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., & Shi, J. N. (2025). Igniting children’s creativity: Fostering creativity to enhance children’s inclination for creative thinking and creative tendencies. Educational Psychology, In Review.

Zhang, Y. K., & Pang, H. S. (2022). Research on the scientific conceptual change mechanism from the perspective of co-construction between teacher and student. Beijing: Beijing Institute of Technology.

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

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