This event highlighted the increasing importance of AI in education and the vital role that educators should play in driving innovation. More than 2,000 faculty and staff members from various disciplines and departments participated.

 

The event featured more than 70 workshops and presentations that colleagues had planned and delivered across various YCYW campuses during the two days. In accordance with the theme of "The Future of Education", the sessions provided practical strategies and resources for integrating AI into our work. The goals have been to support student learning, enhance classroom engagement, streamline administrative tasks, and foster creative teaching approaches. Our efforts will shape the future of education at YCYW.

In the event's opening address, Dr Betty Chan Po-king, CEO & School Supervisor of YCYW, encouraged the learning community to reflect on how the roles of educators are evolving in the digital age. She emphasised the importance of acquiring new skills in order to remain effective as educators and to lead the necessary changes.
 

Keynote speakers Professor William Cope and Professor Mary Kalantzis from the University of Illinois Urban-Champaign shared their insights about generative AI from a semantic perspective. They discussed "cyber-social intelligence," a concept that highlights how teachers will increasingly become guides who help students navigate their learning journeys in a rapidly changing world. The speakers emphasised the necessity for teachers to develop AI literacy in order to help their students prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.

"Their expertise underscores an important point: while AI can process vast amounts of data and offer new efficiencies, the human qualities we bring—our empathy, creativity, and critical thinking—remain irreplaceable," Dr Chan noted.

In addition to seminars and training sessions led by renowned international experts, the Professional Development event included themed workshops conducted by YCYW's internal team of specialists.

Students from Yew Chung and Yew Wah schools also contributed by sharing their experiences using AI in their studies. They reflected on learning with AI from both ethical perspectives and transcendent thinking perspectives. Their insights added a valuable vantage point to understand how we should integrate AI responsibly into education.

As we continue to embrace technological advancements, events like these Professional Development Days reaffirm our commitment to innovative educational practices that empower both educators and students. Together, we are shaping a future where learning will be enriched by technology while remaining grounded in ethical considerations.

"We need to ensure that we're teaching students not only how to us AI, but also how to approach it with critical thinking and empathy. We have to be conscious of the potential biases in AI algorithms, privacy concerns, and the impact AI might have on our students' learning experiences. Using AI ethically will ensure it benefits everyone in the long term," said Dr Troy Lui Tsz-tak, Chief Education Officer & Head of Curriculum and Professional Development Division of YCYW.