Abstract:
Current use of generative AI in education is often a lonely, isolated experience, with a single student interacting with a chatbot. This limits collaboration and leaves teachers out of the learning process. However, teachers themselves often feel unprepared to integrate AI into their teaching, lacking the digital competencies, pedagogical knowledge, and confidence needed to use AI effectively.
Our project directly addresses this gap by developing and implementing a comprehensive Staff Professional Development (SPD) program to build teachers’ AI literacy and teaching competencies with generative AI. Drawing on the(Ng et al., 2023) DigCompEdu framework for teachers’ AI competency and (Kohnke, 2023) “AI playground” approach, we adopt the Intelligent-TPACK (I-TPACK) framework (Chiu, 2026) as a reconceptualization of the traditional TPACK framework (Mishra & Koehler, 2006) specifically designed for the AI era. I-TPACK integrates AI literacy and competency as foundational pillars, introducing five interdependent knowledge domains: I-Technological Knowledge (I-TK), I-Content Knowledge (I-CK), I-Pedagogical Knowledge (I-PK), Human-AI Collaboration Knowledge (HAIC-K), and Ethical Knowledge (Ethics-K). This framework will guide 30-40 EdUHK instructors through a four-phase, 18-month SPD journey:
- Awareness & Foundational AI Literacy (Summer 2026) – 3-session AI playground + 8 self-paced micro-modules on Moodle
- Pedagogical Integration & I-TPACK Development (Sem 1 2026-27) – Subject-specific Design Studios + Peer Coaching Circles
- Evaluation & Community Building (Sem 2 2026-27) – Guided low-stakes classroom trials + SPD Showcase Symposium
- Advanced Competencies & Train-the-Trainer (2027-28) – Advanced Masterclasses + Certification of AI Pedagogy Facilitators for Departments and Faculties
To support SPD and classroom trials, we will enhance our award-winning platform, YoChatGPT! (rebranded as CollabSpace.AI), adding features such as Student/Teacher/Admin Dashboards, Collective Intelligence Dashboards, and ProGenAI MOVA-powered nudges and messages.
The project will rigorously evaluate teachers’ AI competency development (via pre/post surveys aligned with DigCompEdu and student learning outcomes in 10 demonstration courses (via validated instruments, collective intelligence measurements). We will produce a portfolio of SPD resources (workshop materials, AI Pedagogy Playbook, implementation guides), an enhanced CollabSpace.AI platform, and four SOTL articles on (1) SPD program design, (2) teachers’ AI competency development, (3) CoGenAI pedagogies in demonstration courses, (4) collective intelligence measurement framework
Principal Project Supervisors:
Keywords provided by authors:
- Active Teaching Pedagogies
- Collaborative Generative AI Pedagogies
- Student learning outcomes
- Staff Professional Development
- Teacher’s AI digital competencies
- Collective Intelligence Measurements
- I-TPACK
Start Date:
01 Apr 2026
End Date:
31 Mar 2028
Status:
Ongoing
Impact:
Direct Impact (100-150 Students in 10 Demonstration Courses)
Enhanced Higher-Order Thinking Skills: Students in demonstration courses will develop stronger:
- Critical thinking through evaluating AI-generated solutions, critiquing AI reasoning, comparing multiple AI outputs
- Problem-solving through IBL with concept prompts, Chain-of-Thought scaffolding, ProGenAI nudges when groups are stuck
- Creative thinking through Superminds’ scaffolding for design thinking, AI-assisted brainstorming for group projects
Evidence from our previous TDG demonstrates (Ting, et al., 2025; Ting & Chan, 2025) that students using YoChatGPT! developed significantly stronger critical thinking and problem-solving skills through CoGenAI pedagogies
Improved Academic Performance: Pre/post data will measure:
- Conceptual understanding (CCI for calculus, CAOS for statistics, concept tests for discipline-specific topics)
- Academic performance (assignment/exam scores in demonstration courses vs. control groups, analyzed via multilevel difference-in-differences models)
- Deep learning approaches (r-SPQ survey: surface vs. deep learning)
Increased Metacognition and Learner Autonomy: Students will develop:
- Metacognitive skills through reflection journals, self-explanations of problem-solving processes, peer feedback activities
- Learning autonomy through personalized concept prompts, self-paced AI-assisted practice, self-regulated learning supported by PLSI (see [9])
Enhanced Collective Intelligence of Groups: Using enhanced IICG formula, we will demonstrate:
- Better participation balance (measured via messages per team member on CollabSpace.AI)
- More productive conversational turn-taking (fewer consecutive messages from same person = more equitable dialogue)
- Effective AI integration (% of AI suggestions incorporated into group solutions)
- Efficient solution pathways (productive steps / total steps)
Fostered Positive Attitudes Toward AI in Learning: Pre/post surveys will measure shifts in students’:
- Attitudes toward AI in education (from fear/skepticism to viewing AI as learning partner)
- Self-efficacy with AI tools (confidence in using AI ethically and effectively)
- Digital citizenship (understanding when/how to use AI responsibly)
Cascading Impact (Future Students of 30-40 SPD-Trained Instructors)
Wider Reach: Even though only 6-8 courses pilot during the TDG period, the 30-40 SPD-trained instructors will integrate CoGenAI pedagogies into their courses mid to post-TDG, potentially benefiting:
- 1,500-2,000 students annually (assuming each instructor teaches 2-3 courses/year with 25-30 students/course)
- Cumulative impact of 7,500-10,000 students over 5 years post-TDG
Quality Improvement: SPD-trained instructors will:
- Design higher-quality AI-integrated assessments (moving from “AI-resistant” to “AI-integrated” approaches)
- Facilitate deeper collaborative learning (using Peer Coaching Circle insights, Design Studio peer feedback)
- Model ethical AI use (informed by SPD Phase 1 Session 3 on AI ethics)
Financial Year:
2025-26
Type:
TDG