A new attempt in initial teacher education in Hong Kong: The Cooperating Teacher Scheme

May Hung May CHENG, Lai Wah WONG-YU, Siu Cheung KONG, Wing Mui Winnie SO, Ping Yan CHOW

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Abstract

Though the notion of a mentor or cooperating teacher in initial teacher education has been implemented in other countries for many years (Haberman, 1971; Spillane & Levenson, 1976), it was first attempted in initial primary teacher education in Hong Kong only in 1994. The present study aims to investigate this new attempt by the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) to foster supporting relationships in teacher education. The paper focuses on the Cooperating Teacher Scheme (CTS) as a learning experience for student-teachers and the different roles of the school, cooperating teachers, and HKIEd lecturers. The study includes a quantitative component and a qualitative component. Eighty schools were selected randomly from a list of 130 schools participating in the Scheme in 1995-96. Four agents, viz. school heads, co-operating teachers, lecturers and student-teachers involved in the CTS were invited to complete a questionnaire and representatives from each category were interviewed. The findings consider student-teachers' learning as well as varying perceptions of the roles of the four agents in the scheme. Based on the findings, implications of the CTS in initial and further teacher education as well as the collaboration between schools and the Institute are drawn. Copyright © 1998 Routledge.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)39-51
JournalAsia Pacific Journal of Education
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1998

Citation

Cheng, M. M. H., Wong Yu, L. W., Kong, S. C., So, W. W. M., & Chow, P. Y. (1998). A new attempt in initial teacher education in Hong Kong: The cooperating teacher Scheme. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 18(2), 39-51.

Keywords

  • Co-operating teacher
  • Student-teacher learning
  • Teacher education
  • Institute-school collaboration
  • Field experience

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