A Summary of the IPDA Conversations Pre-Conference Webinar
August 16, 2020
By Lizana Oberholzer and Paul Campbell
The International Professional Development Association (IPDA), hosted a pre-conference conversation on the 10th July, 2020, with the aim of exploring some of the key themes that will be reflected on during the IPDA Conference. The conference is due on the 27th and 28th November 2020, and the main theme is: ‘Imagining The Post-Professional Identity, Ethics and Response-ability Beyond Professional Standards’.
The event was introduced by the IPDA Chair, Professor Hazel Bryan, outlining that the event seeks to unpack some of the key themes that might be explored even further during the conference. Doctor (Dr) Suzanne Culshaw, representing the IPDA England Association, discussed ‘Learning from the experience of struggling as a teacher’. She explored the key learning based on her doctoral research and looked at teacher resilience and wellbeing through the lens of struggling. She argued that struggling can lead to a reduction in performance, and that struggling can suggest that something is ‘fractured’. When something is ‘fractured’ it suggests that rest is required, which will subsequently lead to recovery. Suzanne stressed that her research emphasised the importance of allowing struggling teachers to recover, to enable them to continue to flourish.
Dr Balwant Sing, IPDA India Chair, discussed, ‘Creative professional learning and development’ exploring the importance of creativity as part of our learning and professional development. Balwant stated that it is imperative for individuals to be creative to enable them to develop effectively. He argues that solutions can be found in the richness of the local learning community with the aim to meet the need of the context. It is therefore important to give professionals agency to be creative with the view to drive creative problem solving. Balwant outlined that it is the synergy of logic, science, expertise and creativity of the professional that drives positive outcomes.
Carrie Archer, representing IPDA Ireland, explored ways to research creatively across disciplines and settings. Her talk touched on different contexts such as early years, primary and beyond. She reflected on how creative approaches to research can help investigate leadership practices too. It can result in new ways of understanding across settings, disciplines and platforms, and particularly in response to the challenges presented currently by Covid-19. Carrie explored how creative approaches to research can also help to amplify different voices, such as learners’ voices. By working in this way, we can provide an opportunity to work as collaborative professionals to find creative solutions to positively benefit the learners we work with (Hargreaves and O’Connor, 2018).
Paul Campbell, IPDA Hong Kong Chair, and Vice Chair of the IPDA International Committee, discussed how orthodoxies can be challenged, and how risks can be taken with the view to reflect on new imaginings in practitioner teaching and learning. In this discussion, Paul asked key questions such as: How is the complexity in our contexts characterised? What does this demand of how we practice? Is it just about practice and learning? Do we need to think more broadly about systemic structures and influences, as well as the role of power? Paul explored the complexity of the landscape and the complexity of the needs of the educators trying to negotiate it.
Linda Bell and Suzie Dick, representing IPDA Scotland, considered, ‘Thinking otherwise about method and methodology in near-to-practice research’. During this conversation, the importance of purpose was explored. Whatever your purpose, it needs to align with your own interests, passion, contexts and needs. It does not mean that there is no innovation or that the research lacks ambition. It is key that research approaches serve the purpose of your research, and that you don’t feel the need to adopt new or different approaches for the sake of being different. It is important to be able to justify your choices with your purpose in mind. You need to be clear and assured about your methodology. It is important to be analytical, and critical.
Emmajane Milton, IPDA Wales Chair, introduced Nia Richards and Sophie Hadaway who shared their explorations on the Creative Schools Lead Programme on Connecting curriculum development, creativity and professional learning. The major change in curriculum practices required creative considerations to address a complex situation to impact positively on leaders. Questions were explored, for example, how can curriculum choices meet the local needs of learners? Shared was a finding that close collaborations with teachers helped with a move towards a paradigm shift in how teachers can work more creatively with their learners. Misconceptions and definitions of creativity were explored and connected to how teachers engage in professional learning, and connect with the ‘what’ with the ‘how’. An ideal systemic and organisational starting point is the development of a shared framework and definition of creativity. In this way, a shared focus and approach connects the creative practice that emerges. This could be an important step towards real creative change, while, importantly, acknowledging that creativity is messy and disruptive, but recognising that we are in an ideal moment to think differently about professional practice.
It was important for all those with a stake in education to realise that they alone don’t have all the answers. By being empowered to ask curious, honest questions, combined with honest reflections, a more relevant, and creative approach to curriculum and practice may be possible.
The event was concluded by Prof Hazel Bryan extending a warm welcome to all to join the IPDA Conference in November to continue the conversation.
Watch the full webinar
References
Culshaw, S (2020), Learning from the experience of struggling as a teacher, IPDA Conversations Pre-Conference Webinar Delivered: 10th July 2020
Singh, B (2020), Creative professional learning and development, IPDA Conversations Pre-Conference Webinar Delivered: 10th July 2020
Archer, C (2020), Researching creatively across disciplines and settings, IPDA Conversations Pre-Conference Webinar Delivered: 10th July 2020
Campbell, P. (2020) Challenging orthodoxies/taking risks: new imaginings in practitioner teaching and learning, IPDA Conversations Pre-Conference Webinar Delivered: 10th July 2020
Bell, L. and Dick, S. (2020) Thinking otherwise about method and methodology in near-to-practice research, IPDA Conversations Pre-Conference Webinar Delivered: 20th July 2020
Richards, N. and Hadaway, S. (2020), Connecting curriculum development, creativity and professional learning, IPDA Conversations Pre-Conference Webinar Delivered: 20th July 2020
