Dr Lu Jiafang and Dr Darren Bryant participate in the inaugural meeting of the IPDA Hong Kong Regional Association

On the 8th June, IPDA Hong Kong had it’s inaugural event; an #IPDAConversation on the theme of ‘Harnessing Creativity in Changing Times: Risk, resilience and professional learning’. The day consisted of a keynote presentation by Dr. Jiafang Lu from the Education University of Hong Kong which explore the Hong Kong education context, and contemporary challenges for professional learning and development across the system. Dr. Lu’s presentation explored a range of pertinent points which both resonated with and challenged the audience who represented the breadth of the education system in Hong Kong. 

Dr. Lu explore the challenge of the connection between professional learning and teaching practice, and the challenge of ensuring and determining the influence, impact or consequences that professional learning has for practice. Exploring creativity in the context of professional learning Dr. Lu highlighted some considerations around whether or not professional learning is productively applied, perceived to be useful, aids practice, addresses a specific need, improves efficiency, and is a collective endeavour. The panel and round table discussions afterwards extended and challenged these points, such as:

• What place does teacher agency have in professional learning?
• Who determines the utility, effectiveness and appropriocity of professional learning?
• Can impact of professional learning ever be measured?

Importantly, Dr. Lu left us with a challenge in relation to our conversations which was, how do we use our networks and connect with others to both find out what’s happening next door and what we can learn from next door. The IPDA Hong Kong Association hopes to enable just that.

To find out more about the presentation, follow up discussion and other #IPDAconversations from around the world, have a look at IPDA Hong Kong’s Twitter feed here and the hashtag #IPDAconversations.

If you are interested in finding out more about the IPDA Hong Kong Association, get in touch with the Committee Chair, Paul Campbell, at hongkong@ipda.org.uk, and look out for an upcoming ‘From Our Correspondent’ piece in IPDA’s newest journal ‘Practice’ which will be co-authored by Paul Campbell and Dr. Jiafang Lu. 

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