Tried, Tested, and Taught: What AI & the Metaverse Actually Do for English Class (and Build Critical Thinking!) (Ms Winsy Lai)

What is the tangible impact of Artificial Intelligence and the metaverse on language acquisition and critical thinking? Ms Winsy Lai, a PhD student at the Department of English Language Education, provided an evidence-based answer in her breakout session, "Tried, Tested, and Taught: What AI & the Metaverse Actually Do for English Class (and Build Critical Thinking!)."

Going beyond theoretical promises, Winsy presented a clear framework for integrating these technologies. She demonstrated how tools like the Metaverse platform ZEP and AI-powered storytelling can create authentic language practice environments. A key highlight was her focus on cultivating critical thinking through the Ask.SMILE platform, which uses Bloom's Taxonomy to help students formulate and refine their own questions. Her presentation offered a practical roadmap for educators ready to leverage technology not just for engagement, but for deeper cognitive development.

Did you miss the Keynote, Roundtable Discussion or any of the Breakouts Sessions? Explore the practical resources and teaching strategies shared by our speakers right here on eTEACHERS.online. Links to all the sessions can be found at the bottom of this page.

View her presentation slides here: Winsy's Presentation Slides.pdf

Outline of the Breakout Session:

Tried, Tested, and Taught: What AI & the Metaverse Actually Do for English Class

(and Build Critical Thinking!)

Speaker: Ms Winsy Lai

• 00:00 Introduction and overview

• 03:08 AI, metaverse and digital storytelling: background

• 08:24 AI, metaverse and digital storytelling: purposes

• 09:54 AI, metaverse and digital storytelling: tools

• 22:50 AI and critical thinking: the tool Ask.SMILE

• 24:24 AI and critical thinking: is it reliable?

• 25:34 Conclusion and Q&A

Plenary and Breakout Session Links

• Prof Angel Lin's Keynote Address and the Roundtable Discussion (with all speakers): Generative AI for Language Teachers: Potential Benefits & Risks

• Mr Denis Wong's Breakout Session: Learning to Learn in the Era of AI: Enhancing Self-directed English Learning with AI

• Ms Jenny Leung's Breakout Session: Co-Teaching with AI: Redefining the Educator's Role in the AI Era

• Ms Annie Yiu's Breakout Session: Facilitate Personalised Learning with AI Chatbot