Staff Development Committee
KTL promotes the concept of a professional learning community among a proactive staff of professional teachers. In each academic year, teachers commit themselves in various aspects of professional development initiatives through group observations, sharing of experience and collaboration in order to sharpen our edge as far as learning and teaching quality is concerned. Such wisdom is brought to our classrooms where students can enjoy the elevated learning effectiveness. Practically speaking, our staff development is implemented in various levels: school, departments and committees, personal and inter-school professional interflows. All make this professional learning community run robustly.
Knowledge to Action: The collective wisdom of KTL teachers
In celebration of the school’s 70th anniversary, we published ‘Knowledge to Action’, which is a collection of lesson plans, reflections on lesson design and implementation, feature curricula plus an overview of the school’s professional development framework. The book is a recognition of KTL teachers’ hard work, but more importantly, it is a platform to encourage more professional dialogues with our teaching counterparts in different schools so as to refine our pedagogical craft, contributing to the education field.
The electronic version of ‘Knowledge to Action’ is accessible: here
Promoting ‘Learning, Thinking, Showing and Reviewing’ through mini-lesson studies
Teachers of each level in each subject conduct a mini-lesson study every year. In each study, teachers begin by identify the developmental need of the subject, then they design a lesson plan which addresses the need identified. Afterwards, lesson observation is conducted, followed by a post-observation conference. These studies are aimed at raising the learning and teaching effectiveness. The Staff Development Committee provides a manual for the studies so as to enable departments to organize their findings more systematically for the betterment of the implementation of ‘Learning, Thinking, Showing and Reviewing’. Some subjects of the studies in 2018-2019 are as follows:
- Chinese Language：Writing skills based on selected texts
- English Language：Linking words and expressions for cause and effect
- Mathematics：Frequency polygon and frequency curve and students’ common errors
- Liberal Studies：Selfies’ contribution to teenagers’ development of interpersonal relationship
- BAFS：Error identification of account record
- ICT：AI home devices by using ‘Object Block’
- Chinese History：Pros and Cons of Primogeniture
- Putonghua：Clerical script
A culture of continuous learning through Professional Learning Sessions
The Committee coordinates Professional Learning Sessions (PLS) for each department, encourages peer observation and facilitates the professional dialogues among subject teachers. The interaction in such meetings is essential for elevating learning and teaching effectiveness, the content of which covers various aspects, including strategies for promoting major concerns, implementation of self-directed learning, strategies to address students’ common errors and analysis of assessment data. With teachers’ active participation, our school’s culture of professional interflow is further enhanced.
Partnerships and collaborations for innovative ideas
Tapping resources from various external institutes and organizations and collaborating with experts and professional bodies in the field are how our teachers develop professionally. Addressing the school’s developmental focus points in terms of learning and teaching, we participate in subject-based or cross-curricular action research in order to raise curriculum leadership and develop school-based curriculum. Some collaborations of recent years include:
| Collaboration | |
|---|---|
| The whole school | Quality School Improvement Project by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with ‘Catering for Learner Diversity’ as the theme |
| Chinese Language | Mainland-Hong Kong Teachers Exchange & Collaboration Programme by Education Bureau for the betterment of lesson design for the selected Chinese classical articles in senior secondary |
| English Language | ‘Meet to Write’ sponsored by Quality Education Fund, with Dr Oliver Chou as the coach |
| Mathematic | ‘Seed’ Project by Education Bureau, developing the STEM experiential programme |
| Liberal Studie | Liberal Studies School Network Scheme and Learning Communities of Education Bureau |
| Science | ‘Seed’ Project by Education Bureau, developing the STEM experiential programme |
| Computer Literacy | Collaboration with SenseTime in development and implementing an AI course |
| Home Economic | Collaboration with The Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme, which was co-organised by Lingnan University Hong Kong and Hong Kong Art School on a cheongsam making programme |
Borderless professional interflows
The Committee has been organizing a range of outbound professional development programmes for teachers to widen their horizons in terms of learning and teaching. Through the sister-school network, we extend the scope of professional exchange for more ideas and views to be adopted. We also welcome teachers from different parts of the world and engage in professional dialogues so as to learn mutually.
Sharing with our counterparts in the field
We do not limit ourselves to the school, subject and personal levels when it comes to professional development. We value any opportunity where we can introduce our school and our experience to other schools and practitioners of the field. Such sharing activities include displaying lesson designs, open classrooms, professional dialogues, etc. The sharing opportunities provide platforms for us to learn mutually for the betterment of learning and teaching.
In-house seminars to invigorate ideas for learning and teaching
In order to promote the development of the school’s major concerns, the Committee invites scholars and speakers to share with us the relevant topics. Through these seminars teachers can be familiar with the corresponding ideas and the strategies for addressing the issues, which is essential for the whole school to implement the refinement of school policies.
Unifying the veteran, the experienced and the novice teachers (Teachers’ Research and Development Team)
Aside from subject-based professional learning community, the Committee has also set up the Teachers’ Research and Development Team, where teachers who are keen on action research and exploring pedagogical ideas during off-lesson hours come together, discussing L&T topics, difficulties and latest trends. Members include veteran teachers and novice teachers, who weigh in on their ideas regarding topics such as the implementation of ‘Learning, Thinking, Showing and Reviewing’, questioning techniques (sharing their reflections on relevant articles), and the use of graphic organizers, etc. The process is thought-provoking and eye-opening as well.
Transition from primary to secondary education
Teachers of the Secondary Section and those of the Primary Section conduct regular seminars discussing the curriculum of senior primary and that of junior secondary and the respective strategies for implementation. The bridging between the two stages is also a topic of discussion, which is significant for students from the Primary Section to adapt to their school lives in the Secondary Section. Mutual lesson observations take place for teachers to share their ideas of promoting self-directed learning.
Fostering the development of new teachers
A series of development programmes are provided for new teachers to cope with their challenges including classroom routines, the ‘learning, thinking, showing and reviewing’ approach and fostering students’ positive thinking mentality. Experienced teachers are also assigned to be mentors, helping new teachers adapt to the new workplace. Aside from teaching duties, the school lays the emphasis on teachers’ mental well-bring as well. We work with the Religious Affairs Committee to conduct spiritual workshops, where we delve into the intricate relationship between religion and work. The Principal, the Vice Principals and the school pastor show their support by being members of these workshops as well.
Team cohesion for challenges ahead
Off-campus gathering events are organized for teachers to relax and share some precious moments of their own personal lives aside from their teaching duties. This can rejuvenate and reinvigorate our teachers for them to spread such positivity to our students.