The unstoppable wave of artificial intelligence (AI) development has resulted in an unprecedented transformation of teaching and learning. Three professors at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) have effectively used AI to develop innovative teaching models in the fields of social work, translation and data science, offering students a learning experience that is more closely aligned with the demands of the times.

The three winners of the Teaching Excellence Award (TEA) 2024/25 are Professor Chan Siu-ming, Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS); Professor Xiu Yan, Department of Linguistics and Translation in the CLASS, and Professor Condon Lau, Department of Physics in the College of Science.

Using AI to simulate case scenarios and cultivate empathy in social workers

Professor Chan Siu-Ming believes that social workers should possess both empathy and professional skills to effectively serve the community. To that end, he takes students into the community to visit disadvantaged groups, allowing them to gain valuable experience and inspiration. The student teams further applied what they learned to research and develop 12 AI chatbots, simulating scenarios for residents of subdivided flats, new immigrants, injured cleaners, and others, while equipping them with detailed character backgrounds and simulated dialogue scripts.

Additionally, he collaborated with Dr Nelson Tam Wai-yiu from the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences and the Society for Innovation in Social Work to design six AI characters that simulate the situations of various disadvantaged groups, such as students facing academic pressure, transgender youth, and teenagers dealing with family issues. Students can interact with these AI cases to conduct group discussions and practice, thereby improving their counselling skills anytime, anywhere.

Professor Chan stated, “I hope our students will become social workers with both empathy and practical skills, responding to society’s diverse needs with innovative approaches and care.”

AI-assisted translation teaching, reflecting on professional values

Facing the rise of AI translation tools, Professor Xiu Yan sees them as valuable teaching aids. She uses AI to generate various types of source texts, expanding the options for teaching materials while overcoming ethical and legal obligations that may arise when using authentic materials.

Professor Yan guides students in comparing the differences between AI and human translations, engaging in editing practice and delving into the essence of translation. Students can acquire the ability to evaluate AI translation outcomes by having a deeper understanding of the information and contextual comprehension required for advanced translation, and by equipping themselves with professional judgment and guidance.

 

Moreover, Professor Yan utilises AI-generated voices to simulate various interpreting scenarios, enhancing students’ adaptability in different interpretation situations.

Professor Yan said, “In the ‘Interpretation Methodology’ course, we select different topics each week to expose students to diverse and interesting content and stimulate their enthusiasm for learning. Audio description is also a new experience that broadens students’ horizons, providing abundant knowledge and inspiration.”

AI staining technology assisting medical care, encouraging student innovation

Professor Condon Lau was awarded the newly added TEA for ‘Digital Learning’ this year, in recognition of his use of digital tools to enhance the student learning experience.

Professor Lau and his team developed the “AIstain” system, which can complete lymphoma cell staining analysis within minutes to diagnose diseases in cats and dogs. The technology has undergone clinical testing at CityUHK Veterinary Medical Centre and has become the basis of a startup under HKTech300, the University’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship programme.

Through his courses, Professor Lau encourages his students to develop innovative medical AI systems based on AIstain, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration between students from the College of Science and the College of Computing. He also utilises AI-generated image tools in a “flipped classroom” model to stimulate students’ interest in cross-disciplinary AI learning.

He stated, “I look forward to students continuously exploring in the AI field, seeking to surpass existing technologies and create more innovative applications for society.”

CityUHK established the TEA in 1993 to recognise excellent teachers and encourage teaching innovation. Each winner receives a prize of HK$15,000 and a teaching development fund of HK$150,000.

Professor Lee Chun Sing, Provost and Deputy President, praised the outstanding contributions of the three award-winning professors, and looked forward to their continued success in enhancing students’ learning experience.