Hong Kong kindergartens in the Web 2.0 Era: Practices, problems and prospects

The use of Web 2.0 applications as a Web-based environment for collaboration, sharing, and knowledge exchanges has been recognized as one of the important global trends in education by Hong Kong educational authorities (Education Bureau, 2007). Although Web 2.0 applications seem to fit well with the constructivist learning and progressive education promoted in kindergartens (Curriculum Development Council, 2006), they are relatively new to the early childhood practitioners in Hong Kong. Accordingly, they may have encountered some problems and challenges in incorporating Web 2.0 applications into their teaching. This study investigated how Web 2.0 applications had been used in the homepages of Hong Kong kindergartens and in actual classroom practices. The challenges, difficulties, and problems of such usage in classroom were also explored. The implications for policymaking and teacher education in Chinese societies and beyond would be discussed in the end of this chapter.