A case study on the implementation of information technology education pilot scheme in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Special Administration Region Government is promoting the use of Information Technology (IT) in education. A two-year IT-pilot scheme was launched among 10 primary and 10 secondary schools. This project aimed to study the planning and implementation of the pilot schools by adopting a case-study approach. Nine primary schools were studied. Data were collected via interviews, observations, and examinations of artefacts such as teaching plans, school web sites, and samples of students' work. A typical primary pilot school had two multimedia computer rooms, computer(s) in each classroom, and computers for teachers. All computers were connected to a LAN and the Internet. The findings of the study indicated that some formal school policies were emerging while the others were articulating. Some teachers accessed regularly to the IT facilities in their work especially for those schools provide individual portable computer and ceiling-mount digital projector in each classroom. Most students used computer once a week in computer awareness lessons. Most schools were planning to integrate IT to all primary curricular areas by developing or selecting courseware materials. Most schools were organising school-based training of developing teachers' competencies in using technology for teaching. Implications of these findings were discussed. Copyright © 1999 IOS Press.