Existing studies have measured the effect of video-based feedback on student performance or satisfaction. Other issues are underacknowledged or merit further investigation. These include sociocultural aspects which may shape the design and implementation of video-based feedback, the ways students use technology to engage in feedback, and the processes through technology may transform learning. This study investigates the design and implementation of a video-annotated peer feedback activity to develop students' presentation skills and knowledge of climate science. It explores how their use of a video annotation tool re-mediated established feedback practices and how the systematic analysis of contradictions in emerging practices informed the subsequent redesign and reimplementation of the approach. Employing a formative intervention design, the researchers intervened in the activity system of a first-year undergraduate education module to facilitate two cycles of expansive learning with an instructor and two groups of Hong Kong Chinese students (n = 97, n = 94) across two semesters. Instructor interviews, student surveys, and video annotation and system data were analysed using Activity Theory-derived criteria to highlight contradictions in each system and suggest how these could be overcome. The findings highlight the critical importance of active instructor facilitation; building student motivation by embedding social-affective support and positioning peer feedback as an integrated, formative process; and supporting students' use of appropriate cognitive scaffolding to encourage their interactive, efficient use of the annotation tool. Conclusions: In a field dominated by experimental and quasi-experimental studies, this study reveals how an Activity Theory-derived research design and framework can be used to systemically analyse cycles of design and implementation of video-annotated peer feedback. It also suggests how the new activity system might be consolidated and

Mathematical literacy is becoming increasingly important and needs to be developed. However, various factors can affect students with different mathematical literacy patterns. This study aims to investigate the effects of students' backgrounds, attitudes toward mathematics, and information and communication technology (ICT) familiarity on the mathematical literacy of different patterns of students. The data of 15,478 secondary school students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan in China, who participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 was analyzed. It was found that students' mathematical literacy can be classified into four clusters: low, medium, moderately high, and high mathematical literacy. In addition, students' personal backgrounds, attitudes toward mathematics learning, and ICT familiarity can jointly predict mathematical literacy in different clusters. Students' economic, social, and cultural status (ESCS), self-efficacy toward formal and applied mathematics, and use of ICT outside the classroom for school activities are positive predictors common to all four clusters. Meanwhile, the other variables have mixed predictive effects on different clusters. Copyright © 2024 Springer.

Although artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more commonly integrated into our everyday lives, homes, and schools, there needs to be more research regarding parental attitudes toward using AI technologies and AI literacy education to understand better and advance AI and AI literacy in kindergarten. To address this gap, this study explored kindergarten parents' perceptions of using AI technologies and AI literacy education in kindergarten. In Study One, 215 parents completed a survey regarding their views and concerns about the use of AI technologies and AI literacy education in kindergarten, the challenges encountered in AI literacy education in kindergarten and their opinions on the use of AI technologies in kindergarten. In Study Two, we interviewed five parents to gain further insight into their perspectives. The results indicated that 74.4%, 19.1%, and 6.5% felt positive, neutral, and negative towards using AI technology in kindergarten settings, respectively, illustrating that most parents remained positive. Results showed that most parents reported that it is suitable for kindergarten children to learn about AI tools and AI literacy. The kindergarten level may be an appropriate starting point for learning AI literacy. We found that the four main challenges that parents reported their children encountered when learning about AI literacy are limited comprehension ability, time constraints, the difficulty of the AI learning content, and uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of AI learning content for children. The findings indicate that Hong Kong parents positively perceive using AI in kindergartens. Still, designing AI-based educational tools for kindergarten children must address the challenges identified while ensuring equal access for all children. Copyright © 2025 Springer.

To promote computational thinking in mathematics education, Scratch is used to foster students' computational thinking and mathematical understanding. However, students face challenges in block-based programming environments, such as having low motivation, high anxiety, and cognitive loads. This study combined the pedagogical values of Geogebra and Scratch to enhance primary students' learning outcomes in computational thinking. We investigated two interventions (solely Scratch and Scratch combined with Geogebra) among 72 Hong Kong fifth-grade students. We found that students who learned computational thinking using Scratch and Geogebra had higher motivation, perceived ability, and lower cognitive load than those who only used Scratch. However, students' anxiety had no significant difference between the two groups. In addition, Students faced more challenges and gained less positive learning outcomes in Scratch group. The use of Geogebra can better complement Scratch in teaching computational thinking in primary mathematics classrooms. We identified the potential of using Geogebra to visualize mathematical knowledge and help students apply what they have learned in block-based languages. Pedagogical implications are provided for instructional design and teaching strategies of computational thinking integrated with STEM education. Copyright © 2025 Elsevier.

Digital reading literacy has emerged as a pivotal factor contributing significantly to teenagers’ academic and future career successes. Few studies have focused on how ICT-related factors shape students’ digital reading literacy in non-English-speaking contexts. This study explored the impacts of ICT-related home and school factors on digital reading literacy, analyzing data from four non-English-speaking Asian countries and regions participating in PISA 2018, including Hong Kong, South Korea, Macau, and Taiwan. In addition, we compared the identified influential factors between these four countries and regions, as well as with previous studies, for a comprehensive understanding of ICT-related factors of digital reading. The Random Forest model was used to rank the importance of ICT-related factors and identify the top 10 most influential factors of digital reading. The most important ICT-related home factors were parents’ attitudes and participation in digital reading activities. Among ICT-related school factors, the time of ICT use in school, the subject that classes use ICT, and the number of computers were found to be negatively associated with students' digital reading literacy. However, the capacity of schools to use digital devices to improve learning and teaching was positively associated with students’ digital reading literacy. Copyright ©2024 Springer.

The information technology industry has been identified as a priority industry for development in Hong Kong. Within this sector, there are a growing number of “new collar” jobs that may not require a traditional four-year degree. However, these jobs require a combination of technical and soft skills that are not often taught in secondary schools. The Applied Learning course titled “Tech Basics” was introduced to five secondary schools in 2019. It has the unique feature of bringing together secondary schools, a local public university, and industry partners in curriculum design and program delivery, to provide students with work-integrated learning. The curriculum includes authentic work environment exposure components such as company visits, mentorship programs, industry-led project competitions, and internships. This paper is a case study presenting detailed information on the program’s model of work-integrated learning as. well as its evaluation. It explains the different roles of secondary schools, higher education institutes, and industry partners. To assess the impact of the program, three rounds of surveys were conducted among students taking the course and a control group over a three-year period. The theoretical framework of work integrated learning and mentoring was reviewed. Survey results and additional qualitative data are presented. Feedback from secondary school teachers and mentors from the industry is analyzed. Challenges for the future development of the Tech Basics course are discussed. Copyright ©2024 Springer.

With the ability to provide feedback and assistance, humanoid educational robots have been proven effective in assisting students to overcome learning challenges and enhancing individual learning outcomes. However, the strength of humanoid robots in promoting social and emotional skills has not been well investigated. Socially supportive behaviour can contribute more to students’ learning engagement than knowledge transfer. This study focuses on the design of humanoid robots to engage students from functional and affective perspectives. To this end, a pilot test is conducted on 64 primary school students in Hong Kong, comprising a control group ( N  = 33) and an experimental group ( N  = 31). Questionnaires, observations, and language proficiency test are done to ensure the validity of the findings. The results show that the experimental group, which learned with the humanoid robots, significantly improved their behavioural engagement (+ 13.24%), emotional engagement (+ 13.14%), cognitive engagement (21.56%), and intrinsic motivation (12.07%). The impact of utilizing humanoid robots in education is elucidated through the lens of the self-determination theory (SDT), which pertains to students’ learning motivation and engagement. These findings can provide valuable insights into the development of more captivating humanoid robots for extensive learning purposes. Copyright ©2024 Springer.

This study aims to investigate factors affecting students’ intention to join blended learning courses in higher education sector using Community of Inquiry framework and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model was employed to develop a new research framework while constructs in the Community of Inquiry are Stimulus and constructs from UTAUT are considered as Organism and Response. A survey was conducted with undergraduate students in a Hong Kong higher institution. It was found that Teaching Presence (TP), Social Presence (SP) and Cognitive Presence (CP) were associated with performance expectancy, social influence and effort expectancy respectively. Performance expectancy and effort expectancy were associated with social influence. Social influence was associated with students’ attitude towards blended learning. Institution support was not related to the students’ attitude towards blended learning in the post-pandemic period. Attitude towards blended learning was associated with their behavioral intention to participate in blended learning. Online and offline tools could be adopted to improve the students’ acceptance towards the blended learning approach. Copyright ©2024 Springer.

With technology integration efforts expanding to early childhood education globally, assessing preschool teachers’ technological competence beliefs is imperative. However, most existing tools measuring teachers’ information and communication technology (ICT) competence beliefs focused on primary through secondary grades. This study examined the factorial validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of the Basic ICT Competence Beliefs (BICB) questionnaire among 209 preschool teachers in Hong Kong and the Philippines. Confirmatory factor analyses supported the original nine-factor structure over plausible alternative models. All factors showed good reliability (α = 0.83 to 0.91) and theoretically meaningful factor intercorrelations. Multigroup CFA results supported the measurement invariance of the scale. Specifically, the results demonstrated the configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance across cultural groups. Findings provide further validity for the BICB as a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing preschool teachers’ ICT competence beliefs within and across contexts. The BICB can help identify teacher strengths and needs, guide professional development, and evaluate technology integration efforts in early childhood education in Asia. Copyright ©2024 Springer.

This study explores the integration of drone technology into STEM education through the development and evaluation of the Drone Technology Enabled STEM Curriculum (DTESC). Grounded in “dronagogy”, a pedagogical framework that utilizes drones to enhance learning, DTESC effectively incorporates drone technology within science, mathematics, technology, and the humanities. The curriculum is structured to progress from multidisciplinary exploration to interdisciplinary integration, ultimately culminating in transdisciplinary applications. Sixteen Grade 9–10 students from a secondary school in Hong Kong participated in the study, engaging in activities such as designing drone-assisted water sampling systems and formulating entrepreneurial proposals for future applications. Employing mixed research methods, the study assessed the curriculum’s impact across cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains. Results indicated high levels of student engagement and satisfaction, alongside significant improvements in psychomotor and affective skills. However, enhancements in cognitive learning outcomes, particularly in mathematics and programming, are necessary. This research offers valuable insights into the implementation of dronagogy to foster cross-disciplinary STEM education. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s).