Session Type: Invited Workshops
Date and Time: 9:00 – 12:30, 5 January 2026 (Monday)
Venue: WK-S402 and WK-S403, PolyU West Kowloon Campus
Workshop 1: Human in the Loop: A Framework for Guiding Learners Through the Use of AI
Time: 9:00 – 10:30
Venue: WK-S402
Speakers: Dr. Crisianee Berry, East Carolina Berry; Annetta Dolowitz, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Mr. Noble Lo, LC, PolyU CPCE
Abstract:
This interactive workshop introduces a five-step reflective interaction model for using AI in the design of learning materials. The framework equips educators, trainers, and professionals with practical strategies to apply AI responsibly while fostering learner agency, critical thinking, and AI fluency.
Grounded in competency-based education, experiential learning, and iterative instructional design, the model integrates insights from reflection cycles, social and sociocultural learning theories, and adaptive coaching frameworks. Together, these foundations provide a research-informed, flexible approach to AI-supported instructional design across academic and industry settings.
Participants will:
- Explore the framework’s design, development, and theoretical underpinnings
- Review findings from completed research phases and upcoming studies
- Apply the model through guided, hands-on activities
- Discuss adaptations for diverse international and interdisciplinary contexts
By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical tools for incorporating reflective practice into AI-enabled learning design—supporting equitable and effective transitions from student learning to workforce application.
Speaker Bio:
Dr Crisianee Berry is an assistant professor in Instructional Technology at East Carolina University. She specializes in the development of instructional materials and multimedia designed to support diverse learner needs. Leveraging her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her M.A. in Biomedical Communication from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, she integrates learning theory with emerging technologies to create evidence-based teaching strategies, effectively bridging the gap between technical communication and pedagogical practice. Her recent research and publications focus on the integration of generative artificial intelligence and assistive technologies, with work appearing in the Journal of Interactive Learning Research, Childhood Education, and the Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching.
Dr. Berry is an active presenter at international and national conferences, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE), and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). She currently contributes to grant-funded initiatives such as the North Carolina New Teacher Support Program (NTSP) and the Google-funded PrepareCS Project. She identifies essential workplace needs to inform training programs that equip students for career readiness. Her recent projects include the exploration of the impact of Generative AI on both industry and academia and the investigation of communication and collaboration skills needed by instructional designers. Additionally, she regularly facilitates workshops focused on professional development, innovative pedagogy and the implementation of AI-driven strategies in the classroom.
Dr. Annetta Dolowitz is an instructional designer, facilitator, and Visiting Professor of Management at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business. She has designed and delivered training and academic courses for more than three decades across higher education, nonprofit, and corporate contexts, drawing on a PhD in Instructional Design and Development and graduate degrees in public health and social work to ground her work in systems thinking and learner-centered, evidence-based practice. Her publications on team-based learning, microlearning, and instructional design collaboration include multiple articles in New Directions for Teaching and Learning, a TechTrends article on microlearning app design for NATO employees, the widely cited “Off to On: Best Practices for Online Team-Based Learning™️” white paper published by the Team-Based Learning Collaborative, practitioner-oriented work in nursing and professional education, an article in the Journal of Applied Instructional Design, and a chapter in the open-access volume Theories to Influence the Future of Learning Design and Technology. As a certified team-based learning consultant and corporate trainer, she designs seminars on management, leadership, communication, stress management, public speaking, and HIPAA-compliant communication, frequently integrating gamification and motivation strategies to enhance engagement and skill transfer. Her current research interests focus on critical reflection coaching and the use of generative artificial intelligence to support instructional design and team-based learning, including an in-progress manuscript for the Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability (JPED) Special Issue on artificial intelligence.
Noble Lo is a Lecturer at the College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has published widely across education, law, literature, and translation, with work appearing in leading Q1 journals. He also reviews for several SSCI‑indexed journals. His recent co‑edited books include Critical Reflections on ICT and Education (2023) and Transcending Boundaries in the Digital Age (2025). His research focuses on technology‑enhanced learning, multimodal literacy, and student engagement.
Workshop 2: From Artificial Intelligence Generated Content to Immersive Content Creation: XRCC Workshop
Time: 9:00 – 10:30
Venue: WK-S403
Speakers: Mr Manson Chung, Business Development Manager, Votanic
Abstract:
Want to turn generative AI assets into a real VR experience—without coding? This hands-on workshop uses XRCC (XR Content Creator) to guide complete beginners from zero to a publishable VR prototype. You’ll learn step‑by‑step how to create VR content from scratch, including importing AIGC outputs (images, 3D assets, motion, audio) into XRCC and assembling an interactive scene. By the end, you’ll have a working VR mini‑experience and a repeatable workflow that you can apply to different projects.
Speaker Bio:
Manson Chung is a veteran VR professional and Business Development Manager at VOTANIC, specializing in enterprise‑grade immersive solutions across CAVE environments and no‑code creation with XRCC. He focuses on translating creative and operational requirements into scalable VR concepts, aligning content, hardware, and deployment to deliver reliable multi‑device experiences.
With extensive experience integrating AIGC assets into XRCC workflows, Manson streamlines content pipelines, asset standards, and review processes that accelerate prototyping and reduce production risk. He has supported institutions and teams on fast‑turn initiatives—from learning modules and exhibitions to brand showcases—helping them move from concept to polished demo with clear roadmaps and stakeholder alignment.
In VR education, Manson has partnered with 50+ schools across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels to co‑create immersive programs and showcase projects using XRCC and CAVE setups. These collaborations have expanded access to no‑code VR creation, established repeatable practices for campuses, and enabled non‑technical teams to deliver compelling, curriculum‑aligned experiences at scale.
Workshop 3: Use of AI Chatbots in assessment practices
Time: 11:00 – 12:30
Venue: WK-S402
Speaker: Dr. Edmund Wut, BHM, PolyU CPCE
Abstract:
AI Chatbots have been used in higher education for a few years. Chatbots have been found that they are useful in teaching and learning. There are debates on the role of AI Chatbots in the process of assessment preparation and marking. Best practices and possible solutions will be presented. Further applications and research directions on the topic are suggested.
Speaker Bio:
Dr Wut is a senior lecturer of the Division of Business and Hospitality Management, where he teaches courses in crisis management and research methods. He obtained his MSc in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Hong Kong and PhD from University of South Australia. His interdisciplinary research interests cover crisis management, corporate social responsibility and research methods. He obtained external competitive grants from Faculty Development Scheme, Inter-institutional Development Scheme and Quality Enhancement Support Scheme.
Workshop 4: Responsible Use of AI for Assessment and Feedback – Regulations, Tools, and Best Practices
Time: 11:00 – 12:30
Venue: WK-S403
Speaker: Dr Alexander Hein, Co-founder, Head of Product and Growth, Claire Labs; Adjunct Professor, HKBU
Abstract:
As AI tools become increasingly embedded in higher education, educators and institutions must navigate their adoption with care and clarity. This 1.5-hour workshop provides a practical introduction to current AI regulatory frameworks and explores concrete strategies for deploying AI ethically and responsibly in assessment and feedback contexts.
Overview
As generative AI accelerates into classrooms and learning management systems, universities face growing pressure to adopt these tools while staying aligned with emerging regulation, academic integrity standards, and institutional values.
This 1.5-hour workshop offers a practical, non-technical roadmap for integrating AI into assessment and feedback in ways that are rigorous, ethical, and sustainable. Participants will briefly discuss the most influential AI regulatory frameworks shaping higher education across key regions, with an emphasis on what they imply for assessment design, grading practices, and feedback workflows.
We will then examine Claire, an AI-first assessment and feedback platform grounded in human-centric design, to see how responsible AI principles can be operationalized in real institutional contexts. Using concrete scenarios drawn from university teaching, we will explore how to:
- Identify and mitigate risks such as algorithmic bias, data privacy breaches, and threats to academic integrity
- Structure AI-supported assessment and feedback processes that remain transparent, explainable, and auditable
- Keep academic judgment, disciplinary standards, and pedagogical intent firmly at the center of AI-enabled systems
By the end of the session, participants will be equipped to interrogate AI tools used in assessment and feedback, distinguish substantive capabilities from marketing rhetoric, and make more confident, informed decisions about if and how to adopt them in their own institutional settings.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding of leading AI regulatory frameworks and their implications for university assessment and feedback
- A sharper view of concrete risks and ethical challenges when deploying AI in higher education contexts
- Real examples of human-centric AI design in practice, drawn from the Claire platform
- Greater confidence in asking the right questions of vendors and internal stakeholders when considering AI-enabled assessment and feedback tools
Target Audience
Educators, program and course leaders, academic administrators, instructional designers, and colleagues involved in policy, quality assurance, or educational technology related to assessment and feedback
Speaker Bio:
Alexander HEIN is an adjunct professor at the School of Business, Hong Kong Baptist University, where he teaches postgraduate courses on entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.
He is also the co-founder of Claire Labs, a research-to-market initiative supported by the INSEAD AI Venture Lab, Google Cloud, and the University of Zürich, aimed at bringing responsible, human-centric AI to assessment and feedback.
He has a background in technology, banking, and consulting, and has partnered with financial institutions and development organizations across Europe, Central, and Southeast Asia on digital strategy and innovation.
In both his teaching and product work, Alex focuses on venture creation, emerging technologies, and the responsible deployment of AI to support, rather than replace, human workforce.