An extended professional development programme for specialist computing teachers in Hong Kong

Abstract

This paper describes how two nominally independent programmes, which are offered by independent institutions in different countries, have been combined to form one effective co-ordinated scheme of study that provides school teachers with a part time developmental programme leading to the award of M.Sc. Degree. The first "conversion" programme is designed for graduates with little or no knowledge of computing. Here each student develops their underpinning knowledge and practical skills within computing. The second "advanced" programme is chosen to provide teachers with an opportunity for professional development at an advanced level within the area of computing and to mix with other graduate-level people with industrial experience in computing. The paper first explores the background to the development, identifying needs within Hong Kong which make the development appropriate. The nature and strengths of each of the contributing programmes are then presented. This is followed by a discussion of the rational for providing a coherent route through the two individual programmes. The remainder of the paper concentrates on the M.Sc. Provision, identifying issues in the integration of student groups and the management of dissertations across the sets of students from two different backgrounds. The paper concludes with a summary of the lessons learnt from the development and early operation of the scheme.