The use of the observational learning in enhancing Hong Kong grade 5 students' Chinese argumentative structuring abilities

Paper Session - SIG Research on reading, writing and oraciesArgumentative writing has a highly hierarchical structure, and structuring is one of the important abilities involved in the students’ argumentation process. While the learning of text structure is important, few researches have paid attention to text structure in the process and products of writing. Following the Western studies which have explored the use of observational learning in writing studies in text process and writing products, the present study explored if observational learning can be used to enhance the argumentative structuring abilities in Grade 5 Chinese students in Hong Kong. The study was guided by the theoretical framework of Learning Study, a ...postprin

In what ways can Learning study contribute to the synergy between teaching, learning and research

Conference Theme: Towards a Reflective Society: Synergies Between Learning, Teaching and ResearchSession B17 - Paper Presentation: Teacher professional developmentBACKGROUND: In an era of high stakes accountability, language teachers struggle to improve teaching and learning Chinese for non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students. An effective professional development, learning study, was developed to support these teachers’ collaborative learning on a continuous and interactive basis. At a deeper level, university experts and kindergarten teachers worked together to experience the synergy between ...postprin

Understanding language teacher's culturally responsive teaching self-efficacy and its enhancement through learning study with young Chinese language learners

Paper Session - SIG L1 Teacher EducationBACKGROUND: Chinese language learners (CLLs) in Hong Kong mainly came from ethnic minorities (EMs) of South Asia. To preclude marginalization, education for EMs became a controversial issue. Frontline Chinese language teachers often encounter difficulties in teaching due to inadequate training. Though teachers play an important role in young CLL’s learning of ...postprin

Improving sustainability of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) by complementary and alternative medicine approaches (CAM) on reducing workplace stress of teachers.

This article argues that the sustainability of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be improved by the addition of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approach in helping teachers reduce their workplace stress. This is demonstrated by two clinical trials testing the effectiveness of a multi-component stress management program with the concurrent use of CBT and CAM approaches developed in Hong Kong. The multi-component stress management is shown to be effective in reducing and relieving stress-related emotional or psychosomatic symptoms. Meanwhile, the self-administered CAM techniques may serve to sustain the effects produced by CBT approach. This has the advantage of saving the additional resources needed from intervention by trained professionals such as occupational therapists and psychologists. Implications and future directions are discussedpublished_or_final_versio

A concept–relationship acquisition and inference approach for hierarchical taxonomy construction from tags

Author name used in this publication: W. M. WangAuthor name used in this publication: C. F. CheungAuthor name used in this publication: Adela S. M. Lau2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

A systematic review on the anxiolytic effects of aromatherapy in people with anxiety symptoms

Purpose: We reviewed studies from 1990 to 2010 on using aromatherapy for people with anxiety or anxiety symptoms and examined their clinical effects. Methods: The review was conducted on available electronic databases to extract journal articles that evaluated the anxiolytic effects of aromatherapy for people with anxiety symptoms. Results: The results were based on 16 randomized controlled trials examining the anxiolytic effects of aromatherapy among people with anxiety symptoms. Most of the studies indicated positive effects to quell anxiety. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: It is recommended that aromatherapy could be applied as a complementary therapy for people with anxiety symptoms. Further studies with better quality on methodology should be conducted to identify its clinical effects and the underlying biologic mechanisms. © 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.published_or_final_versio

A review of necrotising fasciitis in the extremities

Objective: To review currently available evidence on the epidemiology and methods of management for necrotising fasciitis, with particular reference to Hong Kong. Data sources and study selection: Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane Library searches of local and internationally published English language journals, from 1990 to July 2008 using the terms 'necrotising fasciitis', 'Hong Kong', 'diagnosis', 'epidemiology', 'vibrio', 'streptococci', 'clostridia', and 'management'. Data extraction: All articles involving necrotising fasciitis in Hong Kong were included in the review. Data synthesis: The incidence of necrotising fasciitis in Hong Kong and around the world has been increasing. This rapidly progressive infection is a major cause of concern, due to its high morbidity and mortality. Up to 93% of affected patients at our hospital were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and many still died from septic complications, such as pneumonia and multi-organ failure. Radical debridements in the form of amputations and disarticulations were considered vital in 46% of the patients. Early recognition and treatment remain the most important factors influencing survival. Yet, early diagnosis of the condition is difficult due to its similarities with many other soft tissue disorders such as cellulitis. Repeated surgical debridement or incisional drainage continues to be essential for the survival of sufferers from necrotising fasciitis. Many authorities have reported that carrying out the first fasciotomy and radical debridement within 24 hours of symptom onset was associated with significantly improved survival, which also emphasises the importance of early diagnosis. Conclusion: Clinicians must adopt a high index of suspicion for necrotising fasciitis. Empirical antibiotics must be started early and repeated physical examinations should be performed, while maintaining a low threshold for tissue biopsy and surgery. The timing of the first fasciotomy and radical debridement within a window of 24 hours from symptom onset is associated with significantly improved survival.published_or_final_versio

An International Reading Literacy Study: Factor Structure of the Chinese Version of the Student Questionnaire (PIRLS-SQCV 2011)

The student questionnaire (PIRLS-SQ 2011) of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) was designed to gather information from pupils on reading literacy development as to aspects of pupils’ self-lives, home, and school lives across countries/districts. In order to serve the purposes of research and international comparison, the questionnaire was translated into various languages. Using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the current study investigates the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the student questionnaire (PIRLS-SQCV 2011) and identifies its underlying factor structure among Chinese fourth-grade pupils in Hong Kong. A 10-factor structure model was identified and much resemblance could be drawn to the original PIRLS structure. While the similarity allows international comparisons of studies in different places following the PIRLS strategy, the findings of this study add to extant literature on the relationship between student factors and reading achievement.published_or_final_versio

Differentiation in key learning areas for gifted students in regular classes: A project for primary school teachers in Hong Kong

Gifted students usually require much less time spent in practising and revising basic skills; instead, they benefit greatly from opportunities to work through the curriculum at a faster pace (acceleration). Teachers currently working with mixed-ability classes do not always find it easy to differentiate their teaching approach in this way, so there is a need to facilitate in-service professional development to provide teachers with practical strategies for implementing effective differentiation for gifted learners. In response, a project for primary school teachers was organized by a university in Hong Kong. The purposes of the project were (a) to enhance the confidence of teachers in planning and delivering differentiated lessons in specific key learning areas (KLAs) with particular reference to gifted students; (b) to empower teachers with knowledge and strategies necessary for designing and implementing a differentiated curriculum in KLA domains and (c) to establish a professional development practice that connects local academics with schools and teachers. The project was implemented by inviting curriculum leaders, panel chairpersons and subject teachers from primary schools to attend a 3-hour lecture and a 6-hour workshop in which differentiation practices were explored. The project was later evaluated based on feedback from participants and university consultants. Overall, the feedback was positive, but suggestions are provided here for enhancing future projects of a similar nature.postprin

The endocrine disruptor TCDD modulates microRNA expression in preimplantation mouse embryos and spheroids attachment on human endometrial epithelial cells in vitro

Conference Theme: The Intersection Between Genetics, Genomics, and Reproductive BiologyThe endocrine disruptor (ED) is an exogenous substance that acts on the endocrine system and modulates normal physiological functions of the body. Although EDs such as 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) affect normal reproductive function in humans and affects the growth and reproductive functions in rodents, the underlying mechanism that modulates these changes remains unclear. Accumulating evidence suggested preimplantation embryo development is controlled by ...postprintThe 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), Milwaukee, WI., 30 July-3 August 2010. In Biology of Reproduction, 2010, v. 83 Meeting abstracts, p. 62, abstract no. 27