The e-learning readiness of teachers in Hong Kong

There is a common understanding that the twenty-first century will be a more globalized and knowledge-based era. In response to this rapid change, Hong Kong is trying to transform itself into an information society. A lot of education reforms were implemented in schools in the past few years. Having learn the lesson from the first IT plan (1998-2003), the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) released its second information technology strategic plan, focusing on the real change of pedagogy, the promotion of life-long learning and e-learning, the use of wireless technology as the extension of the existing wired network, and the new roles of parents as well as students in the life-long learning environment. This research aims at studying readiness of Hong Kong teachers regarding e-learning. Results indicate that teachers in Hong Kong are not very prepared to use e-learning technologies for teaching and learning. There are differences in readiness perceived between male and females, secondary school teachers and primary school teachers, and teachers of different secondary schools of different bandings.