RE: Teacher Researchers: An invitation to the Agora Roundtable 2: Critical Issues in International Education
Date: Friday 20 May 2022
Time: Arrive at 12:15 for 13:00 start
Venue: The ISF Academy, 1 Kong Sin Wan Road, Pokfulam (enter through first gate, Primary entrance)
Background: In September 2021, teacher-researchers from six Hong Kong international schools participated in the inaugural Agora Roundtable event hosted by the Department of International Education at EdUHK. The event was run as part of the International Schooling: Research and Practice (ISRaP) platform, funded by the Faculty of Education and Human Development at EdUHK. The presenters at Agora #1 shared experiences of research on a variety of topics including international mindedness in the International Baccalaureate; educating for social conscience; teacher assessment literacy; the impact of school-based citizen science experiences; student learning experiences through lifeworld elements; an ethic of care in the International Baccalaureate; and taking an enskilment approach to becoming an outdoor leader.
Purpose :This second Agora Roundtable, hosted by ISF Academy, seeks to build on the success of the first event by bringing together educators from Hong Kong’s various international schools who are engaged or interested in education research for an afternoon of discussion. This research may form part of formal postgraduate study or it may be part of a school-based research initiative. Agora #2 will provide teacher-researchers a friendly and supportive forum in which they will have the opportunity to:
- Share research interests, experiences, methodologies, and findings
- Listen to others’ research interests, experiences, methodologies, and findings
- Offer ideas and insights into education research conducted by others
Agora Roundtable 2: Critical Issues in International Education A theme provides a focus and sets the tone for an event such as Agora Roundtable. Critical Issues in International Education is a purposefully broad theme that should be interpreted loosely by participants. Issues suggests both a topic and a problem, whereas critical may refer to an issue as a problem requiring informed intervention, or may suggest that the issue is of particular importance and/or urgency. The Agora Roundtable forum seeks to support critical reflection as a contextually-aware process that takes account of wider social, historical and cultural aspects in framing and reframing education problems. Possible issues could include, but are not limited to:
- Cultures of equity
- Sustainability
- Human health and wellbeing
- Academic pressures
- School leadership
- Social-emotional learning
- Curriculum and cultural transmission
Format: Presenters may wish to present a paper, lead a discussion, or participate in a panel discussion.
1) Presentation: a more traditional format in which the presenter speaks for 20 min before taking questions. This format suits those who wish to gain experience in presenting research findings in an academic context that is supportive and encouraging.
2) Discussion: a short, less formal presentation on a research issue before the presenter leads a conversation among participants. This format will suit those wishing to engage in dialogue and gain insight from peers that could help guide future research activity.
3) Panel discussion: presenters will be grouped into a panel with a moderator: Each presenter will have 10 minutes to present their ideas on a critical issue. The moderator will then manage the panel discussion and field questions from audience members.
Registration: If you wish to attend, please take the time to fill out this form and let us know whether you wish to attend as a participant or as a presenter. This form confirms your registration. Please send us your response by Thursday 6 May 2022.
Note that, due to Covid-19 related restrictions, only those officially registered as participants or presenters will be granted access to campus. Once we know the exact number of attendees, we will email the registration details and programme breakdown and format of the sessions. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact with any one of us.
We look forward to welcoming you