EdCampHK – Exhibit Change

EdCamp Hong Kong – “The Amazing Race”

Posted on June 11, 2013September 3, 2014 by Jenn Chan

Across the ocean from home, EdCamp Hong Kong satisfied a few of my curiosities and fueled a ton more. When I arrived in Hong Kong nearly 4 months ago I didn’t know much about the Hong Kong education system and I had no intention of planning an event, and yet my curiosity got the best of me. I was struck by the number of tutoring companies, art centres, Montessori schools, various universities and colleges; it was clear that education was important. I sent a few tweets out in the world and was quickly connected to Neil and it seems like all the piece just fell into place after that.

Neil is the vice principal at Quarry Bay School and the proud host of the day. I was ecstatic when our conversations of alternative learning spaces landed us in the kindergarten classroom at QBS. The room was the perfect setting for our conversations of curiosity and connection. The room is colourful, has thoughtful signage, pictures of kids on the door, water play table and designated zones for learning, I don’t see why all classrooms and offices for that matter don’t look more like this.

As with any first time event, I always get a tingle when the first few people trickle in, it means our curiosity will bond us. Without failure, this day brought many curious folks who each sparked and shared ideas and questions.

Here are a few of my take aways:
– labels and categorizations of people don’t ever seem to be helpful
– the words that are so important in education are the ones that seem to mess us up the most; success, motivation, assessment, learning, purpose, passion, school…
– whenever we make something standardized, it becomes outdated
– where is the trust in school?
– the connections that matter are the ones that stay with us
– participation and learning doesn’t look a certain way

– culture and context are not secondary in education

My biggest take away was that no matter which side of the ocean we are on, the challenges seem to be the same. There is a lot of work to be done and it will be an uphill battle and where to start is just to keep going. Every one of these conversations leads to another and another and together we will figure out the next step. The race to get to the top, to be the best, to compete for more has long been tied to success, but it is the same race that makes us fall further behind?

EdCamp Hong Kong was the first EdCamp in Asia, I surely don’t think it will be the last. And I will just need to book my plane tickets accordingly!

Jenn

Come be a part of EdCamp Hong Kong

Posted on March 21, 2012September 3, 2014 by Jenn Chan

EdCamp Hong Kong is happening on April 21, 2012!!!!

EdCamp HK will take place in a kindergarten classroom at a school in Hong Kong. We thought that the playful atmosphere will add to our conversation and welcome joyful new ideas.

Registration is Open!

EdCamp Hong Kong is an education unconference that is part of the EdCamp family. EdCamp Hong Kong is the first EdCamp to leave North America!

What are you in for?

Here are the basic fundamentals:

(1) The people who come are the best people who could have come.

2) Whatever happens is the only thing that could have happened.

3) It starts when it starts.

4) It’s over when it’s over.

5) The Law of Two Feet (“If you are not learning or contributing to a talk or presentation or discussion it is your responsibility to find somewhere where you can contribute or learn”).

If you are interested in having a conversation about the future of education, than this is for you. You want to join because you have something to offer, something to learn or are just plain curious. Education doesn’t stop because we are out of school and it is something we all have opinions about. Come to meet new people, build a network, because you care and want to be a part of a movement.

Where to have edcampHK?

Posted on January 20, 2012September 3, 2014 by Jenn Chan

The first order of business to planning an event, after the initial idea is to find a location. So, I have been asking where we should have edcampHK? There have been a few back and forths on twitter and so far the energy has been swirling already. There were some initial suggestions to have it at Hong Kong University in a study room or an international high school, now the suggestions have switched to some more atypical learning spaces like the beach, a public park, shopping mall or street corner!

As an advocate for alternative learning spaces and styles, I am pretty excited by the idea. In a little while we will put the location to a vote. Stay tuned.

Inspire Yourself!
Jenn

Let the planning begin!

Posted on January 18, 2012September 3, 2014 by Jenn Chan

Thanks to the help of @dancallahan there is a edcamp Hong Kong wikipage set up! This will let everyone in the edcamp community and beyond get in touch if they are looking for ways to get involved.

I have also gotten a few bites through the grapevine of people interested. We have a few options for locations now. A study room at Hong Kong University or space at an international high school in Hong Kong. Looking for a few more non-typical locations and then we will put it to a vote.

This is happening!

Jenn