Research Student Profiles
Mr ZHANG, Yakun
Human Communication, Learning, and Development
Programme of Study: PhD
Field of Study: Human Communication, Learning, and Development
Research Topic: Nurturing children's creativity with type-I intellectual style and creative dynamics
Email Address: u3011362@connect.hku.hk
About Me:
I am an open-minded person who enjoys sharing with others. I love hiking and first-hand natural history exploration. Playing tennis and swimming are among my favorite activities. I am committed to pursuing areas that interest me, believing that tackling challenges always leads to meaningful rewards.The areas I am interested in encompass the following key terms: Creativity, intellectual styles, cross-cultural integration, giftedness, artificial intelligence, natural history, and conceptual change—these concepts are fascinating and hold the potential to integrate the world. They offer a unique ability to connect everything into a cohesive whole.
Current Research:
My current studies focus on successful intellectual styles related to creativity, as well as the intersection of AI and the future of education.
Primary Supervisor: Professor ZHANG, Li-fang
Co-supervisor(s): Professor CHEN, Gaowei
Research Outputs:
Zhang, Y. K., Pan, Z. W., Huang, L. N., Zhang, X. L., Chen, L. A., & Shi, J. N. (2025). Teaching with surprise to enhance children’s inclination for creative thinking and creative tendencies. Educational Psychology, 45(4), 395-417. DOI: [10.1080/01443410.2025.2464851]
Zhang, Y. K. (2022). Research on the scientific conceptual change mechanism from the perspective of co-construction between teacher and student (Master’s thesis). Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing. [https://1drv.ms/f/s!Al8nOS8lWk1Xcq2caLzmAwUsQaI?e=JprjEJ]
Chen, N., Zhang, Y. K., & Shi, J. N. (2016). Prosocial tendency and its relation to subjective health level of left-behind children aged 12 to 18. Chinese General Practice, 19(12), 1451-1457.
Zhang, Y. K., & Pang, H. S. (2022). 从社会与自然科学的视角看教育学实验何以可能?. 高等教育国际论坛年会论文集.
Zhang, Y. K., Chen, N., Chen, L. A., & Shi, J. N. (2021). Wisdom minds with creative wings: Igniting creative dynamics focusing on its interest cultivation. Advances in Psychological Science, 29(4), 707-722.
Zhang, Y. K., Chen, L. A., Zhang, X. L., & Shi, J. N. (2018). An Integrated Perspective on the Western Creativity Theories. Advances in Psychological Science, 26(5), 810-830.
Awards and Prizes:
6th Global Competition on Design for Future Education - Primary and Secondary School Teachers Track (First Prize), awarded by Beijing Normal University and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2023
CV