Community Voices
Community Voices is a corner where readers can share their thoughts with other members of the FLASS community. We welcome submissions on education-related topics, inspirational life experiences, heart-warming stories that took place at EdUHK, and anything you believe would be a meaningful contribution.
The Department of Mathematics and Information Technology (MIT) runs bachelor’s degree programmes in artificial intelligence and educational technology, teaching mathematics at primary schools, and information and communication technology. The department also offers master’s degree taught programmes in artificial intelligence and educational technology, and mathematics and pedagogy. In addition to these, MIT provides master’s and doctoral programmes by research, along with numerous professional development courses.
These programmes aim to cultivate students’ mastery of the reasoning and analytic processes, as well as train their problem-solving, critical thinking, and computational thinking skills. By equipping students with these skills, MIT strives to enable them to become life-long learners. This issue of FLASS FORWARD features personal stories from five MIT graduates taking different bachelor’s and master’s programmes at the department.
Ms Pun Suet-ying, Mr Poon Chun-yu, Mr Hui Pang-sik, Mr Wei Yicheng, Mr Cai Ziyi
One of the most fruitful memories of studying at EdUHK is being a committee member of the Game Society for the 2020/21 academic year. The experience inspired me to apply games in teaching and also enhance my interests in game therapy.
This photo captures a moment from my field experience when I taught mathematics. Currently, I work as a primary school teacher, serving on both the counselling team and student support team. Apart from mathematics, I also teach IT and general studies.
I completed my Bachelor of Education in Mathematics for Primary Schools in 2024 and graduated from EdUHK. My time at the university was marked by active participation in various education-related initiatives, where activities focused on how technology can enrich students' learning experiences particularly attracted my attention. I am now a mathematics teacher at a primary school in Kowloon City. As a member of the school’s counselling team and student support team, I also help organising relevant activities for students alongside my teaching duties.
During my time at EdUHK, I engaged in diverse extracurricular pursuits. Serving as a committee member of the Game Society, I orchestrated events such as regular chess gatherings and orientation day for members. These experiences illuminated for me the ways in which games can foster students' strategic thinking, computational skills, and communication abilities, all of which I strive to incorporate into my teaching practices. In my part-time tutoring job, I focused on delivering Olympic Mathematics lessons to primary school students. The tutoring experiences have refined my classroom management techniques and instructional approaches, enhancing my ability to address varying learning needs effectively.
The BEd(P)-MA programme furnished me with opportunities to harness technology for educational purposes. I honed my skills in utilising platforms like Scratch, GeoGebra, and Microbit to craft engaging mathematics activities that deepen students' understanding of specific concepts. Experimenting with augmented reality (AR), I designed an online learning package to elucidate 3D shapes, showcasing cross-sections and folding processes. These endeavours bolstered my proficiency in integrating technology into pedagogy, fostering problem-solving acumen, and enhancing critical thinking skills.
My educational journey has instilled in me resilience, a quality that has primed me for the challenges of the teaching profession. While life is full of obstacles, I have learnt the importance of perseverance and resilience from my EdUHK studies, guiding me to navigate difficulties with fortitude and determination.
With the support from the school’s IT department, I help in the preparation for the Parent Teacher Association Annual General Meeting. I am standing at the second on the left.
I represent my school at the prize-presentation ceremony with the Fire Department for our participations in the CPR and AED workshops.
I became a teacher after graduating from EDUHK in 2021. As a student of BEd(S)-ICT programme, I was undoubtedly exposed to all sorts of technologies across the industry. However, information and communication technology is a rapidly changing field, with new tools constantly emerging. The professors and lecturers at EdUHK have equipped me with self-learning, creative thinking, and critical thinking skills that enable me to keep track of the newest educational and technological trends.
Apart from daily teaching duties, I also need to organise various events at my current school. These opportunities have allowed me to develop my professional skills. I have also guided students in areas such as AI, Metaverse, 3D-printing, and drones to prepare them for joining competitions and events. I have also participated in school curriculum reform with my colleagues, with the aim of placing more emphasis on computational thinking and digital literacy. With the support and network of the school, I have collaborated with various organisations and companies to host events that provide students with comprehensive, whole-person development.
The learning opportunities provided by EdUHK have allowed me to discover my strengths. I still recall a 3D modeling lesson in my first year of study. Although it was only a fundamental course, the lesson inspired me to further explore the field of 3D modelling on my own. At the lesson, I was only able to model a chair made of lemons, but now I manage to create a virtual campus of my present school.
I’m grateful to all people I have met at EdUHK and my current school who have helped me so much on my career journey. Without their support, I could not have travelled this far. Even after graduating, I still maintain contact with some of my previous professors and lecturers, and exchange information with them in a professional manner. Thank you all, for your unwavering guidance.
I participated in the International Congress on Educational Futures 2024 (ICEF2024). EdUHK offers students the chance to attend various conferences and workshops, thereby broadening our knowledge and expertise.
I (the one wearing a green shirt) taught coding and computational thinking to students at an educational technology teaching center. The BSc(AI&EdTech) programme provided me with the opportunity to explore a variety of educational technology tools.
I am proud to have graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology. Throughout my studies, I engaged in numerous projects that allowed me to develop expertise in various fields of AI, such as machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP). One particularly rewarding project involved designing a model to facilitate essay grading for secondary school teachers using techniques from machine learning and NLP.
My time in the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology (MIT) has been pivotal in fostering both my personal and professional growth. Through a wide range of coursework and internships, I have not only strengthened my technical skills but also gained invaluable soft skills, including critical thinking, effective communication, and an awareness of global perspectives. These skills will undoubtedly serve me well in my future career.
Looking ahead, I am eager to leverage my knowledge and skills in AI and educational technology to contribute to the education sector in Hong Kong. I aspire to work for forward-thinking companies and organisations to develop intelligent educational tools and systems. My ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between technology and education, making learning more accessible, personalised, and effective.
I am deeply grateful to the teachers at MIT who have dedicated themselves to nurturing students’ technical and problem-solving abilities. To current students, I encourage you to make the most of every opportunity throughout your educational journey. Embrace challenges, seek out new experiences, and never stop learning. The skills and knowledge you acquire at university will undoubtedly pave the way for a bright future.
I host Professor Gabriele Kaiser from Hamburg University from 16 to 18 May 2024. After the seminar, we engaged in discussions about the current state of research on “teacher noticing” and explored potential collaborations between mathematics education research in Hong Kong and Germany. In the photo, Professor Gabriele Kaiser, who is also an Honorary Professor at MIT, is second from the right, MIT scholar Dr Zhang Qiaoping is third from the right, and I am fourth from the right.
During the Open Day at Fanling Kau Yan College, we tour the campus and attend various classes, providing a wonderful opportunity for researchers and teachers to engage with the dynamic learning environment and interact with faculty and students. I am standing second from the right.
I am grateful for the opportunity to share my journey and experiences. I studied for the Master of Arts in Mathematics and Pedagogy (MAMP) programme during the 2022/23 academic year and graduated in 2023 with distinction, earning a place on the Dean’s List. In September 2023, I began my PhD programme at EdUHK, specialising in mathematics education.
I was fortunate to receive the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for the 2023/24 academic year, which has been a great honour and support for my studies. I have been involved in research in the field of mathematics education and had the opportunity to publish three articles. I am humbled to have been the first author on two of these three publications, with one article appearing in a Q1 journal and another in a Q2 journal. I remain dedicated to furthering my work in mathematics education, with the hope that my research can contribute to the field and support future educators.
Under the expert guidance of Professor Philip Yu, third from right, I co-host a data science workshop at the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE) with Ms Fu Jiachen, first on the right, my classmate from the MSc(AI&EdTech) programme. Also in the photo are Dr Manpreet Singh, fourth from right, and his students. I am standing second from the right.
I work as part of the DJI Education team on DJI's open-source educational drone project, Tello Talent. In the team, I am responsible for programming and creating educational content, providing with top-notch resources and technical support. After Tello Talent launched, content developed by me was adopted by hundreds of schools and institutions. This filled me with immense pride and satisfaction, especially knowing that some charitable organisations brought this curriculum to underprivileged areas, offering new learning opportunities and hope to children in need. Seeing these outcomes, I realised that my work was more than just a project; it sparked students' passion for technological innovation.
I graduated from the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology with a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Educational Technology in 2024. During my studies, I was honoured to receive the Dean’s Honour Award and achieve the highest GPA in my cohort.
One of the highlights of my academic journey was the group project titled “Mining the Relationship between Heart Rate Variability and Physical Stress”. I completed the project with support from my group members and the invaluable guidance of Professor Philip Yu. This project earned me the Innovative Data Mining and STEM Education Award 2024 from MIT. The award boosted my confidence to attend the “Data Science Workshop: Data Mining in STEM Education”, organised by the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education (HKAGE). As the project manager, I was responsible for scheduling, data analysis, and developing coursework that was later adopted by HKAGE. Seeing the open-class sessions well received by both students and teachers was rewarding.
My enthusiasm for AI’s potential to transform learning was further ignited while participating in Dr Tiffany Bai Shurui’s research project. This opportunity allowed me to explore the profound impact AI can have on education. Additionally, the solid skills I acquired from Dr Fu Hong’s courses and the personal independent projects I completed under her guidance enabled me to master a strong knowledge of artificial intelligence.
Throughout my studies, I became increasingly fascinated by the rapid advancements in computer science and technology, particularly in artificial intelligence. The emergence of GPT-type AI has revolutionised how we access and learn new information, offering significant benefits to our educational processes. While I embrace these novel technologies, I also consider their ethical implications and explore their profound applications in education and computer science. This balanced approach will foster rapid learning and growth in our society.
Currently, I am working as a technical consultant in an AI company. My future goal is to explore the comprehensive application of AI in various aspects of life. I aim to integrate AI technologies such as GPT, image recognition, and voice recognition to address complex problems and meet the diverse needs of people. I am excited about the potential of AI to transform lives and am dedicated to contributing to this dynamic field.
