Abstract
During this discussion, Mariel will dig into the motivations for faculty creating MOOCs and the value of courses to faculty and students. She will share major lessons that Coursera as a company has learned from faculty, and how Coursera is using these lessons to adjust its platform. Finally, she will highlight some general best practices and areas for innovation and experimentation in MOOCs.
Speaker: Ms. Mariel Reed
Coursera Partnership Manager and Co-Founder of Lean In Beijing
Time: 5 Dec 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Venue: 230, 2/F, Knowles Building
About the speaker
Mariel Reed manages Coursera’s university partnerships with schools in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. She has many aliases; she’s known as “Mari” in English, 李曼玉 in Mandarin, and “Mad Dog” from her pirating days on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was raised by the sea but after studying International Politics at Georgetown University, she headed to teach and trace the Silk Road in Xinjiang, China, through Princeton in Asia. From there, she navigated the international philanthropy and health education landscapes from Beijing and cut her teeth as a community builder. A co-founder of Lean In Beijing, she’s passionate about women’s empowerment. She has deep faith in the power of education and the development of people, and is excited to be at Coursera helping to push the boundaries of what is possible in education around the world.
Message from Working Group on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Abstract
In this discussion, Mariel will offer reflections and lessons about the things she cares about most: the development of people and the US-China relationship. She will share how these themes have shaped her experiences as an educator, community-builder, and start-up employee across Washington, D.C. to Xinjiang, China, to Beijing, China, and finally to Silicon Valley.
Speaker: Ms. Mariel Reed
Coursera Partnership Manager and Co-Founder of Lean In Beijing
Time: 5 Dec 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Venue: G.02, Ground Floor, Central Podium
All students are welcome
About the speakerPoster DownloadMariel Reed manages Coursera’s university partnerships with schools in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. She has many aliases; she’s known as “Mari” in English, 李曼玉 in Mandarin, and “Mad Dog” from her pirating days on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She was raised by the sea but after studying International Politics at Georgetown University, she headed to teach and trace the Silk Road in Xinjiang, China, through Princeton in Asia. From there, she navigated the international philanthropy and health education landscapes from Beijing and cut her teeth as a community builder. A co-founder of Lean In Beijing, she’s passionate about women’s empowerment. She has deep faith in the power of education and the development of people, and is excited to be at Coursera helping to push the boundaries of what is possible in education around the world.
Organized by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)
Speaker: Dr Ang Sze-wei, Department of Comparative Literature, HKU Date: 22nd January, 2015 (Thurs) Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm Venue: Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
Abstract:
This talk will explore how different expectations and assumptions about the place of literature in culture distinguish HKU and the University of Palermo, and their pedagogy. For Italian students, literature is important to national and individual identity. Italy’s art is important to cultural identity and it is not a political one. Rome was important to world civilization, but Italy now sees itself as a country that is dying. For HKU students, on the other hand, Hong Kong art and literature can also be important to its political identity as it positions itself against and in alignment with China. Certain concepts we take for granted in an American-based education does not always hold through in other national contexts. “World literature,” for example, is not a known entity in Italy. Students who study literature from at least two different languages would identify with “Comparative Literature.” In Libya, as a PhD student from Libya explained during a discussion, students do not study their national literature, but rather, they study pan-Arabic literature. Consequently, pan-Arab identity is emphasized over national identity. Our global condition is marked by how seeing so much more reminds us of how little we actually know and see, and this talk provides a view of some of the challenges universities face in a globalizing world. The development of this work was supported by exchange visits to University of Palermo through a Teaching Exchange Fellowship (TEF) award from HKU.
About the Speaker:
Prior to joining the Department of Comparative Literature at University of Hong Kong, Ang Sze-wei was a Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Comparative Literature at UCLA. Her current book project is comparative race studies on racial formations in Asian America and South East Asia, and she has published on race in film and literature.
You are cordially invited to join the following keynote talk delivered by Professor Richard C. Levin, Coursera CEO and President Emeritus of Yale University:
MOOCs and the Internationalization of Higher Education
Speaker: Professor Richard C. Levin
Date: 5th December, 2014 (Friday)
Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre P2, Chong Yuet Ming Physics Building, HKU
All are welcome
Abstract
In this keynote talk, Professor Rick Levin will reflect on a career of over two decades of leadership in higher education. He will discuss common challenges and lessons from his experiences at Yale, his views on the state of higher education in Asia, and his recent decision to join Coursera.
About the Speaker Poster DownloadRichard C. Levin is the Chief Executive Officer of Coursera. He is the Frederick William Beinecke Professor of Economics and Director of the Project on U.S.-China Relations at Yale University. He recently completed a twenty-year term as Yale’s President, during which time the University invested over $5 billion in the renovation and construction of its facilities, advanced economic development and home ownership in New Haven, purchased and began to develop a 136-acre campus in nearby West Haven, strengthened its programs in science, engineering, and medicine, established a goal of reducing campus greenhouse gas emissions by 43%, and undertook a major set of initiatives to internationalize the University – extending need-based financial aid to international students in Yale College, making international experiences the norm for all undergraduates, and planning and opening Yale-NUS College in Singapore as a model of liberal arts education for Asia.
Professor Levin serves on President Obama’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology. He is a director of American Express and C3 Energy. He previously served on a bipartisan commission to recommend improvements in the nation’s intelligence capabilities, and he co-chaired a review of the nation’s patent system for the National Academy of Sciences that led to the passage of the America Invents Act of 2011. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. Professor Levin and his wife Jane have four children and seven grandchildren.
Date: 3 December 2014 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:15pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Room 113, Knowles Building
Speakers: Ms. Lucia Choi Founder of “STIR” Student Take Initiative Rally; BSSc (Year 3) student, majoring in Psychology and minor in Social Policy & Community Building Ms. Mak Wing Yan Head of Children in Ministry, World Vision China Dr. George Wong Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering Ms. Lindsay Ernst Honorary Lecturer, Centre for Comparative and Public Law, Faculty of Law Ms. Jessie Chow Assistant Director, Experiential Learning, Faculty of Social Sciences
About the Seminar
This seminar will explore the ethical terrain of experiential learning activities. Experiential learning is a creative and powerful pedagogical method which takes students out of the classroom to tackle real-life problems by drawing on theoretical knowledge. It involves students interacting with various stakeholder groups, where ethical concerns arise. In this seminar, experienced experiential learning teachers, NGO representative and student will share their insights in ethical issues arise from their experiences. We hope it is the first step to formulate guiding questions for educators to identify and address ethical issues in designing experiential activities
Join us in the roundtable discussion, to explore and interact with our scholars, students as well as representative in NGO on ethical dilemmas and concerns in Experiential Learning.
Message from Centre for Information Technology in Education within the Faculty of Education
CITE Seminar Series 2014/2015
CITE Seminar – Methodological Tips and Challenges in Multinational Research: Lessons Learned from a 3 Year Multinational Research Programme
Date: 17 November 2014 (Monday) Time: 12:45 pm to 2:00 pm Venue: Room 101, 1/F., Runme Shaw Building, The University of Hong Kong Speaker: Linda Shear, Center for Technology in Learning, SRI International Chair: Professor Nancy Law, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong
About the Seminar
This paper describes methodological lessons in multinational research. Content is primarily drawn from the Innovative Teaching and Learning (ITL) Research project, a 3-year study that examined innovative teaching practices that support the development of students’ 21st century skills in 7 countries. We discuss what it takes to engage effectively in research that is both comparative and international, when ‘comparative’ is defined as methodological congruence across settings. ITL Research was unique in its wide assortment of quantitative and qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews, observations, and the analysis of classroom lessons and student work products, and the diversity of its participating countries, including Australia, Indonesia, Russia, Finland, Senegal, England, and Mexico. This paper describes theoretical and methodological issues associated with the goal of consistent application of the same research methods in different countries and locally-sensitive interpretation of results. The experience of the project illustrates the importance of local pilots of instruments and methods, reciprocal partnerships with local research teams, carefully-chosen communication methods, and rich qualitative data collection to inform interpretation (and guard against mis-interpretation) of quantitative results, among other essential design principles. The discussion will highlight the challenges of identifying comparable ways of viewing educational innovation and developing a shared vocabulary for discussing it among an international community of researchers and educators, and offers recommendations to guide future multinational research designs. This session will also introduce the Center for Technology in Learning at SRI International in California, USA, whose work has a great deal in common with CITE and may offer opportunities for collaboration.
About the Speaker
Linda Shear is the Director of International Studies in SRI International’s Center for Technology and Learning, a group that conducts research based in the learning sciences to help educators make the best use of IT to create new opportunities for teaching and learning. Recently Linda directed research and professional development for ITL Research, a multinational research collaboration to investigate and promote innovative teaching and learning, and continues to bring related professional development programs to countries around the world. She has directed numerous other studies of school/system reform, online learning, knowledge management, and educational technology evaluation, both in the US and internationally, and has supported foundations, nonprofits and corporations in strategic planning and theory of change development. Linda was an undergraduate at Princeton University, and did her graduate training at the University of California, Berkeley.
Date: 24 November 2014 (Monday)
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Venue: RR321, Run Run Shaw Buiding
Speaker: Professor Gary Cheung, Faculty of Dentistry, HKU
About the Seminar
This lunchtime seminar will present the experiential learning component in the course, International Capstone Experience (DENT 5031) in the Faculty of Dentistry. The course is offered to final year dental students to gain experience in outreach dental service to needy or rural overseas region. It is an integrative project that forms a capstone experience in the professional core of the curriculum in a global environment. With the support of the Gallant Ho Experiential Learning Fund, eight students were sent to a dental school in India in Feb 2014 to learn about the dental outreach situation in India. Students were assessed on (1) quality of participation, communication and professionalism during organisation of the trip, actual visit and/or fieldwork; (2) professionalism and quality of clinical work during outreach dental service; (3) presentation of the project; (4) quality of documentation and self-reflection of learning in individual report; and (5) performance in oral examination.
About the Speakers
Professor Gary Cheung is a Clinical Professor in Endodontics at the Faculty of Dentistry, HKU. His research areas include: (1) Endodontic root canal instruments and related materials science, (2) Survival analysis of endodontic therapies, (3) Bonding in root canal-treated teeth, (4) Endodontic materials and applications, and (5) Regenerative endodontics. He is current in charge of the BDS curriculum as the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Education) as well as a member of the Dental Council of Hong Kong.
Organized by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL) and Common Core Curriculum Office (CC)
Speakers: Dr. Jingli Cheng, e-learning Pedagogical Support Unit Date : 21st November, 2014 (Friday) Time : 12:45pm – 1:45pm Venue : Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
Abstract:
This seminar is for professors, teaching staff and anyone else who is designing and delivering learning experiences for students. We will introduce key principles of instructional design, a multidisciplinary field that encompasses learning psychology, human performance and technology, and discuss processes that you can incorporate in your current teaching and learning design and delivery practice.
We will also draw from perspectives of practitioners at Stanford University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Arizona State University, who will contribute to the discussions via recorded videos. From this seminar, participants can expect to gain insights, practical skills and the confidence to help them better design the learning experiences they want their learners to have.
About the Speakers:
Dr. Jingli Cheng has extensive experience applying instructional design theories and best practices in various organizational settings to help learners improve their knowledge and skills. Before joining the HKU’s e-learning Pedagogical Support Unit, he worked as Instructional Designer at Stanford University, the Hewlett Packard company and several other organizations in the United States. His research interests include motivation for knowledge sharing in online communities and informal learning in organizational settings.
Speakers: Professor Ricky Kwok, the Chairman of the HKU MOOC Working Group Date : 30 October 2014 (Thursday) Time : 12:45pm – 2:00pm Venue : Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
Organized by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)
Abstract:
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is touted as being able to bring seismic change to higher education. While such change still remains to be seen, MOOCs have already polarized the higher education community. Indeed, some people wholeheartedly embrace MOOCs as the ultimate form of e-learning or even the real killer-app of the Internet but many others dispose of the notion and treat MOOCs as another bubble waiting to burst. Big questions such as “What values do MOOCs bring back to campus?”, “What is the business plan to make this sustainable?”, etc. keep baffling all major stakeholders of universities.
HKU, like many other world-class universities, has joined edX to deliver MOOCs. In this talk, the speaker, currently overseeing the development of HKU MOOCs, will share his views on the MOOC phenomenon, issues (pedagogical, coordination, etc.) involved, and opportunities available.
About the Speakers:
Ricky Kwok is Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at HKU. His research and teaching interests are mainly about large scale distributed computing systems. Currently Ricky is serving as the Chairman of the HKU MOOC Working Group, which advises the Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) on pertinent issues about MOOCs, such as strategic directions, courses development, and technical matters.
For information on registration, please contact:
Ms Ivy Lai , CETL
Phone: 3917 8996; Email: laichun2@hku.hk.
Organized by Centre for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CETL)
POSTPONEMENT:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are sorry to inform you that Seminar 3 has been postponed to early next year. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
The Teaching and Learning Quality Committee (TLQC) invites submission of project proposals for funding support from the Teaching Development Grants (TDG). The TDG Scheme underlines the University’s commitment to furthering its mission in Teaching and Learning. The TDGs are intended to support projects and activities that will have an impact on the strategic development and promotion of T&L. Given the implementation of the reformed undergraduate curriculum in September 2012, the Committee will support initiatives beyond the exploration and development of the new 4-year undergraduate curriculum, in particular the systematic collection and analysis of direct evidence of the impact of the new curriculum and teaching on student learning. Applications should be submitted to Ms. Synthia Chau, Secretary, Teaching and Learning Quality Committee, c/o Academic Development and Quality Assurance Section, Registry. Enquiries may be directed to her or Ms. Julie Lau on 2219 4997. To facilitate TDG, a seminar series will be offered.
Seminar 1
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2014
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
Topic: Teaching Development Grants Round-table Discussion
Speaker:
Dr Cecilia Chan, Head of Professional Development, Associate Professor, CETL
This roundtable discussion is open to all teaching staff who are interested in finding out more about the Teaching Development Grants funded by the University. Staff will be provided an overview of the funding scheme, the allocation criteria, priority areas and advice in preparing the application. Teachers will have the opportunities to discuss their ideas and challenges with colleagues, and for those, who are looking for cross-discipline partners or guidance, you are strongly encouraged to attend. Staff who are not sure, or would simply like to know more about the grant, are most welcome.
Seminar 2
Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2014
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
Topic: Determining the Standards for Plagiarism and a De Minimis Exception among HKU’s Peer Institutions
(November 2013 Completed TDG project) Speaker:
Dr James D. Fry, Associate Professor of Law, Director of the LL.M. Programme, Department Anti-Plagiarism Coordinator, Deputy Director of the Japan and Korea Programme
Abstract:
This Teaching Development Grant produced a 109-page academic report on the various plagiarism-related standards and penalties that 18 of HKU’s peer institutions have adopted. The institutions that were included in this academic study were Harvard University, Stanford University, Princeton University, Columbia University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of California Berkeley, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Cornell University, Boston University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, University College London, Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and the National University of Singapore.
About the speaker:
Dr James D. Fry joined the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law in August 2008. He enjoys teaching and researching all aspects of law, in particular international law and comparative law, as well as legal education. Dr Fry is a member of the New York Bar and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, as well as the American Society of International Law, the European Society of International Law, the New York City Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Swiss Arbitration Association. Dr Fry also is an accredited mediator with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.
Topic: Involving Lay People as Teachers and Assessors in Communication Skills: Legal Education as a Case Study
Speakers:
Wilson CHOW (Associate Professor, HKU Faculty of Law), Michael NG (Assistant Professor, HKU Faculty of Law)
Abstract:
This paper reports an empirical study of the use of simulated clients to teach and assess the interviewing skills and communicative competence of law students at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). In 2013-14, over 320 HKU Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (“PCLL”) students participated in interviewing exercises with simulated clients, who are lay persons trained to portray clients in a realistic manner by adopting the standardized clients training program initiated in Scotland since 2006. The paper will present the data analysis of assessment results of the students and their evaluation of this experiential learning program. While our analysis confirms the reliability and validity of using standardized clients as teachers and assessors of interviewing skills, it also reveals the necessity of modification of the original design of standardized client program according to specific cultural and commercial needs in an Asian business city like Hong Kong.
About the Speakers:
Wilson Wai-shun Chow, Associate Professor, is the first full-time local teacher in the HKU Department of Professional Legal Education. He was awarded funding under the HKU Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme and the Teaching Development Grant to develop, inter alia, the Standardized Clients project at HKU. In recognition of his contribution to the curriculum reform and development in the HKU Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) programme and effort in teaching and learning research, he has been given the Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award in 2012.
Dr Michael Ng joined the Faculty of Law as Assistant Professor in 2012. An active researcher in experiential legal education, Dr Ng’s works have been published in international edited volume and presented in international conferences. He is a core member in developing teaching and assessment tools for experiential legal education in the HKU Department of Professional Legal Education.
Since 2012, the two speakers have been working closely in enhancing and enriching the learning experience of law students at HKU. They have co-presented at legal education conferences in the UK and the US and contributed to the scholarship of experiential learning in legal education.
Seminar 3
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2014
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
POSTPONEMENT:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are sorry to inform you that Seminar 3 has been postponed to early next year. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Topic: Evaluation of the Core University English Course
(September 2013 Completed TDG project) Speaker:
Ms. Miranda Legg, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Applied English Studies
Abstract:
CAES1000 – Core University English course was offered for the first time in the 2012/13 academic year to 2,900 students. The course focuses on enhancing first-year students’ English language proficiency in the university context. It aims to help students bridge the gap between secondary school study and study at an English-medium university. It is essential that any new course of this size go through a rigorous quality assurance review process in the first year of its implementation. The purpose of this TDG project was to gather evaluative feedback from students and teachers on the CAES1000 learning outcomes, learning materials, assessments and the usefulness of the learning outcomes to students’ future studies at HKU, in order to identify areas for course improvement. Quantitative data were gathered in the form of evaluative questionnaires given to students and qualitative data were gathered from four rounds of focus group interviews with students and two rounds of anonymous teacher feedback questionnaires. The results showed that some changes needed to be made in the area of student and teacher workload, the way that the Moodle online learning system functioned and the integration of more writing practice and feedback to students. Results also showed that students valued the chance to improve their academic writing and speaking skills.
About the speaker:
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Ms Miranda Legg first completed a BA, majoring in Criminology and Philosophy. She then moved into the field of EFL and has since worked in Australia, England, Slovakia and Hong Kong as both a teacher and a manager. During her teaching career, she has gained experience in many areas of teaching, such as EAP, ESP and Computer Assisted Language Learning. She is now teaching a number of different English enhancement courses for undergraduates as well as coordinating the Core University English course. She teaches thesis writing skills to postgraduate students and co-teaches a core module on discourse analysis on the Centre’s MA in Applied Linguistics. Her main areas of interest are oral discourse analysis, Systemic Functional Linguistics, language assessment, Communication across the Curriculum and ESP and EAP course development. She is currently working on a PhD in the area of EAP curriculum design.
Topic: A study on applying the self-learning paradigm in teaching advanced technical courses
(August 2013 Completed TDG project) Speaker:
Dr Chun-kit Chui, Lecturer, Department of Computer Science
Abstract:
Computer science and information technology are two fast evolving fields in the modern world. An undergraduate program in these fields must consist of two key components: (1) a training in the fundamental knowledge of the discipline and (2) a training in self-learning. The latter component is especially important for graduates to adapt to the ever-changing world of technology. This project aims at studying the effect of applying the self-learning paradigm in teaching advanced technical courses in the computer science program. We identify the key differences between a self-learning lab-based method of teaching and the traditional classroom-based method. We study these differences through a controlled experiment in which we teach the same materials to two cohorts of students under the two different modes of study. We systematically collect and analyze student feedback, and compare and contrast student progress under the two teaching schemes. We also study how Moodle can be used to support self-learning courses.
About the speaker:
Dr Chun-kit Chui received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Hong Kong. He was selected for the Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award (Individual Award) of the Faculty of Engineering in 2012-13. He has also received the Teaching Excellence Award in the Department of Computer Science in 2012-2013 and in 2011-2012, and the Best Tutor Award in 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2010-2011.
Seminar 4
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2014
Time: 12:45pm – 2:00pm
Venue: Room 321, Run Run Shaw Building
Topic: Developing Collaborative Culture for Professional Learning
(February 2014 Completed TDG project) Speaker:
Dr Dennis C.L. Fung, Assistant Professor, Programme Coordinator of BEd&BSc, Division of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education
Abstract:
The project created the space for a group of teacher educators from the Faculty of Education to build a community of trust for individual and collective conceptualization of core values, pedagogical principles, strategies in teaching and curriculum development of the four-year programme of Bachelor of Education in Liberal Studies (BEd-LS). Through collaboration, we completed a schedule of 13 monthly gathering with sustainable critical discussion over a progressive track for higher learning which were documented (with a package of the synopsis, PPT and the post-seminar review). For peer support, a 4Rs framework (Respect, Responsibility, Relevance and Relationship) has been developed through the sustainable inquiry over monthly reflections. Accordingly, a Value-Oriented Peer Support Exercise (VOPSE) is put into practice. A culture of collegiality was generated among our project members, and pedagogical innovative thinking was gradually integrated into practice with sensitivity to our core values, as we are sharing contextual understanding of our 4Rs framework. One journal article entitled ‘Liberated to learn: Teacher Education as Transformation of Relationships’ has been published.
About the speaker:
Dr. Dennis C.L. Fung is an Assistant Professor of Division of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education. His teaching areas include: Teaching of Integrated Science [EDUC7040] (PGDE FT/PT); Becoming a teaching profession: Education in a globalised society (I) (BEd&BSc); Classroom Research: An Introduction [EDUC2004] (BEd); and Teaching of Critical Thinking in General Studies [EDUC 7130 / EDUC 8130] (PGDE FT/PT). His research interests are: Liberal Studies / General Studies; Science Education; Group Work; Critical Thinking; and Educational Policy.
Topic: The Creation of a Virtual Student Adviser: Merging Advising and Artificial Intelligence
(February 2014 Completed TDG project) Speaker:
Professor Wai-kin Chan, Associate Dean (Student Affairs), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science c/o Academic Advising Office
Abstract:
The University-wide Academic Advising System was fully implemented across faculties in the 2012-13 academic year. Along with this, the University encourages web-based advising as an important tool in support of net-generation students who have lived their entire lives centered in digital technology. The Senate specifically recommended adopting technology for advising to complement traditional face-to-face advising. The objective of this project is the development of an interactive and multi-dimensional online academic advising tool in the form of a virtual student adviser. By using Artificial Intelligence (Natural Language Processing) software, the virtual student adviser enables students to seek academic information and begin to explore academic options through engaging digital and mobile platforms. The virtual student adviser, as known as Annie and available at annie.aao.hku.hk, offers around-the-clock dialogue for general academic issues and encourages students to consult advisers as necessary. This new automated advising system is linked through the AAO website and available as mobile applications.
About the speaker:
Professor Wai-kin Chan is a Professor of Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science. He is also the Associate Dean (Student Affairs) of Faculty of Science. Currently he is also serving as the chairman of the Academic Advising Committee. His teaching areas include courses in materials science courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. His research interests include design and synthesis of organic molecular and polymeric materials with interesting electronic and photonic properties; metal-containing polymers for photovoltaic applications; fabrication of organic opto-electronic devices by novel thin-film deposition methods; and synthesis of organic-inorganic nanocomposites. In 2004, he won the HKU Outstanding Young Researcher Award.
