Dr. SONG Yanjie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Information Technology, Programme Leader of the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary Section) in Faulty of Library Arts and Social Sciences, and Associate Director of Centre for Immersive Learning and Metaverse in Education (CILME) at the Education University of Hong Kong. She obtained her Ph.D. in educational technology at the University of Hong Kong and her MEd. in IT, Multimedia and Education at the University of Leeds, the UK. She was trained and obtained TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certificate at the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, the UK. Before joining the institute, she worked as a Senior Research Assistant at the University of Hong Kong, A Research Fellow and later was offered a Research Scientist position in the Learning Sciences Lab, at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Yanjie was among the top 2% in the Stanford list of the world’s most-cited scientists in education in 2021 and 2023.

Research interests

• design and development of applications with metaverse, generative AI, AR, and VR technologies;
• innovative pedagogy design with emerging technologies;
• multimodal learning analytics
• technology-enhanced language learning
• design-based research.

RGC-funded General Research Fund (GRF/ECS) 

• PI, “Examining Social, Cognitive and Teaching Presences and Learning Outcomes in the Metaverse via an Intelligent Multimodal Learning Analytics Approach”, Research Grant Council (RGC) General Research Fund (GRF), (HK$757,100) (2024-2026, Ref. 18609224) (International collaboration）
• PI, “A Self-regulated Vocabulary Learning Approach Supported by a Mobile-user-generated-content Tool for Pupils in Hong Kong”, GRF (HK$522,720) (Jan. 2020- Mar. 22; Ref. 18611019) (international collaboration)
• PI, “m-Orchestrate: Developing a mobile learning system for teacher orchestration in collaborative science inquiry”, GRF (HK$619,176) (Jan. 2018- Dec. 2020; Ref. 18610817) (international collaboration)
• Co-I, School learning support and teacher digital competence from a needs satisfaction perspective (HK$324,000.00) (2023-2024; Ref: 14610522)
• Collaborator, "The Design and Practice of Synchronous Online Mathematics Instruction: A Visual Learning Analytics-supported Design-based Study", Early Career Scheme (ECS) (HK$705,600.00) (2023-2025; Ref: 28604623)

UGC Fund for Innovative Technology in Education (FITE) 

• PI, “Developing a Metaverse Platform with Virtual Reality – “LearningverseVR” for Learning and Teaching”, UGC’s Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education (FITE) (HK$800,000) (2023-2025, Ref. 05404). (collaboration with Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
• Collaborator, “A Large and Flexible Immersive Learning System for Language, Health, Chinese History, and Cultural Tourism”, FITE (HK$500,000) (2023-2026, Ref. 05408). (collaboration with Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

UGC Teaching Development Grant (TDG)

• One of Co-PIs: TDG project “Developing and Evaluating a Learning Analytics Platform to Support University Teachers for Pedagogical Decision-making in Fostering Reflective Engagement of Students” (4 universities joint project) Total: HK$7,536,623 (Ref: HKIED7/T&L/12-15) (2014-2017)

International project collaboration

• C-I: OER (Office of Education Research), “Integrating Learning Analytics and Learning Design: Design and Implementation of Seamless Chinese Character Learning in Lower Primary Schools”. National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technology University. Total: S$145,631.00 (about HK$843,305) (16/11/2020-15/11/2022)

Awards and recognition in the past five years

Academic related awards

• “Bronze Award” Educational Technology Innovations in Poster Session atTeaching and Learning Innovation Expo 2023, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• “Dean’s Research Output Prize” (2018 and 2020 respectively)
• Five “Best Paper Presentation awards" in different international conferences from 2020-2023 (Some awards with Dr Yang Yin)
• "Best Teacher Forum Paper Award" at Global Chinese Conference for Computers in Education (GCCCE) 2019.

Educational technology invention related awards

• “Learningverse” – a metaverse platform, won “Bronze Medal” at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland 2023; won “Silver Medal” and “Special Award” at The International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN) 2023.
• “VocabGo” - The augmented reality app for vocabulary learning won two “Gold Medals” (2020; 2021) in (1) iCAN 2021, and (2) The International Innovation and Invention Competition (IIIC) Taiwan 2020, and “Organizer’s Choice Award” in iCAN 2020.
• “m-Orchestrate” – a mobile app for Collaborative Science Inquiry won “Silver Medal” and “Special Award” at iCAN 2020.

 Recognition

• The top 2% in the Stanford list of the world’s most-cited scientists in education in 2021 and 2023

Research postgraduate student supervision

Dr Yang Yin won "Outstanding Research Postgraduate Student Award of the Dean’s Research Fund" 2022/23

External Member of Thesis Advisor Committee (TAC) 

An external member of the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) approved by Dean of Graduate Studies and Professional Learning, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2024-present)

Patents

• Method and apparatus for analyizing emotions of text and generating feedback responses on text (USA 2023 and HK 2024)
• A system and method for animating an avatar in a virtual world (USA, HK and Mainland China 2022)

Editorship(special issues)

• Guest editor: IEEE Transactions of Learning Technologies (SSCI)
• Lead editor & Co-editor: Educational Technology & Society (SSCI)
• Lead editor: Journal of Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning
• Co-editor: Journal of Computers in Education
• On the editorial board of Educational Technology & Society (SSCI)
• On the editorial board of the International Journal of Mobile Learning & Organisation

Key roles in international conferences/organisations

• Founding member and Steering Committee Co-Chair of the International Conference on Future Language Learning 2022
• Executive Member of the Asia-Pacific Society of Computers in Education (APSCE) (2014-present)
• Executive Member of Global Chinese Society for Computers in Education (GCSCE) (2016-present)
• Special Interest Group (SIG) Chair of Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) at APSCE (2023-present)
• Education Programme sub-Committee Chair at APSCE (2023-present)

Selected keynote / invited speaker

• Invited speaker on Development and implementation of the 3D metaverse platform – “Learningverse” for immersive and interactive learning at Central China Normal University, May 2024, Wuhan, China
• Invited speaker at Educational Futures: Cultivating future-ready teachers and learners, CUHK-ECNU Joint-Forum, April 2024, Hong Kong
• Invited speaker at the 10th International Conference on Education and Training Technologies (ICETT), April 2024, Macau, China.
• Invited speaker at a forum on Emerging Technologies and Innovation in Language Learning in The 2nd APSCE International Conference on Future Language Learning (ICFULL) 2023, Beijing, China.
• Invited speaker by Zhejiang University, 2023, Hangzhou, China
• Invited speaker by College of Teacher Education, Southwest University, 2023, Chong Qing, China.
• Invited Speaker in 4th International Conference on Computer Science and Technologies in Education (CSTE 2022), May 2022, Shaanxi Normal University, China.
• Invited speaker in Learning & Teaching Expo 2022, Hong Kong.
• Keynote Speaker in 2021 Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Artificial Intelligence Education Forum (2021年粵港澳台人工智慧教育論壇), Dec. 2021, Guangzhou, China.
• Invited Speaker in APSCE Webinar Series XIII: Speeches & Panel: How does new technology enhance vocabulary learning? Possibilities and issues, May 2021, Online.
• Theme-Based Invited Speaker in 24th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE) Nov. 2018, Manila, Philippines.
• Invited speaker on mobile learning from a learning sciences perspective 2016, Beijing Normal University, China
• Keynote speaker on mobile pedagogical practices in Hong Kong, 2014. Tainan Normal University, Taiwan

Selected journal reviewer

• IEEE Transactions of Learning Technologies
• Educational Technology & Society
• Computers & Education
• British Journal of Educational Technology
• Educational Technology Research & Development
• Interactive Learning Environment
• Technology, Pedagogy and Education
• The Internet and Higher Education
• Educational Computing Research

Selected Conference/Workshop Chair/Co-Chair/Organiser

• Conference Local Chair, The 4th Asia Education Technology Symposium (AETS) 2024, Hong Kong, China
• Executive Chair of Teachers' Forum in 28th Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education (GCCCE) 2024, Chongqing, China
• Chair of Special Interest Group (SIG) Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) (from 2023 - Present)
• Local Organizing Committee Co-Chair in 1st and 2nd International Conference on Metaverse and Artificial Companions in Education and Society (MetaACES 2023 and 2024)
• Co-Chair of Doctoral Student Consortium in 31th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE) 2023
• Steering Committee Co-Chair of 2nd APSCE International Conference on Future Language Learning (ICFULL) 2023
• Strand Coordinator of International Conference on Learning and Teaching (ICLT) for Future Readiness 2023
• Chair of C3-VR/AR/Metaverse in education in 14th Global Chinese Conference on Inquiry Learning (GCCIL) 2023
• Regional Chair of 7th International Conference on Digital Technology in Education (ICDTE) 2023
• Co-Chair of Doctoral Student Consortium in 30th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE) 2022
• Chair of Session 1B: Technology-enhanced Language Learning (TELL) in 1st International Workshop on Metaverse and Artificial Companions in Education and Society (MetaACES 2022)
• Programme Chair of 1st APSCE International Conference on Future Language Learning (ICFULL) 2022
• Co-Chair of Session C3: Joyful Learning, Educational Games & Digital Toys in 26th Global Chinese Conference on Computers in Education (GCCCE) 2022
• Mentor of Doctoral Student Consortium in 29th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE) 2021
• Chair of Extended Summaries in 27th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE) 2019

Design and implementation of innovative learning environments with immerging technologies; metaverse and generative AI in learning and teaching