Preparing for Summative Peer Review of Teaching: How to Conduct Formative Peer Review of Teaching via Peer Dialogue?

Event Details

Date : 25 Feb 2025 (Tuesday)

Time : 1pm – 2pm

Venue : Learning Lab (RRS 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus, HKU)

Speaker : Prof. Lillian Luk, Assistant Professor, TALIC

Register

Abstract

As a key component in the continuous improvement of teaching practices, formative peer review allows educators to provide and receive constructive feedback, share insights, and collaborate on refining their teaching strategies, which will help prepare them for summative peer review of teaching. The purpose of this workshop is to equip teachers with the skills and strategies necessary to engage in productive peer dialogue for formative peer review of teaching. Participants will learn how to structure and facilitate informal peer conversations by establishing a safe and supportive environment, and creating actionable plans for improvement.

They will also have the opportunity to engage in a discussion about the standards and qualities of good teaching within their own faculties. Therefore, to make the most of the workshop, all participants are encouraged to obtain and bring a copy of the Summative Peer Review of Teaching Form from their own faculty.

This workshop aims to help reviewees prepare for the summative peer review of teaching process, and is NOT the reviewer training workshop. It is a repeat of the reviewee workshop held on the 26 Feb 2024 (Monday), 17 May 2024 (Friday), and 4 October 2024 (Friday).

For information, please contact:

Ms. Miffy LEUNG

Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre

COIL Seminar Series 2025

Event Details

Date : 5, 11 & 25 Mar 2025

Time : 12:30pm – 1:30pm (HKT)

Register Now!

Abstract

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a cost-effective way of promoting internationalisation of teaching and learning through virtual exchange and teaching collaboration between tertiary institutions. This innovative approach develops students’ intercultural competence, global citizenship, and communication, collaboration and digital skills. With the mission to support teaching and learning, Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) is running a COIL seminar series in March 2025.

The seminar series is comprised of an introductory workshop on COIL framework and pedagogy and two sharing sessions of effective COIL practices in medicine, language, social sciences and business. With esteemed speakers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Monash University, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), the series will inspire participants to design their own COIL courses and plan for a COIL proposal for Teaching Development Grant (TDG) application.

Date : 5 Mar 2025 (Wed)

Time : 12:30pm – 1:30pm (HKT)

Venue : Learning Lab (RRS 321 Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus, HKU)

Speaker : Dr. Jessica To, TALIC, HKU

Video Recording
Presentation Slides from Dr. Jessica To

Abstract

This workshop guides HKU colleagues to develop their first COIL course and COIL proposal for TDG application. It begins with an introduction to COIL framework and pedagogy, followed by advice about establishing collaboration with partnered institutions and designing pedagogical activities. It then discusses how to formulate a COIL proposal and how to avoid common pitfalls in the application process.

Exploring international collaboration: A guide to COIL framework and TDG proposal development

Dr. Jessica To is a Lecturer at TALIC, The University of Hong Kong. As the COIL co-ordinator of HKU, she promotes COIL to faculty colleagues and provides advice on COIL course design and implementation. With great enthusiasm in innovative teaching and learning, she led multiple education research and teaching development grant projects in Hong Kong and Singapore. At HKU, she was awarded the Faculty Outstanding Teaching Award (Team) for her productive use of exemplars in developing students’ understanding of assessment standards. Her expertise lies in higher education pedagogy and assessment for learning. Her publications appear in prestigious peer-reviewed journals such as Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, Higher Education Research and Development, and Teaching and Teacher Education.

Date : 11 Mar 2025 (Tue)

Time : 12:30pm – 1:30pm (HK Time) / 3:30pm – 4:30pm (Melbourne Time)

Venue : Zoom

Speakers :

  • Professor Fraide Ganotice (Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, HKU) – Learning in alliance: The global Interprofessional Education at HKUMed
  • Dr. Howard Manns (Faculty of Arts, Monash University) – Stress, progress and reassess: Developing a COIL activity between Australian, Indonesian and Japanese university students

Facilitator : Dr. Jessica To, TALIC, HKU

Video Recording
Presentation Slides from Prof. Fraide Ganotice
Presentation Slides from Dr. Howard Manns

Abstract

Following the introductory workshop, this session invites academics with substantial experience in COIL to share how they manage COIL practices and navigate implementation challenges. In the first sharing, Professor Ganotice will talk about the global Interprofessional Education at HKUMed and his collaboration experience with local institutions and School of Pharmacy, University College London. In the second sharing, Dr Manns will first review the administrative, practical and pedagogical challenges in setting the COIL activity up (“stress”). Then, he will outline how students engaged with the activity and report on their experiences – both positive and negative (“progress”). Lastly, he will discuss how to use the student feedback to improve this activity each year (“reassess”). Participants could interact with both speakers after their presentations.

Learning in alliance: The global Interprofessional Education at HKUMed

Professor Fraide Ganotice is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Bau Institute for Medical and Health Sciences Education at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong. He also serves as the Program Director for the global Interprofessional Education (gIPE) programme.

The gIPE programme at HKU is one of the largest of its kind in Asia, boasting extensive multi-institutional partnerships both locally and internationally. The programme has received significant recognition, including the Gold Award at the 2021 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Reimagine Education Awards in the Hybrid Learning category, 2023 Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year of Times Higher Education, and the 2021 Teaching Innovation Award (Team Award) by The University of Hong Kong. Find out more about the IPE programme from https://www.ipe.hku.hk/.

Stress, progress and reassess: Developing a COIL activity between Australian, Indonesian and Japanese university students

Dr. Howard Manns is a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at Monash University. He is a member of the Online Intercultural Exchange (OIE) research cluster at Monash University. The OIE cluster is focused on fostering, developing and researching COIL activities on language and culture in the tertiary education space.

Beyond COIL, Dr Manns researches and teaches on language and culture, and what happens when people without the shared language and culture come into contact. His publications focus on Australian English, Indonesian and tactile Australian Sign Language.

Date : 25 Mar 2025 (Tue)

Time : 12:30pm – 1:30pm (HK Time / Singapore Time)

Venue : Zoom

Speakers :

  • Dr. Michael Rivera (Faculty of Social Sciences, HKU) – Reflections on teaching consultancy, communication and cross-cultural competencies
  • Dr. Hoo Hui Teng (Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University) – Promoting students’ intercultural capabilities via Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)

Facilitator : Dr. Jessica To, TALIC, HKU

Video Recording
Presentation Slides from Dr. Michael Rivera
Presentation Slides from Dr. Hoo Hui Teng

Abstract

As the final event of the COIL seminar series, this session discusses COIL case studies from social sciences and business. In the first sharing, Dr Rivera will share his COIL experiences and strategies in the course “Global consultants: Policymaking for social impacts” in collaboration with the University of Birmingham. In the second sharing, using the example of Dr Hoo’s course “Cultural Intelligence”, she will share how NTU students collaborate with peers from Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, India, to produce a podcast for COIL assignment. Participants could interact with both speakers after their presentations.

Reflections on teaching consultancy, communication and cross-cultural competencies

Dr. Michael Rivera is a Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Social Sciences. In collaboration with HKU’s Common Core Office and the University of Birmingham’s Liberal Arts and Sciences programme, Dr Rivera co-delivered workshops on policymaking, communication skills and global consultancy in 2022 and 2023. He teaches a broad range of courses on human societies, social issues, history and wellbeing. He is currently engaged in pedagogical research projects looking into care-based and social justice-oriented education, as well as the importance of cross-cultural exposure for students.

Promoting students’ intercultural capabilities via Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)

Dr. Hoo Hui Teng is a Senior Lecturer at Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University. She leads the Business School’s Assurance of Learning innovation which looks into pedagogies, assessments and feedback for effectual teaching and learning. Dr Hoo is a multiple teaching award educator and a recipient of several educational grants, including two NTU COIL grants in 2022 and 2024.
For information, please contact:

Ms. Miffy LEUNG

Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre

Hands-on Training and Overview of Gradescope, an AI-assisted Grading Tool

Event Details

Date : 12 February 2025 (Wednesday)
Time : 10:00am – 11:30am
Venue : Learning Lab (RRS 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus, HKU)
On-line Speakers:
  • Lyn Riverstone, Senior Solutions Engineer, Gradescope
  • Callan Rose, Senior Onboarding Consultant, Gradescope
On-Site Facilitators :
  • Dr. Law Ka Ho, Lecturer, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, HKU
  • Dr. Vindya Bhat, Demonstrator, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, HKU
  • Dr. Marian Choy, Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, HKU
Video Recording

Abstract

Gradescope is an AI-assisted grading platform that can cut grading time by up to 80%. Do you want to give personalized feedback to your students in a fraction of the time you currently spend grading assignments and exams? Would you like to use analytics on assessments to inform your students’ learning and your teaching? Register for this workshop to learn more and participate in the Gradescope pilot at HKU.

In this workshop, Gradescope will give a high-level demo of their product’s features as well as a hands-on training to use the tool’s features. These features include customizable rubrics, answer groups, bulk and shared grading, and submission and feedback management. Participants should bring a laptop to the workshop and may signup for a Gradescope account in advance with their HKU email address at www.gradescope.com.

With funding from the Faculty of Science, Gradescope is currently accessible to teachers across all faculties at HKU. Gradescope can support multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and free-response type questions. STEM departments and any department that uses bubble sheet assessments are encouraged to try it. Gradescope is integrated with Moodle to allow for ease in roster and gradebook syncing.

About the speakers

Lyn Riverstone has been a Senior Solutions Engineer at Turnitin for the past four years. Before joining Turnitin, she taught mathematics for over 20 years and used Gradescope in her own teaching. She also worked as an instructional technologist on her university’s academic technology team for three years, where she supported educators in their use of Gradescope.
Callan Rose has been a Senior Onboarding Consultant at Turnitin for two years, specialising in supporting educators and institutions across the Asia Pacific region. Before joining Turnitin, he spent a decade at a leading Australian university, where he held various roles focused on instructional design, educational technology, and staff development.
For information, please contact:

Ms. Miffy LEUNG

Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre

HKU Teaching and Learning Fellow Sharing Seminar

Event Details

Date : 15 January 2025 (Wednesday)
Time : 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Venue : Learning Lab (RRS 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus, HKU)
Speakers :
  • Dr. Vincent Tam, Principal Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
  • Ms. Nicole J. Tavares, Senior Lecturer, Academic Unit of Language and Literacy Education, Faculty of Education
  • Dr. Dana Vackova, Principal Lecturer, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
  • Dr. Jian Yang, Principal Lecturer, School of Biochemical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Facilitator : Dr. Jannie Roed, Director, TALIC
Register

Abstract

Under the aegis of the University Grant’s Committee’s (UGC) Virtual Teaching and Learning (VTL) initiative, the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) in collaboration with Faculty Associate Deans (Teaching and Learning) and the Director of the Common Core have been launching the HKU Teaching and Learning Fellows programme. In this seminar, four HKU Teaching and Learning Fellows will share the work carried out in the faculty as a result of the secondment to TALIC.

About the speakers

Dr. Vincent Tam is a Principal Lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering. He teaches a General Engineering course as well as core/elective courses in Computer Engineering.

Vincent was awarded with the Faculty Best Teacher Award (2010), Faculty Outstanding Teaching (Team) Award (2013), Faculty Outstanding Teaching (Individual) Award (2017), the Faculty Outstanding Teaching (Team) Award (2019) in HKU. In addition, he was awarded with the Fellowship (FHEA) of the AdvanceHE (formerly as the Higher Education Academy) in 2019, and has been serving as both the mentor and reviewer for the HKU Advance HE Fellowship Scheme since 2020.

His research interests include artificial intelligence, e-learning, learning analytics, mobile computing, and information visualization.

Ms. Nicole Tavares (FHEA) is Senior Lecturer in the academic unit of Language and Literacy Education at the Faculty of Education. She teaches on BA&BEd, PGDE, MEd and MA programmes, specialising in English language teaching (ELT) methodology and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). She is currently MA(TESOL) Programme Director.

Nicole has published on COIL, online teaching and learning, 21st-century skills, using educational technologies to promote teacher development, good ELT and CLIL practices, and Interactive Assessment.

Nicole has received multiple teaching awards, notably the HKU Teaching Innovation Award (2020), her Faculty’s Emergency Remote Teaching Award (2020), and HKU Outstanding Teaching Award (2015). She is keen on experimenting with innovative pedagogies and is acknowledged for her creative design of collaborative activities that maximise student voice. She enjoys professional dialogues with educators on how research informs practice and has initiated several professional development activities within her Faculty and beyond.

Dr. Dana Vackova, MD, MBA, FHKAM, FHKCCM, SFHEA is a Principal Lecturer at the School of Public Health (SPH) in the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed). She is a coordinator of the HKUMed’s MBBS Enrichment Year (EY) Humanitarian Services, member of the EY committee, BIMHSE Taskforce for Inter-professional education and a member of the HKUMed Clinical Curriculum Reform committee. She is responsible for coordinating SPH undergraduate courses, planning and developing the MBBS curriculum, and managing SPH MBBS courses and Interprofessional Education (IPE). She developed MBBS courses such as interdisciplinary HRP, Occupational Medicine, Challenges in Health Care Management and online Induction course for EY students.

Dr. Vackova received grants for medical education research and presented her research results at the international medical education conferences. She is an author of many cases for MBBS Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and case studies for MBBS students.

Dr. Vackova is a Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine, HKAM (Community Medicine) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Dr. Jian Yang graduated from Peking University Health Science Center and went on to pursue a PhD in neuroscience at University of Bristol. He joined the Department of Anatomy, the University of Hong Kong after graduation in 2007, and has devoted his passion to anatomy and histology education since 2012. He is now a Principal Lecturer in the School of Biomedical Sciences, lead in anatomy education, Coordinator of HKU Body Donation Programme, Deputy Director of Education Technology, LKS Faculty of Medicine, HKU, and Vice Chairman of Research and Development Subcommittee, Jockey Club Institute for Medical Education and Development.

He dedicates his effort to converting instructional anatomy and histology classes into indispensable active-learning experiences. His research focuses on integrating digital/mobile technology to enhance active learning in anatomy and histology labs. He is now leading the Virtual Reality Anatomy Lab and the TechMezz learning space. The current projects include creating digital active learning and peer learning platform and integrating VR-enriched tasks (VRETs) into gross anatomy classroom.

For information, please contact:

Ms. Canice MOK

Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre

Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme Seminar – Grants for overseas reciprocal visits through ‘Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme’

Event Details

Date : 3 January 2025 (Friday)

Time : 1:00pm – 2:00pm

Venue : Learning Lab (RRS 321, 3/F, Run Run Shaw Building, Main Campus, HKU)

Chairman : Prof. Olivia Leung, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), HKU Business School

Facilitator : Prof. Lily Zeng, Assistant Professor, TALIC

Register

Abstract

Grants for overseas reciprocal visits through ‘Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme’

To encourage HKU staff to introduce new ideas and innovative teaching methods by engaging with teachers from overseas universities, HKU has established the “Teaching Exchange Fellowship Scheme”. Under this scheme, HKU will provide funding up to $50,000 for reciprocal staff visits and a teaching relief grant of up to $60,000 may also be awarded to successful applicant’s department.

A seminar will be organized, open to all teaching staff, to offer a comprehensive overview of this funding scheme. The seminar aims to provide information on key objective, funding amounts, eligibility and application process. Additionally, it will offer valuable advice on preparing a successful application and guide participants on planning exchange visits to enhance the scholarship of teaching at HKU, which is the aim of the scheme. The seminar will also showcase examples, on how this funding opportunity can be used by HKU teaching staff to share experience and to collaborate on teaching and curriculum development initiatives with overseas reputable universities through reciprocal visits.

We highly recommend that staff who are considering applying for the scheme to attend the seminar. It will be beneficial for staff who attended the last seminar but didn’t have sufficient time to establish overseas connections, as well as those who are planning ahead for next application cycle (having a Friday, February 28, 2025 closing date), would also find the seminar useful. If you are unsure whether the scheme align with your teaching innovations, or if you simply want to learn more about it, you are welcome to attend. For further information, please refer to the Circular on this scheme available at https://tl.hku.hk/staff/tefs/.

For information, please contact:

Ms. Canice MOK

Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre

Exploring Motivation and Learning Strategies for Student Success

Professor Fryer, a researcher and educator, has dedicated his career to exploring the realms of motivation to learn, learning strategies, and educational technology. With over 20 years of experience in education, Professor Fryer’s research projects aim to bridge these areas, uncovering meaningful synergies, exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a learning partner and investigating how students process and integrate new knowledge. His work has both theoretical and practical implications, shedding light on student persistence, deep versus surface processing, and the integration of technology in educational settings.

Exploring the Intersection

Throughout his academic journey, Professor Fryer has delved into various themes that have shaped his research trajectory. Two enduring themes that have captivated his interest are the potential of AI as a learning partner and the limited understanding of how students process and integrate new knowledge. His early exploration in 2006, investigating students’ engagement and benefits in AI learning partners, laid the foundation for subsequent studies that examined the value of chatbots in education. With the rise of GenAI, Professor Fryer’s recent work has focused on reviews and theoretical contributions, while also spearheading large-scale research projects centered on GenAI tutors.

Probing Learning Strategies

Professor Fryer’s fascination with learning strategies emerged from his keen interest in deep versus surface processing, inspired by the Student Approaches to Learning literature. Dissatisfied with the field’s poor conceptualisation and measurement, he sought better approaches, drawing upon Patricia Alexander’s Models of Domain Learning. Collaborating with distinguished researchers such as Professor Jan Vermunt and Professor Daniel Dinsmore, Professor Fryer has published theoretical papers that harmonise these models, aiming to extract the best from both. By bridging these theoretical frameworks, his work contributes to a deeper understanding of effective learning strategies.

Unravelling Student Persistence

At the heart of Professor Fryer’s current research lies a focus on student persistence. Recognising the multitude of factors that influence this crucial aspect of education, he strives to identify those that explain the majority of variance in student persistence while being grounded in robust learning theories. Drawing upon the Four Phase Model of Interest, Social Cognitive Theory, the Model of Domain Learning, and the role of prior knowledge, Professor Fryer has undertaken empirical, large-scale studies exploring middle school students’ motivations to learn math native and foreign language. His research sheds light on the reciprocal relationship between interest, self-efficacy, self-concept, utility value, and knowledge. His work has emphasised the essential connection between student interest and self-efficacy, and how specific, often social, tasks drive interest in learning.

Leadership and International Collaboration

Collaborating with colleagues at HKU and in Japan, he has been involved in the development of software for formative testing, classroom feedback, and reading skills development. Under his supervision, Dr Alex Shum’s PhD research has explored how students can be supported in establishing and maintaining learning goals using the GEAR platform. Professor Fryer’s work in this area also includes knowledge exchange efforts, collaborating with primary schools in Japan to integrate the software into their classrooms.

In addition to leading research projects and initiatives within his field, Professor Fryer actively supports research postgraduate students in the Faculty of Education, HKU through the development of the “Starter Research Seminar Series.” This series equips research postgraduate students with essential research skills, setting them on the path to independent mastery. Professor Fryer’s leadership extends to regional and international projects. He is seeking to enhance quality assurance in Asia Pacific universities and address camp-ism in educational research. He fosters collaboration and integration among scholars from various backgrounds and recently edited a special issue in Educational Psychology Review on the topic “Hybridising our Educational Psychology Theories”, to be published in Spring 2024.

Recognised as a Top Producing Early Career Scholar

Professor Fryer’s contributions to the field have garnered recognition. He has been cited as a top producing early career scholar in educational psychology journals from 2015 to 2021 (Rank #19) and was included in the top 2% of cited researchers across all fields of study in the World’s Top 2% Scientists published by Stanford University. His research journey has positioned him as a pioneering figure in the domains of motivation to learn, learning strategies, and educational technology. His commitment to uncovering meaningful synergies, harnessing the potential of AI, and understanding student persistence has led to significant contributions to the field.

Prof. Luke Kutszik FRYER

Assistant Director / Associate Professor
Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre 

Transforming Ideas into Impact – Collaborate, Co-create and Contribute

The Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) is a unit dedicated to supporting teachers in various teaching and learning (T&L) activities in the University. Being a key member of Innovation pillar in TALIC, Dr Carson Hung works with teachers on developing EdTech projects, and integrate them into courses to engage students without the border of the learning curve of innovative technologies.

A Companion in EdTech Tools Development

As an E-learning Technologist with extensive knowledge and experience in system and app development, Dr Hung serves as a consultant as well as a go-to person for teachers who are eager to adopt innovative technologies in the classroom to engage students but lacking of resources and expertise to attain the goals. Under Dr Hung’s leadership, a team of experienced web developers and game developers has developed number of tools including VR/AR apps, web platforms and mobile apps. He was the project lead in the development of well-received VR/AR apps, including “Crime Scene Simulation app”, “Nursing Practicum Simulation app”, and “Public Speech Practice app”, in collaboration with Department of Pathology, School of Nursing and School of Chinese respectively. The team has also developed several web platforms include VideoVox, Peer Evaluation Platform (PEP), and Dentistry Corpus. These platforms serve different purposes and support various aspects of T&L. In addition, Dr Hung has created various T&L related mobile apps published on iOS and android play stores, such as “Chemapp” and “Newssary”. In the process of EdTech tools development, Dr Hung works closely with teachers on various aspects, from feasibility studies, project effort estimation, best practices in usage in T&L to on-site technical support during the class, etc.

Apart from system and app development, Dr Hung manages two key consultation channels which are opened for HKU members for e-learning questions, ranging from AI literacy, video production, and online platform development to pedagogy advice. Teachers can reach out for timely technological support through a WhatsApp Hotline and a One-to-One Consultation Appointment Service. The two channels contributed significantly to the smooth transition to fully online teaching during COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Hung also works with teachers on the online modules to support pedagogy innovation. He is in-charging of the maintenance of the HKU Online Learning platform – https://learning.hku.hk which now hosting over 70 online courses developed by different faculties and units.

The Driving Force of T&L Innovation

Dr Hung believes that technology development is instrumental in driving T&L innovation forward. From the invention of computer, the widespread of the Internet, the emergence of mobile phone with touch screen and mobile apps, the adoption of virtual T&L tools to the recent rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), technology does not only change our daily life but also brings tremendous opportunities in redesigning T&L activities. With Dr Hung’s support, a Common Core teacher has created an immersive learning experience through virtual reality simulation of the authentic situation – the crime scene simulation on the Oculus Quest 2 VR headset. The advancement in AI technology, in particular ChatGPT, DALL-E, makes educators sees the possibility of delivering personalised learning experiences through instant feedback.

Dr Hung highlighted that the pace of technology advancement was rapidly accelerating, the way it changed the world, in particular in T&L was unimaginable 20 years ago. We should stay open-minded and embrace the challenges to take full advantage of all these advancements. 

Dr. Carson Ka Shun HUNG

Lecturer / E-learning Technologist
Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre 

Helping Students Thrive Through Data Analytics, Learning Innovation, and Advanced Technology

The central mission of the Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) is to provide holistic and innovative solutions to advance the student learning experience. As the Assistant Director at TALIC, Dr. Maggie Zhao envisions herself as a dynamic catalyst for innovation in teaching and learning. Through persistently seeking inventive educational strategies and harnessing the power of data analytics, she is dedicated to nurturing the intellectual and personal thriving of HKU students. 

A notable example of Dr. Zhao’s efforts to utilize data analytics for enhancing teaching and learning can be seen in her leadership and engagement in institutional surveys for over a decade, where she has directed the administration, analysis, and reporting of these surveys. The Student Learning Experience Questionnaire (SLEQ) and the Student Feedback on Teaching and Learning (SFTL), for example, gather valuable insights into students’ learning experiences, enabling teachers to make informed decisions on curriculum design and pedagogical methods as well as identify strengths and areas for improvement, leading to enriched student learning experiences.

In alignment with TALIC’s commitment to evidence-based practices, Dr. Zhao has led the team to transform the SLEQ survey into an internationally recognised instrument through dedicated research efforts, psychometric advancements, and journal publications. The accomplishments under her leadership have garnered recognition from UNESCO’s Network on Education Quality Monitoring in the Asia-Pacific, facilitating the exchange of good practices on student assessment within the region. These endeavours showcase the value of data analytics in informing the enhancement of educational practices and student learning experiences, both locally and globally. By providing teachers with the necessary tools for data-driven decisions, a culture of continuous improvement and innovation is being cultivated, ultimately enriching student flourishing. 

Student flourishing has evolved beyond academics, with non-academic capabilities now holding equal significance. The SLEQ revealed the need to improve student resilience and wellbeing, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. As a positive psychologist, Dr. Zhao introduced several initiatives like WeThrive, a credit-bearing programme that developed innovative pedagogies to cultivate students’ strengths, resilience, and wellbeing. Supported by the Teaching Development Grant, WeThrive has been very well received by students, contributing to the enhancement of their cognitive, emotional, and behavioural thriving. Dr. Zhao’s dedication to helping students thrive through research, teaching, and consultation has led to her election as President of the International Positive Psychology Association Education Division, further empowering her to support students in a competitive academic landscape.

The higher education landscape has been profoundly influenced by recent technological advancements like artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Zhao believes that AI innovations have created new opportunities for personalised and enriched learning experiences shaped by data-driven insights. From the perspective of Dr. Zhao, innovative technologies like Generative AI play a unique role in transforming the higher education landscape.

Dr. Zhao highlights that teaching and learning innovation is a dynamic process that integrates creative educational strategies, data analytics advancements, and cutting-edge technologies, all aimed at enhancing student learning experiences and helping students thrive. As technology continues to evolve, she deems it essential to stay at the forefront and employ the latest tools and resources to foster an engaging and positive teaching and learning environment. With her extensive engagement in HKU’s teaching and learning developments over the past decade, Dr. Zhao looks forward to continuously working with the TALIC Director, colleagues, and stakeholders to drive meaningful change in teaching and learning at the University.

Dr. Maggie Yue ZHAO

Assistant Director / Senior Lecturer
Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre 

Speak Up with VR! TALIC Presents “VR Public Speaking Practice”at eLearning Forum Asia 2024

Reflecting on eLFA2024: Innovations in EdTech at Hong Kong Baptist University

In the vibrant setting of Hong Kong Baptist University, eLearning Forum Asia (eLFA) 2024 unfolded over December 4-5, 2024, showcasing the cutting edge of educational technology. This event turned out to be a pivotal gathering for educators, technologists, and innovators from across the globe.

As a proud supporting partner, HKU’s Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TALIC) played a significant role in the conference. Their EdTech booth became a hub of excitement and exploration, drawing attendees eager to witness the latest advancements in teaching and learning technologies.

One of the standout features of the booth was the VR public speaking project. Equipped with Oculus Quest 3 headsets, visitors were transported into a virtual environment designed to hone their public speaking skills. The project also featured an AI-driven VR Interview prototype, offering participants a realistic simulation of interview scenarios. This hands-on experience allowed attendees to interact directly with the development team, providing invaluable feedback that will shape the future of these innovative tools.

The engagement at the booth was remarkable, with participants immersing themselves in the VR experiences and offering insights that will drive further enhancements. The event underscored the transformative potential of VR in education, demonstrating how these technologies can create dynamic and interactive learning environments.

VR Public Speaking Practice

Students often find public speaking challenging due to psychological factors such as the presence of a large audience, distracting noises like conversations and phone ringing, and unexpected disruptions caused by technical or non-technical issues. In order to help students overcome their fear of public speaking, TALIC partnered with the School of Chinese teachers to create virtual reality (VR) public speaking scenarios. This allows students to practice their public speaking skills in a virtual environment using an Oculus VR headset. 

Students deliver speeches to a virtual audience in different environments, settings, rooms, background sounds, and times of delivery. They have the opportunity to upload their own PowerPoint presentations into the virtual environment that simulates the real setting and practice their speech using a timer. The scenarios currently provide a variety of Chinese courses catering to students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Dr. Carson Ka Shun HUNG

Lecturer / E-learning Technologist
Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre