The Department of English Language and Literature at Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU) held a 55th Anniversary Community Service Project event on 3rd July. Partnering with the HKPC Academy under the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the department hosted a one-hour workshop titled “Customised AI Assistance for Smart Learning” during the annual EdTech event, “Summer TechEd Fest 2026.” The workshop drew nearly 20 parents and primary school students.

During the event, instructors from the Department of English Language and Literature showcased the Aybo chatbot developed by HKSYU’s Language Centre and currently used at the university. They showed how it supports students in refining their writing, organising ideas, and receiving targeted feedback.

The chatbot’s default operating mode provides students with reflective questions to guide them through “breaking down tasks into manageable steps.” It emphasises that it will not directly provide answers, thereby preserving the students’ own creativity. Furthermore, “Aybo” adjusts the difficulty level of its generated responses based on the accuracy of the user’s replies, aiming to challenge users and further boost their interest in continuous learning.

Stanley, a primary two student at St. Paul’s Co-educational College Primary School, expressed his appreciation for “Aybo” default mode of not directly providing answers. He believes this encourages users to learn new things by asking more questions, while also boosting their independent thinking skills.

Dr Rebekah BALE, Acting Head of the Department of English Language and Literature, expressed her hopes during the event that students using “Aybo” can enhance their curiosity and creativity in language learning. She noted her belief that technology will create better teaching and learning models for both teachers and students in the future.