On 7th March, Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School (PKXYS) successfully held its second Teachers' Professional Development Day for the 2024-2025 academic year. The event, rich in content, covered an array of topics including school strategic planning, educational philosophy, innovative teaching methods, and team building. The aim was to enhance teachers' professional competencies and teaching effectiveness while providing clear direction for the school's future development.

Principal Shares the School's Strategic Development Plan: Looking Ahead to the Next Three Years

In the morning session, Principal Mr. Tommy WONG Tang Tat shared the school's strategic development plan with all the teachers. Reflecting on the school's achievements over the past three years, Principal WONG outlined the key priorities for the next three years (2025-26 to 2027-28) through a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis of each department:

1.Utilize technology and innovation to cultivate self-directed learning and core competencies, enhancing academic performance.

2. Integrate holistic education, optimize support systems, and promote students' all-round development.

3. Plan and organise a series of events to celebrate the school's 5th anniversary.Principal WONG's speech painted a clear picture of the school's future and provided teachers with a sense of direction.

Chinese Seminar: Educational Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of AI

A special highlight of the event was a seminar by renowned educator and scholar TANG Jiangpeng, the Head Principal of Jiangsu Xishan Senior High School Education Group and Director of the Contemporary Education Research Institute at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. His talk, titled "Painting a Portrait of Students in the Age of AI," captivated the audience.

Principal TANG pointed out that in today's hyper-competitive and burdensome learning environment, students tend to lose interest in their studies. He stressed, "There is no learning without interest." The core of education should be to spark students' interest, cultivate good reading habits, and inspire them to embrace lifelong learning.

Addressing the rise of AI, Principal TANG particularly highlighted the importance of nurturing students' creativity, artistic appreciation, and resilience. He concluded, "Quality education should cultivate individuals who are lifelong fitness enthusiasts, responsible citizens, adept problem-solvers, and practitioners of graceful living." His humorous yet thought-provoking speech provided deep insights for all educators.

English Seminar: Creativity and Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

The school also invited David Ross, former Senior Director of the Buck Institute for Education, to lead an English-language seminar on "Redefining Creativity and Critical Thinking in the Age of AI."

David Ross, author of PBL Starter Kit and founder of the PBL World Conference, has extensive theoretical knowledge and practical experience in project-based learning. Drawing from his years of teaching, he explored how AI technology can be better integrated into classrooms, while also sharing key points for teachers to consider. His session, which balanced theory and practice, offered teachers valuable teaching strategies.

A Variety of Afternoon Activities by Department

PART.01 Primary Teachers' Visits to Other Schools

Primary teachers were divided into groups to visit Hong Kong Pui Kiu College, Pui Kiu Primary School, and Tsinglan School in Dongguan. The purpose was to broaden teaching perspectives, update educational concepts, and apply the insights gained to future teaching and curriculum development.

At Hong Kong Pui Kiu College, teachers of Mathematics, STEM, and Visual Arts observed STEAM Day activities, where students conducted science experiments and showcased projects like shadow puppetry, rocket cars, and Vox software editing. They engaged in discussions with subject leaders to explore interdisciplinary teaching ideas. At Hong Kong Pui Kiu Primary School, our Chinese Language teachers observed lively Chinese lessons and exchanged practical experiences with the school on cultivating students' language proficiency, further reflecting on how to enhance teaching quality and student engagement. At Tsinglan School, teachers of English, Physical Education, and Third Language learned about the school's diverse curriculum offerings and campus culture through principal-led sessions and classroom observations.

此次活動不僅深化了教師對多元教學理念的理解，也為未來課程發展創新與學生核心素養培養奠定了堅實基礎。

These visits deepened teachers' understanding of diverse teaching approaches and laid a solid foundation for future curriculum development and fostering students' core competencies.

PART.02 Hong Kong Curriculum (Secondary): Workshop on Constructive Feedback

The afternoon session for the Hong Kong Curriculum was held for the secondary teachers with the aim to foster their understanding of the importance of giving constructive feedback to promote deep learning. Led by Ms. Kathy Cheung, Deputy Principal for Secondary Hong Kong Curriculum, the interactive session raised teachers' awareness of how various forms and ways of feedback serve to cater to the diverse needs of students and improve learning outcomes. Teachers were given opportunities to share examples of feedback. They also took part in discussions and role-played different classroom situations to demonstrate how feedback can be used to improve learning.

PART.03 International Curriculum: Workshop on Revision Strategies

The International Curriculum Department ran a "Revision Strategies Workshop" in the afternoon, exploring how to make revision more engaging and efficient.

Three experienced teachers—Mark Edward, Imran Mirza, and Ali Shalid—shared practical revision strategies, such as setting personal goals, positively reinforcing students' efforts, fostering class teamwork, creating revision checklists and mind maps, and enriching teaching materials. These strategies aimed to enhance student motivation and learning efficiency while making the revision process more enjoyable. Different subject panels then engaged in in-depth discussions to explore how to apply these strategies in teaching and develop practical implementation plans.

PART.04 Mainland Curriculum (Secondary): Workshop on Curriculum Development

The Mainland Curriculum Secondary Department focused on curriculum development with a thematic workshop. Executive Principal Dr. WANG Hongjun and the teachers discussed the relationships between curriculum, classroom, teachers, and students, and analysed their roles in curriculum development. Through group discussions and sharing, the teachers gained a clearer understanding of the significance and methods of curriculum development.

Team Building with Drum Activity for Mainland and International Curriculum Teachers

To conclude the day, teachers from both the Mainland Curriculum and International Curriculum participated in a unique team-building drum activity. The lively rhythm allowed everyone to relax and further strengthened the camaraderie and teamwork spirit among colleagues.

The Teachers' Professional Development Day provided an invaluable opportunity for professional growth while laying a strong foundation for the school's future development. By integrating innovative technologies, deepening whole-person education, and exploring the opportunities of the AI era, the school is committed to cultivating students with core competencies and lifelong learning abilities. At the same time, teachers will gain practical teaching strategies through training and continuing education, further enhancing teaching effectiveness. Moving forward, we will continue working together to contribute to both students' growth and the school's development!

Author: Curriculum and Professional Development Departments, Communications Department