November 30, the Centre for Teaching and Learning invited Dr. Na Li to deliver a captivating lecture , titled “AI + Digital Escape Rooms for Innovative Teaching”. The lecture attracted around 20 attendees on-site and over 350 online.

Dr. Na Li is an esteemed academic with a PhD from the University of Liverpool and a MSc from the University of Science and Technology of China. She is renowned for her passion for interdisciplinary research and educational innovations with technology. As the Director of the MSc Digital Education Programme, a PhD supervisor, and Senior Fellow of Advance HE, she has consistently contributed to the field. Dr. Na Li’s project team has received the prestigious Advance HE Global Education Grant for their pioneering work in innovative teaching using digital escape rooms. The impact of this approach has also been recognized in the EDUCAUSE 2023 Horizon Report for Learning and Teaching edition, solidifying its significance in shaping the future of education.

Dr. Na Li during the lecture

In her presentation, Dr. Li introduced a cutting-edge teaching approach that seamlessly integrates AI and digital escape rooms across diverse disciplines, including education, computer science, linguistics, business, and architecture. During the presentation, she introduced the use of H5P and Moodle to create digital escape rooms, transforming traditional learning activities into interactive and engaging experiences for students.

Dr. Na Li interacting with the audience

During the presentation, Dr. Li also showcased the utilization of an AI tool capable of automatically generating H5P activities based on instructions provided by the audience. This innovative approach is designed to empower teachers to create immersive and personalized learning experiences, ultimately enhancing student engagement and academic performance. Importantly, the use of AI tools brings greater efficiency to the teaching plan design process, effectively improving overall instructional effectiveness. For instance, Dr Na LI specifically demonstrated how AIGC technology can assist teachers in crafting digital escape room storylines and automatically generating interactive activities through H5P.

The audience reacted with great enthusiasm to Dr. Li's presentation. After the lecture, they eagerly engaged in deeper discussions about the subject matter.

UIC teaching staff asking questions

UIC Teaching Staff discussing with Dr. Na Li after the lecture