Training Program on the "Application of AI in Teaching for University Lecturers"

Lac Hong University (LHU) recently hosted the Master Teacher Training (MTT) course, a comprehensive professional development program aimed at equipping university faculty members with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape. Held weekly on Saturdays from January 4th to January 18th, 2025, the course brought together a diverse group of educators, including newly recruited faculty members, experienced lecturers, and staff from partner institutions.

The MTT course, which is conducted annually, has been a cornerstone of LHU’s commitment to enhancing the pedagogical capabilities of its faculty, as well as educators from other universities. This year’s workshop focused on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and assessment. The program aimed to provide participants with the tools and understanding needed to incorporate AI effectively into their teaching practices, thus ensuring they are well-equipped to engage with the challenges and opportunities of modern education. The success of this year's workshop has set a strong foundation for future courses, reaffirming the university’s role as a leader in educational innovation.

Drive for Change

The AI era is revolutionising the educational sector. Far from being a mere support tool, AI has emerged as a catalyst for comprehensive transformation, reshaping how educators approach teaching and assessment. The incorporation of AI into education calls for a shift in mindset, with educators encouraged to adopt an open attitude towards AI-supported teaching methods. Developing essential AI skills is no longer optional but necessary to keep pace with technological advancements. It is crucial for teachers to not only understand the role of AI in education but to confidently utilise these technologies to enhance their teaching effectiveness and improve student outcomes.

Blended Learning

Blended learning, which combines online and face-to-face instruction, has become a pivotal teaching approach in today’s educational environment. The MTT course focused on how to design and implement effective blended learning programs that engage students in both physical classrooms and virtual spaces. By leveraging AI, educators can create more dynamic and personalised learning experiences. AI tools can help track student progress, tailor content to individual learning needs, and ensure that every student has access to the resources they need to succeed. Blended learning fosters flexibility and accessibility, allowing students to learn at their own pace while receiving the support they need from their teachers.

Design Thinking

One of the key strategies promoted during the training was design thinking. This approach encourages educators to cultivate higher-order thinking skills in students by adopting innovative teaching strategies that challenge students to engage with problems creatively. Through design thinking, students learn to approach problems from multiple perspectives and to develop solutions that are both practical and inventive. Educators are encouraged to incorporate AI tools into their lesson plans to facilitate this kind of thinking, using AI-driven simulations, real-world problem scenarios, and interactive learning activities. This focus on creativity and innovation is critical for preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

AI in Education

The potential of AI tools in education is vast, offering a range of opportunities to enhance both teaching and learning. AI facilitates personalized learning by tailoring educational experiences to individual students' needs, making learning more effective and engaging. In addition to personalized learning, AI can automate assessment processes, providing teachers with insights into student progress without the need for time-consuming manual grading. By embracing AI, educators can unlock new possibilities for instructional design and create a more efficient, dynamic classroom environment.

AI in Teaching Activity Design

When designing lesson plans, educators can use AI to align activities with specific learning outcomes across the three domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy: knowledge, skills, and attitudes. AI tools can support teachers in crafting activities that cater to different learning styles as outlined by Kolb’s Learning Styles, ensuring that each student’s needs are met. In addition, integrating blended learning strategies into the lesson plan allows for a more flexible and adaptive learning experience, while AI helps streamline the creation of engaging, active learning experiences, such as STEAM and STEM projects, that promote critical thinking and collaboration.

AI in Lesson Design

AI’s role in lesson design is pivotal, offering teachers the ability to create highly engaging, multimodal learning materials. For example, AI can be used to design interactive slides, create presentations, and generate multimedia resources such as images, videos, songs, and even storybooks that illustrate key concepts in the lesson. These AI-generated materials can enhance the learning experience by catering to diverse learning preferences, making lessons more engaging and accessible to all students. This integration of AI in lesson design is a powerful tool for modernizing the classroom and increasing student engagement.

 The educators participating in the training session actively posed questions and conducted thorough discussions on the application of AI in education.

AI in Designing Multiple-Choice Questions

AI is also revolutionizing the process of creating multiple-choice questions for assessments. By analysing the lesson content and objectives, AI tools can generate questions that test various cognitive levels according to Bloom’s Taxonomy. This ensures that assessments accurately measure student understanding across a range of learning levels, from basic recall to more advanced analysis and application. This method not only improves the efficiency of assessment creation but also ensures that evaluations are aligned with course goals and learning outcomes.

AI in Testing and Assessment 

AI has the potential to revolutionize assessment and evaluation practices by offering more accurate, efficient, and personalized grading systems. AI can help design tests and evaluations that align with learning outcomes and automatically adjust the level of difficulty based on individual student progress. Furthermore, AI tools can assist in creating rubrics that standardize grading and make the assessment process more transparent. Integrating AI into the grading process not only saves time but also improves the consistency and accuracy of evaluations, providing teachers with more meaningful data on student performance.

AI in Scientific Research

Incorporating AI tools such as ChatGPT into research processes offers significant advantages for both educators and students. By training faculty members to effectively use ChatGPT, the Master Teacher Training course equips them with a powerful tool to support their research and teaching. ChatGPT can assist in generating ideas, formulating research questions, and even drafting content for academic papers. Additionally, it provides real-time support in literature review and data analysis, helping researchers streamline their work. For students, ChatGPT serves as a valuable resource for developing personal projects, guiding them through the stages of research, and offering feedback on their writing. The use of AI in research not only enhances productivity but also fosters a more collaborative and efficient academic environment, enabling educators and students to focus on critical thinking and innovation.

LHU's Commitment

Lac Hong University remains firmly committed to creating an innovative, sustainable educational ecosystem that leverages AI to enhance teaching and learning. The university’s investment in continuous professional development for educators, such as the MTT course, reflects its dedication to providing high-quality education and fostering lifelong learning among educators. By incorporating AI into every aspect of the teaching process, LHU is preparing its educators to thrive in a digital-first world.

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Lac Hong University is determined to continue expanding its use of AI in education, integrating cutting-edge technologies into both teaching practices and student learning experiences. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, the university aims to create an educational environment where technology and AI are seamlessly embedded into every lesson. This vision will not only enhance the learning experience for students but also equip future generations with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in an increasingly digital world.