of funding awarded: $58.57m HK cash + $1.4m hardware support + communication lines.)
   
   This project involves the setting up of the Teachers of English Language Education Centre (TELEC) and a wide-area computer network called Teachers of English Language Education Nexus (TeleNex) to provide professional support to English teachers in Hong Kong and to conduct research on the use of I.T. in enhancing teachers' professional development. For publications generated by this project, see the TeleNex website.
   
   

   Year	Source of funding	Cash secured	Hardware
   1998 - 01	QEF	$ 30m.
   1997 - 98	Hong Kong Jockey Club	$ 6.15m.	communication lines
   1996 - 97	H.K. Govt. Language Fund
   	H.K. Telecom Foundation		communication lines (0.20m.)
   	H.K. Telecom (IMS)		technical support + consultancy
   1995 - 96	H.K. Govt. Language Fund	$ 8.7m.
   	H.K. Telecom Foundation		communication lines (0.20m.)
   1994 - 95	H.K. Telecom Foundation	$ 3m.	communication lines
   1993 - 94	H.K. Telecom Foundation	$ 2.76m.	$1.4m (computers, etc.) + communication lines

3. Unified Professional Development Project (Project Leader) (1998-2003)
   Source of Funding: QEF (1998-2000: $12,156,400 HK; 2000-2003: $9,450,000 HK)
   
   This is a departmental project which aims to provide to a richer experience for student teachers during their practicum in partnership with schools. Research is also being conducted on the professional development of student teachers and mentor teachers as well as the effective of the scheme.
   
   Website: http://updp.hku.hk/
4. Chinese as a Medium of Instruction Centre (CMI Centre) (1998-2003) (Principal-investigator)
   Source of Funding: QEF (1998-2001: $11,550,455; 2000-2003: $21,334,900)
   (Co-Principal investigators: SK Tse, M.S.K. Shum, and Ki Wing Wah)
   
   This project sets up a computer network and conducts workshops to provide professional support to all teachers teaching in Chinese medium schools. Research on the classroom discourse and learning in English and Chinese medium schools are also being conducted.
   
   Website: www.cmi.hku.hk/index.htm
5. The impact of the medium of instruction on students' self-esteem, motivation, learning strategies.1998-2003) (Principal investigator)
   Funding Source: internal research grant $1.3m
   (Co-investigator: Farideh Salili, Department of Psychology)
   
   This project is a three year longitudinal study on the effect of the choice of medium of instruction has on students' self-esteem, motivation, and learning strategies.

B.   RGC Funded

1. Completed
   
   "An investigation into the impact of school-university partnerships in teacher education in Hong Kong (Co-investigator) (Nov 2000-Dec 2002)
   Amount awarded: $807,817.00 HK.
   Principal investigator: J. Day, Faculty of Education
2. Completed
   
   "The application and effectiveness of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in the professional development of English Language teachers in secondary schools in Hong Kong. (Principal investigator) (Sept 1994-Aug 1998)
   Amount awarded: $951,000.00 HK.
   
   This research project investigates the effect of participation in CMC, specifically TeleNex, on the subject knowledge, teaching competence and confidence of secondary school English teachers in Hong Kong. It also examines the patterns of conference interaction on the network.