On November 28, XJTLU’s Centre for Knowledge and Information successfully hosted the “AI Learning Day: From Awareness to Practice” event. The event aimed to showcase how artificial intelligence (AI) can transition from theoretical understanding to practical application, empowering learning, teaching, and research development.

Professor Qiu-Ling Chao, Vice President of XJTLU, Dr. Xin Bi, Director of the Centre for Knowledge and Information, and faculty and students from various departments gathered together to explore the new models and opportunities AI technology brings to education through thematic talks and interactive booth showcase. This event not only enhanced participants' understanding of AI technology but also provided them with hands-on opportunities to experience how AI is empowering education, sparking further reflection on the future of learning.

AI Learning Day: From Awareness to Practice

Thematic presentations: Envisioning an AI-Driven Future for Education

The event opened with a welcoming speech by Professor Qiu-Ling Chao, Vice President of XJTLU. She emphasized, "AI offers us an opportunity to rethink education, helping us create a more equitable, efficient, and personalized learning environment. I hope that today, participants will not only recognize the potential of AI but also discover innovative pathways that can be applied in their own practices."

Following this, Ms. Jing Wang, Deputy Director of the Learning Mall, launched the university's new "XIPU AI 3.0 platform," showcasing how the platform integrates various advanced large language models to provide diverse solutions, from personalized learning to knowledge management. She invited faculty and students to actively explore the platform’s capabilities and share their experiences and insights.

Dr. Tim London, Director of Learning and Teaching from AoFE, then presented his thoughts on the relationship between AI and higher education. He pointed out that in the era of AI, we must consider the role universities should play in fostering AI literacy. How can AI technologies be integrated into our academic offerings to better assist students? It is essential to rethink how AI aligns with higher education’s mission and goals.

Interactive Booths: A Comprehensive Experience from Awareness to Practice

The "Interactive Booths" session became one of the highlights of AI Learning Day. Participants had the opportunity to explore 14 booths, each presenting innovative AI applications across various fields. These booths were organized by different departments, showcasing the practical implementation of AI in areas such as the Design School, the School of Languages, the School of Science, the Learning Mall, the library, the MITS, the UMC, and the Museum.

XIPU AI: AI-Empowered Learning and Teaching Innovation

At the booths, participants could engage with AI tools, experiencing their functionality firsthand, and interact with staff members to discuss how AI can optimize learning, teaching, and management processes. The booths covered a wide range of topics, including personalized learning solutions offered by the XIPU AI platform, the intelligent enhancements to library services through LibAI Portal, AI applications in poster design, and the introduction of robotic process automation (RPA) in finance operations. These booths fostered interdisciplinary knowledge sharing and collaboration, with participants expressing how much they learned from these exchanges.

AI-Powered Lifelong Learning: Fostering Personal Growth and Innovation

After exploring the booths, participants engaged in a fun and engaging quiz session, where participants answered 15 AI-related questions. The 15 participants with the most correct answers won a prize. This was followed by two rounds of free exploration, allowing participants to revisit any booths of interest and delve deeper into discussions with the presenters.

Interactive Booth Communication

Conclusion: Towards a New Era of AI-Empowered Education

AI Learning Day, with its rich content and diverse presentations, offered participants a comprehensive experience, from theoretical awareness to hands-on practice.  Through booth demonstrations, the fun quiz challenge, and open discussions, the event not only deepened participants' understanding of AI technologies but also encouraged cross-departmental and cross-disciplinary collaboration.  This contributed valuable insights into the practical exploration of AI in education.

Moving forward, the Centre for Knowledge and Information at XJTLU will continue to leverage the synergy between technology and education, promoting innovative AI applications in learning, teaching, and research.  This will contribute to the creation of a smart campus and further strengthen XJTLU’s leadership in educational ecosystems.