Edutech Asia: What can Australia Learn About AI for Education?

I just paid my registration for EduTech Asia, in Singapore in November. Normally, I just wander around the exhibition and attend random sessions. This time I am on a mission, to find out what we should do with AI in Australian higher education. This is after completing the AI for Higher Education Faculty: Course by the Digital Education Council. The Australian National University paid for the course and prodded me to, reluctantly, do it. As with most learning, it wasn't a pleasant experience, but left me with the conviction there was something to this AI thing. 

Time to reform assessment for authenticity

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore where a panel is discussing "Panel: Is it time for reform? The bid for authenticity in assessments". With Edwin Lim, Hwa Chong Institution, Yian Hoon Lim, Seng Kang Secondary School, Barbara Tajti, Saint John Mary International School and Kerry Moore, Stonyhurst International School Penang. There are many teachers from international schools in the audience. You may wonder why as a university lecturer I am at a school session. But there is a lot in common between international schools and universities. They have international students and have to cope with international needs. 

The topic of reflection just came up. This is something I teach, mentor and assess students on. I have spent many years being trained on how to do it, but I am still not sure I understand what it is. One thing I would like to explore is how to automate asking the student about the work they submitted: "Here you wrote ... why?".

Problem based learning and design thinking also came up. 

Instapod for Education

 The excitement of EduTech Asia was getting a little overwhelming so I retreated to one of the six Instapods installed on the conference floor.  These each accommodate four people at a small meeting table. Not completely soundproof, they appear only single glazed, but workable. There are smaller and larger pods available.

edX for Credentialing

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore, where Christyl Potgieter, Director, Enterprise Partner Marketing at edX and Dr Paulina Pannen, Senior Expert, Indonesia Cyber Education Institute, Universitas Terbuka are talking on AI, skills and learning. edX has been around for some time, delivering puerly online courses, which were marketed as "MOOCs" Massive Open Online Courses. These did not catch on at traditional universities, but as is being discussed could still find a role to provide shorter qualifications (marketed as "microcredentials") for those who are unable to attend a traditional university program. 

Nanyang Polytechnic’s competency-based learning approach

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore, where Sophia Wei and Tay Mia Eng, are speaking on Nanyang Polytechnic’s competency-based learning approach. This is very relevant as I was asked yesterday if I could create videos on professional skills, such as how to run a meeting, for professionals. While I have been trained in making training videos, the difficulty is how to position this for advanced technical students. Recently I had students comment to me that they used complex terms in their writing as they thought they needed to be "academic". Similarly, academics dismiss professional skills teaching as not academic. However these are areas which employers value and graduate suffer from a lack of. Tay Mia Eng gave the example of writing a resume, a task their paid with learning to use AI, to make it technical and relevant for STEM students.  

EduTech Asia in Singapore Expo and Silent Disco Conference

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore. The trade show is about the same size as last year. I was surprised there was not more mention of AI on vendors stands, although there is in the title of conference talks. The conference venus takes some getting used to for those familiar with academic events. Rather than have to go upstairs to the conference rooms above the exhibition floor, some of the floor has been curtained off around the periphery. 

There are stages for the speakers and rows of seats for delegates, but the area I am in has 1,000 seats and three stages. The roar from the exhibition floor comes through the curtains. To overcome the noise the audience wear headphones, which are tuned to one of the three presentations taking place. The sound is excellent with the headphones, but the panel member farthest from the chair is having to wear headphone as well to hear. Also the room is very dark and so the large projection screens look uncomfortably bright. 

EduTech Asia 5 to 6 November in Singapore

Here are my preliminary selections of sessions at EduTech Asia 5 to 6 November in Singapore:

Wednesday, 5 November 12:05 PM

Fireside chat: Harnessing the power of Generative AI for higher education

How AWS is advancing Generative AI in Higher Education across the Asia-Pacific region How AI can be leveraged responsibly to enhance teaching, learning and administration across university, college and polytechnic campuses Hear real-world success stories from global and local institutions leveraging this transformative technology  

Manoj Lohatepanont, Chulalongkorn University
Hannah Gapes, AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC.

Lunch break and exhibition visit

Fireside chat: Flexible learning pathways – incorporating vocational training to boost skills

Enhancing students' technical skills while providing a strong academic foundation Developing stackable credentials, allowing learners to accumulate skills over time Assessing learning through competency-based assessments and industry-recognised certifications

Ann Lautrette, Taipei European School
Chetna Sabharwal, Association of Indian Principals (AIP)

Case study presentation: Enhancing teaching experiences through Nanyang Polytechnic’s competency-based learning approach

Integrating industry-relevant competencies to ensure that students are aligned with workforce demands Building knowledge, skills and attitudes through practical work tasks Showcasing results from the Diploma in AI & Data Engineering

Sophia Wei, Nanyang Polytechnic
Tay Mia Eng, Nanyang Polytechnic

Case study presentation: Building a seamless & borderless university with 5G networks at NUS

Transforming National University of Singapore’s (NUS) campus connectivity through ultra-fast reliable internet access Driving innovation and elevating the teaching and learning experience Fostering a mobile and adaptive learning environment

Nelson Wong, National University of Singapore

Panel: Building bridges – enriching learning experiences through cross-border collaborations

How cross-border collaborations can enhance curriculum development Exploring how such partnerships can enable institutions to share best practices and foster innovation Broadening students' horizons and exposing them to global opportunities 

Nicholas Paul Belcher, The International School @ ParkCity
Jake Pratley, GLOBIS Asia Campus
Aye Chan Oo, Scholatic International School Myanmar
Michael Galligan, Cognita Asia

Panel: Into the unknown – preparing learners for jobs that don’t exist yet

Equipping learners with foundational skills that will prepare them for roles in an unpredictable job market Breaking away from siloed content and embracing cross-disciplinary learning Nurturing lifelong learners who embrace change and remain curious throughout life  

Michael Yap, Coventry University
Angela Siew Hoong Lee, Sunway University
Roel Rodrigo, Malayan Colleges Laguna
Neelesh Bhatia, National University Singapore
Choon Hou Sim, Republic Polytechnic5:10 PM

Panel: Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills through student-centred learning

How inquiry-based learning methods encourage students to explore questions and engage in critical analysis Integrating reflective practices into the learning process Assessing and evaluating students' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities

Jayson Bergania, University of Makati
Keith Sharp, American University of Phnom Penh
Mike Choong, Taylor's University
Noorzareith Sofeia Noordin, Sunway University

Thursday 6 November

Panel: Is it time for reform? The bid for authenticity in assessments

Designing authentic assessments that allow learners to demonstrate skills Improving existing models of summative assessment Tapping into AI to develop fairer, more accurate assessments

Edwin Lim, Hwa Chong Institution
Yian Hoon Lim, Seng Kang Secondary School
Barbara Tajti, Saint John Mary International School
Kerry Moore, Stonyhurst International School Penang

Case study presentation: Revolutionising learning with competency-based design thinking

Differentiating between competencies and abilities to sharpen learning outcomes Building and applying design competency maps using AI-powered tools Creating effective assessment rubrics for hands-on classroom activities and projects

Panel: Smarter marketing, recruitment & retention strategies with AI and automation

Increase conversion rates and reduce administrative load Using data to identify and attract students while improving targeting and segmentation in marketing campaigns Deploying AI-powered systems to nurture prospective students throughout recruitment processes  

Alan Go, Hanbridge Institute
Zulkarnan Abdul, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

HE RT 08: ⁠How can higher education prepare students for a global workforce shaped by AI and digital transformation?

This session is ideal for attendees from Higher Education education institutions. Participate in engaging discussions with your peers from around Asia!

Keynote Panel: The road to 2030 – what will learning look like in the next 5 years?

Yuhyun Park, DQ Institute
Graham Brown-Martin, Learning Without Frontiers
Kristie Chen, Bold Academy Pte. Ltd.
Pasi Sahlberg, University of Melbourne
Pak Tee Ng, National Institute of Education (NIE), Singapore

What is on in Singapore 4 to 7 November?

I just booked for EduTech Asia 2025 in Singapore 5 to 6 November. Last year at the event Professor Angela Lee from Sunway University Malaysia, and I talked about AI and education in a "silent disco" fireside chat. Usually I give some talks and attend some extra conferences. Any suggestions? Anyone like a a presentation on something?

Silent Disco at EduTech Asia

Greetings from stage 2 at EduTech Asia where I am about to have a fireside chat with Professor Angela Lee from Sunway University Malaysia. 

A "fireside chat" format was used, with the speakers in comfortable chairs in a row, each with a microphone. As there was only to of us, we took turns to ask each other prepared questions (although we soon went off script). This made for a comfortable, informal atmosphere. 

As for content, Professor Lee talked about using AI for analysis of the data generated from the student's study, to check how they are doing, offer helpful advice and improve the course. I talked about how I helped teach students to use AI in their assignments.

This is on the expo floor with the roar of delegates, so everyone wears headphones. These are the type used for a Silent Disco. This works well and might be useful for some educational environments.

ps: One question from the floor was on generative AI institutional policy. I was surprised by this as I assumed that by now every educational institution would have a policy and guidelines for staff and students, but apparently not. So I suggested looking at those from the Australian National University:

1. Guide for students: best practice when using Generative AI, ANU 2024
3. Artificial Intelligence including generative AI, ANU Library Guide, 2024
5. Generative AI and data governance, ANU guide for staff
7. ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI, statement from Professor Maryanne Dever, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Digital), 2 May 2023
9. AI in Academia: Where does ANU stand with ChatGPT?, Woroni (ANU Student Newspaper), 15.6.2024 
10. AI for learning and assessment, powerpoint presentation for students, 2024

Observation for Learning

Professor Hazel Melanie Ramos,
Nottingham University

Greetings from EduTech Asia 2024 in Singapore. I am attending the first workshop on the use of observation, before the mail conference starts tomorrow. Professor Hazel Melanie Ramos from Nottingham University's Teaching and Learning Observation College is talking about how teachers can learn from observing peers and being observed in their class technique. An online tool is used to prompt the participants. The approach can be applied from primary school teaching to university. One example given was for the Higher Education Academy fellowship process. 

ps: I am speaking tomorrow at EduTech on AI and curriculum.

Evaluating Generative AI’s role in curriculum design

Change of plan, now speaking on "Evaluating Generative AI’s role in curriculum design", 11:45 am Wed, 6 November in the Higher Education – Teaching & Learning stream of EduTech 2024. 

Here are the questions I have been asked to address. Any suggestions?

1. What specific strategies or tools did you use to teach students how to assess the reliability and accuracy of AI-generated outputs?
2. What challenges do students face when learning to critically analyze AI outputs, and how can educators support them in overcoming these?
3. Can you share examples of project activities or exercises that helped students understand both the benefits and limitations of AI in real-world scenarios?

Looking forward to speaking on a panel on "Safety check: maintaining academic integrity through digital proctoring in assessments" in Singapore, at EDUtech Asia 2024, 7 November, 11am, Stage 4, with Girija Veerappan, & Mohd Rozi Ismail. I have lost count how many EduTechs I have been to. ;-)

ps: Edutech Asia 2024 asked me to make a video to invite you to my talk.

ICT for student motivation

Emmanuel Bernet 

Greetings from EduTech Asia in Singapore, where  Emmanuel Bernet is speaking on "The role of ICT in pedagogical activities and its impact on achievement motivation: Scientific evidence and practical applications". He started with a standard "introduce yourself" icebreaker, which is unusual for a conference, but worked well. He started with the beliefs of the teacher and how they influence learning. I got a bit lost with a list of dozens of models of the use of ICT in teaching. Perhaps all these models are because ICT is relatively new. Do teachers feel the need to learn different models of the use of pen, paper, and books? 

After the first hour I realised that what Dr Bernet was talking about were really issues of general student motivation, not specific to ICT, which is not a bad thing. We did a TPACK self evaluation. I worry with such tests as to if they have been scientifically tested, that is comparing what people self score with an independent evaluation of their knowledge and skills. The workshop ended with SAMR, which did not make much sense to me. All the examples given appeared to me to be substitution of ICT to carry out an exercise which could be done without it (we had video, for example, before computers). Dr Bernet advocated combining TPACK and SAMR, but I can't see much value in either.

Back to the Conference Face to Face

I’m planning to attend to EDUtech Asia in Singapore, 8 to 10 November. This will be my first big conference face to face since the pandemic started in early 2022. I will be going early for the Singapore Fintech Festival, 2 to 4 November, and the Predict22 Singapore Summit, 1 to 2 November.  I have decided to not to volunteer to present on the large stages at conferences, but happy to speak at a university, or professional meeting (let me know if you would like a talk). So far I have one uni talk booked on work integrated learning, and a small talk on Innovation for sustainabile computing in the EduTech show-and-tell.

How do we make sure we learn from SARS-Cov-2, unlike SARS-Cov-1?

Greetings from EDUtech Asia 2021 where Martin Dougiamas, founder of Moodle was the keynote today. Unlike 2018, when I bumped into Martin in Singapore, this is all online. Naturally much of the discussion this year is about the online experience due to COVID-19. But the SARS-Cov-1 virus closed classrooms in 2003, just as SARS-Cov-2 did in 2020. How do we make sure we learn from history this time, and so do not repeat the mistakes again?

Reading media reports from 2003, sounds remarkably like the present. Back then a disease "SARS" had closed classrooms and forced study online from home. Some Singapore educational institutions, notably NTU, prepared for e-learning during future pandemics, after their SARS experience (this was pointed out to me when I was giving a talk in Singapore a decade ago). But 2020, this lesson seemed to be forgotten, and institutions had to scramble to switch online.  My suggestion is to make online teaching upward compatible with the classroom.

"Over the past two months, schools throughout Beijing, Hong Kong, and Singapore looked like mini-ghost towns: empty, silent classrooms, deserted hallways, and vacant playing fields.

The steep escalation of people contracting the potentially fatal respiratory illness known as SARS forced many government and school officials in Asia to close school for more than 2 million students. Schools are gradually reopening, and, surprisingly, many students aren’t behind academically.

That’s because while school buildings stood empty, students still attended classes—virtually. Their experience, a U.S. observer says, could hold lessons for American educators as they make contingency plans for a host of different emergencies." 

From: Online Learning Fills Void in Nations Coping With SARS, By Rhea R. Borja, Education Week, May 21, 2003 

Best of EDUtech Asia 2021, 9 to 11 November

Martin Dougiamas, and Tom Worthington
at EduTech Asia 2018, Singapore 

Here is my pick of EDUtech Asia 2021. Of course it will not be quite the same as in 2018, in person in Singapore, but the organizers have done a good job of translating the format online. I hope to be there in person for 2022. The key keynote, of course, has to be Dr. Martin Dougiamas, founder and CEO of Moodle. He is the most influential tech educator who most educators, even the ones who use his software, have never heard of. ;-)

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

1:00 PM

2:00 PM

Panel: Instilling a culture of digital innovation in higher education institutions

Higher Education - Digital Leadership

Panel Discussion

• 

  Romy Lawson

  Murdoch University
• 

  Mabel Tan

  UCSI College
• 

  Ryan O'Hare

  Keypath Education
• 

  Derrick Chang

  PSB Academy
• 

  Timothy Chan

  Singapore Institute of Management (SIM)
• 

  Le Nguyen Tue Hang

  Duy Tan University

2:30 PM

3:00 PM

Fireside Chat: Post-pandemic opportunities in e-Learning and technology – Are we truly ready?

Higher Education - Digital Leadership

Fireside Chat

• 

  Ivan Sim

  Lenovo Singapore
• 

  Wee Leng Peh

  Institute of Technical Education (ITE) - Singapore

• 

3:30 PM

4:00 PM

Fireside chat: The higher learning institution of the future: embracing digital disruption to develop new models

Higher Education - Digital Leadership

Fireside Chat

• 

  Nick Klomp

  CQUniversity
• 

  Khairul Baharein Bin Mohd Noor

  University of Cyberjaya

6:00 PM

6:30 PM

Fireside chat: Designing successful user-centred frameworks for MOOCs

Higher Education - Open Learning at Scale

Fireside Chat

• 

  Patrachart Komolkiti

  Chulalongkorn University
• 

  Zaidatun Tasir

  Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

6:30 PM

7:30 PM

Panel: The revival of MOOCs in Asia

Higher Education - Open Learning at Scale

Panel Discussion

• 

  Toru Iiyoshi

  Kyoto University
• 

  Jayakrishnan M.

  Indian Institute of Technology Madras
• 

  Gatot Hertono

  Universitas Indonesia
• 

  Jintavee Khlaisang

  Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation
• 

  Abd Karim Alias

  Universiti Sains Malaysia
• 

  Annechien Helsdingen

  EPFL

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

11:30 AM

12:00 PM

Keynote: A vision for an equitable global education ecosystem - the open education movement

Education is a basic human right, and we all greatly benefit from a global population that is well-educated. It therefore makes sense to strive towards a world where our educational processes, and all the tools and skills required to manage and support those processes, are easily available and affordable by all. This is a key reason behind UNESCO’s 2019 Recommendation on OER, for example, and the wider movement of Open Education. In this presentation, Dr. Martin Dougiamas, the founder and CEO of Moodle, the open source learning management system used by the majority of educational institutions worldwide, will elaborate on his vision of a global education ecosystem defined by open education technology infrastructure, supporting intentional creation and curation of open educational resources that support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and capacity building of educators and technologists at scale.

Plenary

Keynote

• 

  Martin Dougiamas

  Moodle

• 

3:30 PM

4:30 PM

Panel: Bringing assessments into the digital age

Higher Education - Digital Assessment

Panel Discussion

• 

  Michael James Keppell

  International College of Management, Sydney
• 

  Cecilia Chun

  The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• 

  Hamish Coates

  Tsinghua University
• 

  Earl Jude Paul Cleope

  Silliman University
• 

  Karen Benson

  The University Of Queensland

7:00 PM

8:00 PM

Panel: Effectively and fairly assessing students online

Balancing summative and formative assessmentBest practice assessment design strategiesHolistic assessment in an online environment

K-12 - Digital Assessment

Presentation

• 

  James Unsworth

  Australian International School Malaysia
• 

  Chelsea Mouritz

  St Virgil's College
• 

  Dary Dacanay

  St. Patrick School of Quezon City
• 

  Aurelius Yeo

  School of Science & Technology
• 

  Seth Roberts

  HCAS
• 

  Sharon Singh

  St John's Anglican College