How Innovative are Schools in Teaching and Learning? A Case Study in Beijing and Hong Kong

Innovation in education is essential to meet the requirements for preparing the new generation for the more and more advanced society. This study examines the innovative teaching and learning strategies in school settings, the technologies in place, the pedagogical orientations, and the cultural environment as perceived by teachers and students in two case schools-one in Beijing and one in Hong Kong. The results indicate that although the two schools have quite some elements of innovative teaching and learning strategies implemented, in general, the schools were not perceived to be very innovative by students and teachers. Technologies, pedagogies, and cultural environment are drivers for educational innovations; especially, the school cultural environment characteristics play important roles in the changing process. Thus, nurturing an enabling and innovative school environment is critical to facilitate and promote educational innovations.