Changing role of teachers: Enhancing development in the teaching profession through the learning centre scheme

The Learning Centre (LC) Scheme is a collaborative project between the Education Manpower Bureau, a primary school, a secondary school, and the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) for facilitating the implementation of the recent education reform in various key learning areas. As a pilot stage of the LC Scheme, the primary LC works on the subject of General Studies and the secondary LC focuses on the subject of Junior Secondary Science. Both LCs achieve the aim of facilitating professional development in their respective key learning areas through a web-based format, face-to-face teacher education workshops, and school-based supports. The LC teachers need to take up the role of cascading good practices in curriculum and pedagogical changes through working with other teachers in workshops and outreach school-based support. In carrying out these responsibilities, the LCs work with the HKIEd which provides mentoring and consultancy services, and evaluates the project. The project is structured into three phases: (1) initial stage in leadership or teacher development understanding, (2) the implementation stage (including teacher professional development workshops, web-based development opportunities and school-based support), and (3) the evaluation stage. Using structured interviews, we identified the professional development that the LC teachers experienced in the initial phase of the scheme, and the support and/or facilitating conditions they hope to obtain in later phases. Findings suggest that the LC teachers realize a new perspective in understanding learning and teaching from the standpoint of a teacher educator, by considering how to facilitate other teachers’ teaching by adopting innovative approaches. Both administrative and emotional support for the LC teachers are essential as in the implementation of other educational innovations. The paper concludes with recommendations for future development of the LC Scheme in terms of ways and conditions to support the LC teachers in realizing this meaningful mission.