To help students embrace learning outside the classroom and create a dynamic and inclusive experience, CEDARS LEAF collaborates with TALIC to transform face-to-face Student Society Orientation training into flexible, multimodal Online Learning Modules, allowing students to learn anytime, anywhere, and at their own pace. The online modules address a key challenge in student training. The courses are intended for students to complete before they organise their orientation activities in the summer. However, many students have packed summer schedules due to internships, exchange programs, or other commitments, making attendance at fixed face-to-face training sessions difficult, as our previous experience has shown.
In today’s dynamic learning environment, effective collaboration and communication among students and faculty is crucial. Space, time, student mobility, class size, and classroom settings are prime factors to consider when conducting collaborative group activities in a traditional classroom. Integrating technology is a great way to address these factors and create an active and collaborative learning space in the modern classroom.
This blog post explores the potential of Discord, a platform initially known for gaming communities, as a powerful tool for fostering collaborative learning and discussion within higher education settings. We will examine its features and demonstrate its applicability for various academic activities, drawing on specific examples to highlight its effectiveness.
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping numerous aspects of our lives, and higher education is no exception. The generation of students entering universities today will witness more technological change than ever before. Yet, how can we help our teachers —the guides of this generation— be better prepared for this evolving landscape? To this aim, HKU TALIC presented a series of edTech and AI workshops on emerging technologies with a focus on practical strategies and resources. The workshops were created to provide teachers and the university community more options to enhance student learning, and to cultivate AI literacy and ICT skills. The first workshop held in Spring 2024 focused on the power of prompt engineering, as well as providing tactics and practical examples in AI prompting for teaching practice.
HKU ITS provides staff and students with the ChatGPT and DALL∙E web apps (https://chatgpt.hku.hk/), which are powered by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI services to improve teaching and learning effectiveness, productivity, and the overall educational experience.
Message from Faculty of Dentistry – Global Dental Campus – Online
Dear All,
We are pleased to announce that the 1st Aesthetic Dentistry MOOC, “Fundamentals of Aesthetic Dentistry”, will start on 26 Sept 2023 (TODAY) on edX. Embark on a captivating journey through the realm of aesthetic treatments with our dynamic online lecture and demonstration series. This trio of MOOCs offers a comprehensive exploration of aesthetic dentistry, from core concepts (MOOC 1) to cutting-edge, minimally invasive methods (MOOC 2) and advanced techniques (MOOC 3). Delivered by a stellar lineup of global and local industry pioneers, our courses bring you the freshest insights and trends in Aesthetic Dentistry.
The HKU Cardiac Imaging Professional Certificate program is the first professional certificate program of its kind, specializing in non-invasive cardiac imaging technology in Asia. The program was created by Dr Ming-yen Ng’s team at the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and HKU Medicine. The program consists of two courses: Computed Tomography (CT) and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (MRI). These courses are designed to offer medical practitioners worldwide specialized training in cardiac imaging technology pedagogies and clinical training.
According to the Cardiac Imaging course director and key instructor, Dr Ming-yen Ng, “The main objective of the program is to deliver a meticulously designed, modern 21st-century medical education program that could be accessed conveniently worldwide through a user-friendly online course platform on edX.”
Recent research showed a growing demand for skilled cardiac imaging personnel, posing difficulties for many nations in meeting national medical service demands. It will be essential to invest in training to effectively meet the rising demand.
Dr. Ming-Yen said, “There are very few cardiac imaging clinical training programs, and those limited availability of in-person workshops or hospital placements, are both costly and time-intensive. The team at HKU has established collaborations with esteemed practitioners, scholars, and members of international and regional cardiac imaging societies to provide comprehensive and cost-effective training courses that could help medical practitioners in both developed nations and developing nations access expertise in cardiac CT and MRI.”
The HKU Cardiac Imaging online program has received international recognition from the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT) and the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (SCMR). HKU Cardiac Imaging MOOCs received the GOLD Award Winner of 2021 Reimagine Education, and the Cardiac CT MOOC was a 2021 edX Prize Finalist.
Designing a modern 21st-century medical education experience
The cardiac imaging MOOCs were carefully crafted to foster learners’ engagement and maximize the online learning experience. The MOOCs incorporated a “flipped workshop”, 360-degree video simulations, interactive games, and an information chatbot to facilitate online participation and active learning among learners.
Using “flipped workshop” to solve clinical cases online
The team introduces the “flipped workshop” concept utilizing modern learning techniques and cutting-edge technology. Participants in each of the Cardiac CT and MRI courses examine and solve 50 authentic clinical cases online with their peers and instructors via a case-based methodology comparable to the on-campus learning approach utilized at HKU School of Medicine. Additionally, learners interact with online peers through discussion forums, and actively engage in collaborative work and discourse as a learning group.
Observing the heart in 360-degree motion
Innovative edTech tools and technology for medical practice and education can improve learners’ understanding of complicated anatomical structure of internal organs. In the Cardiac CT and MRI courses, 360-degree video simulations of the heart give students a special and enriching learning experience.
Dr. Ming-yen described the use of 360-degree videos as a novel educational opportunity in cardiac imaging studies:
“We worked with HKU TALIC team to develop a heart model with 360-degree video simulations in order to facilitate a comprehensive examination of the heart’s anatomy and dynamic movement. It was a pioneering effort to enable learners to perceive the organ’s profundity and motion as if they were observing it in real-time on a screen in an operating room. This not only facilitated the learners’ understanding of the anatomy of the organ, but also enhanced their comprehension of cardiac structures and principles in cardiac imaging in clinical studies.”
Using games to reinforce and assess students knowledge and skills
To stimulate lively interactions of online participants, two interactive online games were incorporated into the courses to promote more active engagement.
The first game on drug administration aimed to acquaint learners with various cardiac CT medications and to assess their understanding of these medications through drug administration case challenges. The second game challenges participants to employing their knowledge of MRI cardiac technology that they gained through the course to solve obstacles in the game, including tasks such as modifying in-game MRI artifacts with the aim of resolving cardiac imaging case complications. Among these complications were patients with irregular cardiac rhythms and those who had trouble holding their breath during imaging procedures.
To foster a constructive learning experience, the games facilitated spaced repetition in the development of skills and knowledge, provided guided assessment and feedback, and offered incentives to encourage achievement.
Chatbot for round-the-clock assistance for learners enquiries
The course includes a chatbot that provides immediate text-based support for any questions learners may have about the course contents. The users acknowledged the accessibility and convenience of the chatbot as a means of providing immediate feedback to students. Additionally, it was observed that a substantial number of students appreciated this feature’s availability 24/7.
Impacts beyond the global MOOCs on digital platforms
In addition to the notable teaching and learning features of the MOOC in course design, the course has had significant effects and has extended educational opportunities well beyond its digital platform to over 24,600 learners worldwide, spanning across 164 countries and jurisdictions.
The MOOCs have established strong academia-industry partnerships and are sponsored by prominent imaging technology companies, including Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, Bayer, GE Healthcare, and TeraRecon. Academic-industry collaborations have enabled the expansion of cardiac imaging into numerous medical and healthcare sectors.
The Hong Kong government and professional bodies in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, such as the Hong Kong College of Radiologists, Hong Kong College of Physicians, and the Royal College of Radiologists (UK), recognize the Cardiac Imaging MOOCs as meeting Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
