This dissertation, "The Relationship Between Teacher Self-efficacy, Beliefs and Teaching Practices for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders in Hong Kong Mainstream Kindergartens" by Ka-wei, Elsa, Ling, 林家慧, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: According to the Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) proposed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), early childhood education programme should be able to promote social competence of children through play, child-centered and interactive group activity. The prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has increased tremendously over the last two decades. Both the Hong Kong Education Bureau and NAEYC advocate a play-based and child-centred teaching approach and believe that applying the approach in pre-primary education programmes can provide more socialization opportunities to young children including children with ASD enrolling in integrated programmes in mainstream kindergartens. To what extent does Hong Kong kindergarten teachers of integrated programmes with children with ASD apply the DAP beliefs in actual practices in inclusive classroom? To what extent does Hong Kong kindergarten teacher's self-efficacy for inclusive practices mediate the relationship between their DAP beliefs and teaching practices in inclusive classroom? How are teacher qualifications and work experiences related to teacher self-efficacy and their DAP teaching practices in kindergarten inclusive classroom? One hundred and forty four Hong Kong kindergarten teachers of inclusive classes with children with ASD participated in the study. Teacher Self-efficacy Scale (TSE), Teacher Belief and Practices Survey (TBS) and the Instructional Activities Scale (IAS), were used to measure teacher self-efficacy, DAP beliefs and teaching practices in inclusive classroom respectively. Items specific to catering for children with ASD were included in each scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to validate the three scales used. Results of path analysis using structural equation modelling showed that teacher self-efficacy had a significant mediating effect on the relationship of teacher DAP beliefs and teaching practices. Efficacious teachers were more likely to adhere to their DAP beliefs and conduct more child-centered activities for both groups of typically developed children and children with ASD. Correlation suggested that teacher self-efficacy is related to both work experiences and DAP teaching practices. Experienced teachers had higher level of teacher self-efficacy and more likely to confront challenges in inclusive classes than less experienced teachers. ANCOVA results showed that the main effect of teacher qualifications on both DAP beliefs and teaching practices were not significant. Yet, teachers who received training in programmes concentrated on pre-primary inclusive and special education were found to have higher teacher self-efficacy than those who had not undergone those training. While the enhancement of teachers' teaching skills and knowledge is an essential element in any teacher training programme, the empowerment of teacher self-efficacy is equally important. Overall, the findings in the present study underscore the importance of teacher self-efficacy in understanding teacher DAP beliefs and teaching practices in inclusive classroom in Hong Kong kindergartens. Subjects: Children with autism spectrum disorders - Education (Early childhood) - China - Hong Kong Kindergarten teachers - China - Hong Kong - Attitudes

In this book the editors have been able to provide a snapshot of current research being undertaken in the Asia-Pacific region in regards to teacher self-efficacy beliefs. This includes specific focuses on inclusive teaching, professionalism, subject domains, collective efficacy as well as specific contexts of early childhood education and care, primary schools education, special needs schools and teacher education. This allows the reader to begin to develop an understanding about the complexity of teacher self-efficacy as well as the development and relationship between self-efficacy and other theoretical constructs and concepts. The book begins with an overall summary of research in the Asia-Pacific region before moving to a specific focus on research in different countries. All of the chapters also provide hope to the reader about the possibilities of understanding and supporting teachers and schools beliefs to enhance teacher behaviour. Through the implementation of teacher self-efficacy beliefs into educational contexts, teacher education programmes and professional development programmes, there is strong hope that the outcomes of education systems in supporting all students in their learning can be achieved. By allowing teachers to develop their own sources of efficacy and supporting these through all stages of career development, all children can be supported in their own learning.

The book describes kindergarten teachers' self-efficacy beliefs in the context of implementing the kindergarten curriculum in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana.It highlights kindergarten teachers' self-efficacy beliefs in instructional practices, classroom management and students engagement. It is surprising to note that the kindergarten teachers have high sense of efficacy beliefs despite their low academic and professional background.It also reveals that institutional placement does not influence teachers' self-efficacy beliefs but the training background does to some extent. The implication for theory and practice is discussed in line with the reviewed of related literature. The book is highly recommended for all educators, especially early childhood practitioners.

This thesis applied psychological theory to examine teachers' explicit and implicit beliefs towards working with children with intellectual disabilities (ID) in the mainstream classroom. The impact of these beliefs on reported inclusive teaching practices was also examined. One pilot and three larger studies were carried out. The pilot study tested a Theory of Planned Behaviour measure which aimed to assess the impact of social cognitive variables on teachers' reported behaviour. Using the think aloud protocol, the face validity of the measure was confirmed and areas in which the questionnaire was difficult to complete were addressed. The first study then utilised this questionnaire to assess teachers' attitudes, social norms and perceptions of control towards inclusive teaching. Actual teaching practices were reported two weeks later. Results identified self-efficacy as the most important predictor of reported inclusive behaviour. Further, attitudes, perceptions of other staff and control were important in predicting self-efficacy, suggesting a role of the school environment. Study 2 aimed to extend these findings by examining predictors of teacher self-efficacy. Results confirmed the relationship between self-efficacy beliefs and reports of inclusive teaching. School ethos (collective efficacy and perceptions of the school climate) and mastery experiences were found to predict teachers' efficacy beliefs. Study 3 then tested the impact of teachers' automatic beliefs on reported inclusive behaviour using the Motivation and Opportunity as Determinants model. Teachers' implicit attitudes were measured using a version of the Implicit Association Test and a questionnaire was used to assess explicit inclusive attitudes, self-efficacy beliefs and reported inclusive behaviours. Teachers' automatic beliefs towards children with ID did not relate to reported inclusive behaviour. Again, only self-efficacy beliefs were found to be important to the prediction of reported inclusive behaviour. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed with suggestions for professional development and teacher training.

A unique feature of Learning Diversity in the Chinese Classroom is its Chinese context for meeting the educational requirements of children with special needs. At a time when many of the currently available texts in the area have a general perspective, Asian teachers and students have long felt the need for a text that specifically recognizes the local context. Learning Diversity in the Chinese Classroom notes that international trends, including those in many Southeast Asian countries are moving toward inclusive education and special needs, and includes chapters on giftedness, counseling and behavior management. Section 1 of the book describes the context of inclusive education in Asia. Summaries of the special features of the classroom in the region, the conceptions of inclusion and cultural diversity from the perspective of the Asian classroom, and how these are different to the Western classroom are provided. Section 2 focuses on various approaches to meeting the educational and socio-emotional needs of children in the inclusive classroom. The first part is concerned with theoretical underpinnings of the type of need, and the second part describes examples of how a teacher can cater for this type of diversity according to subject, including mathematics, Chinese, English, information technology, and arts. Section 3 widens the perspective and describes a whole-school approach to meeting the educational requirements of children with special needs. A systems approach is taken, whereby the success of the inclusive school is dependent on the functioning of a number of interrelated parts. This section draws from recent case studies which describe the approaches taken by a number of schools that have been successful in implementing inclusive education. Learning Diversity in the Chinese Classroom will appeal to teachers, parents, health professionals who are working with children with special educational needs.