On November 9, the 2024 Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Artificial Intelligence Competition and AI Technology Carnival supporting event - "Bay Area Principals Say" with the theme of "Science Education Assists the Development of Shenzhen and Hong Kong" was held at the Shenzhen International Convention and Exhibition Center. The event brings together principals, experts, and scholars from Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao to communicate through theme reports, special seminars, group discussions, etc., and jointly draw a new blueprint for AI education.
Hundreds of schools join hands to build dialogue platform
In recent years, in order to seize the changes and opportunities brought by new technologies such as AI to the field of basic education, Shenzhen has comprehensively popularized artificial intelligence courses in primary and junior high schools in the city. In July 2023, the "Shenzhen City Work Plan for Promoting Artificial Intelligence Education in Primary and Secondary Schools" was released and implemented, proposing to vigorously promote the in-depth integration of artificial intelligence and education and teaching, and focus on cultivating young people with artificial intelligence innovation potential.
In November of that year, the Shenzhen Science and Technology Exchange Service Center actively responded to Shenzhen’s deployment and requirements on artificial intelligence education and made every effort to promote the in-depth integration of artificial intelligence and basic education. In the 2023 Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Macao Artificial Intelligence Competition and AI Technology Carnival, the "Bay Area Principal's Talk" was held for the first time and received enthusiastic response and widespread praise, setting up a platform for educators in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to jointly explore the innovation of artificial intelligence education. A high-level exchange platform for paths and practice models.
Building on the success of the first "Bay Area Principals Talk" held last year, the number of schools from Hong Kong and Macao participating in the event this year reached a new high, reaching nearly 100. These principals, educators and other representatives from hundreds of schools in Hong Kong and Macao met face-to-face with educators, parents and students in Shenzhen to discuss future trends and cooperation opportunities in artificial intelligence education.
Authoritative guidance, dialogue at the forefront of education
At the event, students from St. John’s Catholic Primary School, Sai Kung Chongzhen Catholic School (Primary Section), Catholic Island School, Catholic Shek Chung Shan Memorial Primary School, St. Joseph’s English Secondary School and Futian Secondary School, Futian District Lai Yuan Foreign Languages Primary School, Futian District Xinzhou About 300 people, including principals, education experts, teachers and educational institution managers from primary and secondary schools in Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macao, including Baihua Primary School of Yuanling Education Group in Futian District, attended the event.
Li Fangsheng, principal of Shenzhen Middle School Meixiang School, gave a keynote speech entitled "Inheriting Shenzhen Middle School's philosophy of running schools and cultivating scientific and technological innovation talents." He pointed out that if a school has a good school-running philosophy, fully considers the school-running philosophy of "Master, Great Love, and Big Goals" and has the awareness to cultivate scientific and technological innovation talents, it will definitely be highly recognized by the society and become a school that is satisfactory to the people.
In terms of university education, an authoritative leader was invited to lead the forefront of dialogue education. Professor Huang Jinhui, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Vice Dean (Foreign Affairs) of the School of Engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, shared the characteristics of the University of Hong Kong and answered questions on the spot. Teachers and students asked questions. In his speech, he urged the students: Don’t just learn AI from books, but pay attention to the accumulation of knowledge and skills in daily life and participate in competitions to cultivate and improve AI thinking to help solve real-life problems.
This "Bay Area Principals Talk" event aims to build a communication platform for educators in the three places to share their achievements and experiences in educational research and practice, and actively explore ways to innovate artificial intelligence education and the direction of future development; at the same time, Disseminate advanced concepts of education reform and development, promote the integrated development of education in the Bay Area, realize the guidance of educational and cultural values, and promote high-quality development of education.
Live interaction to explore the future of education
At the event, guests attending the event focused on the theme of "Science Education Assists the Development of Shenzhen and Hong Kong" and conducted exchanges and discussions in the form of keynote speeches, special discussions, group discussions, etc., to jointly discuss the importance of science education at different school stages, and share experiences in educational research and practice. achievements and experiences, and actively explore ways to innovate in artificial intelligence education.
The first round of dialogue "Bay Area Principals Say" centered on the theme of "Integration of diverse teaching to help build the foundation and comprehensive growth of students in the Bay Area." Representatives from Shenzhen Luoling Education Group Hubei Primary School, Shenzhen Futian District Meishan Primary School, Wuzhou City Teng County No. 8 Primary School and representatives from Hong Kong Catholic St. Margaret's Kindergarten, Catholic Shizhongshan Memorial Primary School, and St. Joseph's English Secondary School The principals conducted exchanges and discussions. In their speeches, Hong Kong guests pointed out that being student-centered, taking care of students' diversity, and diversifying extracurricular education through play, game elements, experiential learning, interactive teaching, etc. are the main highlights of science and technology education in Hong Kong kindergartens.
In the theme of "Promotion and Experience of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Education) and Artificial Intelligence in Primary Schools", Andy Li of the Catholic Island School said that to promote artificial intelligence education in primary schools, teacher training must first be arranged to empower teachers. Feng Jiajun of Saigon Chongzhen Catholic School (Primary Division) pointed out that AI literacy should be cultivated through AI courses, more cooperation should be made with universities, and local materials should be used according to local conditions. St. John's Catholic Primary School Yu Wenqing said that students should learn by doing and learn to cooperate and share. Liu Qing from Xinzhou Primary School in Futian District shared his views on system introduction, data interpretation, teaching improvement, quality improvement, and leading school changes. Li Tong from Baihua Primary School of Yuanling Education Group in Futian District conducted exchanges on artificial intelligence system management, intelligent analysis, and evaluation system formation. Liu Zhongping from Liyuan Foreign Language Primary School in Futian District conducted research on project-based activities to stimulate interest and cultivate students' scientific literacy.
The third dialogue was themed “Science Education and Career Planning for Middle School Students”. Wang Dejiu of Futian Middle School pointed out that cultivating innovative talents requires the transformation of the curriculum from subject to science, the transformation from primary school students' interests to high school aspirations, and finally extending to university majors. Ye Yanwu from the Galaxy Education Headquarters emphasized the need to publicize and emphasize the spirit of scientists, optimize science education in primary and secondary schools, and attach importance to philosophy education. Zhao Xiaodong from Futian District Foreign Languages School (Jingxiu) shared on “Building a Science and Technology Education Innovation System”. Li Wanyi of Catholic Wu Hua Middle School pointed out that students should cultivate self-awareness, let students understand their own abilities, and let students explore career and understand career requirements. Wu Huabiao of Catholic Xinmin College shared his views on cultivating students' comprehensive abilities, improving students' ability to adapt to future development, and visiting and studying in colleges and universities. Xian Yalin from Kwun Tong Maryknoll College conducted exchanges on cultivating the ability to understand oneself and the world.
This "Bay Area Principals Talk" integrates diverse voices such as the practical voices, inter-school exchanges, and expert theoretical guidance of principals from the three places. It builds a platform for exchanges and cooperation in science education at different school levels, and also brings greater benefits to the Greater Bay Area. The development of artificial intelligence education has injected new vitality and motivation. As the "Bay Area Principals Talk" mechanism continues to improve and the influence of the event continues to expand, it will become a bridge connecting the education community in Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macao and even the wider region in the future, providing new momentum for the innovation and future development of artificial intelligence education in the Greater Bay Area.