Event Highlight: Outstanding PhD Student Sharing - EdTech & Humanistic Care: Integration and Innovation from Interdisciplinary Perspectives
On the afternoon of 18 November 2025, the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) hosted a doctoral student sharing session titled “EdTech & Humanistic Care: Integration and Innovation from Interdisciplinary Perspectives” in D3-G-01. As a key component of the academic exchange program between Nanjing Normal University and EdUHK, the event featured four outstanding PhD students from the Departments of Science and Environmental Studies, Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood Education, and Mathematics and Information Technology. The presenters leveraged generative AI as a core technological lens to explore a diverse range of topics—including STEM curriculum simulation design, self-assessment in higher education, measurement of early educators' socio-emotional competence, and the development of AI-powered tutoring systems for primary mathematics. Their work collectively illuminated the synergistic relationship between technological innovation and humanistic development in education.
Group photo
Spotlight on Outstanding Research Contributions
Mr YEUNG Chung Yiu: Innovations in STEM Education
Mr YEUNG Chung Yiu from the Department of Science and Environmental Studies delivered an insightful presentation on “Curriculum Design of Drone-Integrated Cross-Disciplinary STEM Education Empowered by GenAI-Created Simulations.” He discussed the application of generative AI in creating interactive virtual flight simulation environments that facilitate inquiry-based learning in drone programming and engineering.
Mr Yeung Chung Yiu presenting on Curriculum Design of Drone-Integrated Cross-Disciplinary STEM Education Empowered by GenAI-Created Simulations.
Using a drone to take a group photo with participants from Nanjing Normal University and EdUHK.
Miss GU Jiahe: Empowering Self-Assessment in Higher Education
Miss GU Jiahe from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction presented her findings on “GenAI-Empowered Self-Assessment in Higher Education”. Grounded in social cognitive theory and metacognitive frameworks, she developed a self-reflection tool integrated with generative AI and utilised a mixed-methods approach to analyse cognitive and behavioural patterns of university students using AI-generated feedback in writing tasks.
Miss GU Jiahe presenting on GenAI-Empowered Self-Assessment in Higher Education.
Miss Gu Jiahe captivates seminar participants from Nanjing Normal University, fostering an interactive learning environment and encouraging dynamic discussions.
Miss XU Yu: Measuring Socio-Emotional Competence
Miss XU Yu from the Department of Early Childhood Education focused on the socio-emotional competence of early childhood educators, systematically addressing its “Benefits, Measurement, and Occupational Drivers.” Through structural equation modelling and in-depth interviews, she revealed the mechanisms linking teachers’ emotional literacy to job satisfaction and instructional efficacy. Furthermore, she developed and validated a “Socio-Emotional Competence Scale for Early Educators” tailored to the Chinese cultural context, providing a robust instrument for guiding teacher development and emotional education policies.
Miss XU Yu presenting on Early Childhood Educators’ Social Emotional Competence: Benefits, Measurement, and Occupational Drivers.
Miss Xu Yu addresses participants from Nanjing Normal University during the seminar, promoting collaborative dialogue and exchanging ideas.
Mr LIU Jingxi: AI-Enhanced Learning Systems
Mr LIU Jingxi from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology introduced “ScaffoldableMaths,” an AI-enhanced learning system aimed at assisting primary students in Hong Kong with open-ended mathematical problem-solving. The system employs dynamic scaffolding strategies and natural language processing to offer personalised hints and feedback.
Mr LIU Jingxi presenting on ScaffoldableMaths: An AI-Enhanced Learning System with Scaffolding for Primary Fraction Problem Solving in Hong Kong.
Mr Liu Jingxi engages with participants from Nanjing Normal University, fostering insightful discussions and sharing valuable knowledge.
Organisational Impact and Future Collaborations
The session was organised by Dr SUN Daner, Associate Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, and moderated by Miss XU Zhiwen, Research Assistant. The subsequent Q&A segment fostered vibrant academic exchanges on critical topics such as the ethical boundaries of generative AI in education and the theoretical integration within interdisciplinary research, significantly enriching the intellectual dynamism of the event.
