2025 Gibbons Lecture Series

The 2025 Gibbons Lecture Series theme is How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Education.

Overview: Artificial Intelligence offers new opportunities to enhance teaching, personalise learning and improve student outcomes. The 2025 Gibbons Lecture Series explores the role of AI in modern education, examining real-world applications, discussing the impact on teachers and students, and addressing the challenges of interacting with AI. Whether you are an educator, student or policymaker, this series will provide valuable insights into how AI is revolutionising education and what the future holds.

Tuesday 13 May 2025
Talk title: How might AI contribute to solving our educational challenges?

Speaker: Prof Stuart McNaughton, Curriculum and Pedagogy, University of Auckland

Abstract

Rather than start with the promise of AI, I first introduce the big challenges we face in education in Aotearoa New Zealand. Then ask the question how AI might contribute to solving these. Two overarching concerns are posed as equity and excellence. Contributing to solving these requires solving four system problems: variability in performance, scalability of what works, capability to implement what works and sustainability of what works. AI can contribute assessments for complex cognitive and social emotional skills, and instruction that goes beyond simple tutorial functions. Prototypes of both standalone assessments and games illustrate that promise. These could have direct and indirect effects on each of the four challenges. However, educational change always carries risks. A notable risk with AI is exacerbating the overarching concerns.

Biography

Stuart is Professor of Education at Waipapa Taumata Rau the University of Auckland. He has published extensively on children’s development, the design of effective educational programmes for culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and cultural processes in development. He was the Founding Director of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre/ Te Pūtahi which pioneered research in design based school change. His current research focuses on designing and testing digital tools to promote online resilience and social and cognitive skills. He is a recipient of national and international research prizes, consults on curricula and educational interventions nationally and internationally, is a member of a number of academic bodies, and is a Senior Research Fellow at East China Normal University (Shanghai Municipal Institute for Lifelong Learning). In 2011 he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and from 2014 until 2024 was Aotearoa New Zealand’s inaugural Chief Education Scientific Advisor.

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/J2h4lKbp3ec?feature=share

Tuesday 20 May 2025
Talk title: Beyond the Computer Lab: Why AI Literacy Matters for Everyone

Speaker: Dr Kathryn MacCallum, Associate Professor in Digital Education and Educational Technologies, University of Canterbury (UC)

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer confined to tech giants and research labs; it underpins everyday experiences from online recommendations to self-driving cars. As AI technologies become increasingly omnipresent, understanding how they work and how they shape our world is essential for every individual—no matter their age or background. This lecture highlights why AI literacy must move beyond the domain of computer science into our classrooms, our homes, and our wider communities. We will explore the foundational principles of AI, dispel common myths, and discuss the implications that AI has on the wider educational sector. Drawing on practical examples and educational initiatives, we will examine how even young learners can develop meaningful AI skills and critical thinking capacities. By cultivating a generation equipped to scrutinise, use, and co-create AI responsibly, we can ensure that all share the benefits of these intelligent technologies.

Biography

Dr Kathryn MacCallum is a leading expert in digital education, specialising in the integration of emerging technologies such as mobile technology, augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence into teaching and learning contexts. Her research focuses on harnessing these technologies to create equitable, accessible, and engaging learning experiences for all students. Kathryn is particularly known for her pioneering work in AI literacy, including the development of the Scaffolded AI Literacy (SAIL) Framework for Education, which empowers educators and learners to effectively engage with AI and enhance learning outcomes.

As the Director of the Digital Education Futures Lab and Head of School at the University of Canterbury, Kathryn leads a dynamic community of researchers exploring the impact of digital technologies across educational contexts, from early childhood to tertiary education, as well as in informal learning environments. Her leadership and vision is to drive innovative approaches to digital education that prepare learners for a rapidly evolving digital world.

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/Et1S3l5TbI8?feature=share

Tuesday 27 May 2025
Talk title: Exploring the application of AI in Education, in this panel session academics from the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering and Te Puna Wānanga School of Māori and Indigenous Education

Speakers: Dr Piata Allen, Te Puna Wananga; Dr Nasser Giacaman, Dept of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering; Prof Catherine Watson, Dept of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering; Dr Jesin James, Dept Department of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering, University of Auckland.

Abstract

Exploring the application of AI in Education, in this panel session academics from the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering and Te Puna Wānanga School of Māori and Indigenous Education outline their joint projects which include:

• Matapaki Atamai Hangahanga, Reflective and Interactive Learning with AI: Written assessments often fail to engage students or provide meaningful, personalised feedback on learning. By integrating verbal conversational AI, we aim to create more engaging assessment activities that encourage deeper reflection and sustain deeper student interest. Offering a reo Māori version of the AI Co-Thinker platform will also support students, who submit coursework and examinations in te reo Māori, to increase their language proficiency.
• AI pronunciation coach: This project will develop the first-ever AI-based pronunciation coach for te reo Māori, addressing critical gaps in knowledge about pronunciation feedback in language learning technologies. Mastering pronunciation requires accurate articulation or correct positioning of the mouth and tongue. Currently, AI-based te reo Māori language learning tools fail to provide guidance on articulation.This study aims to establish and define the accepted pronunciation range for te reo Māori in collaboration with Te Hiku Media, leaders in Indigenous language revitalisation through speech technology, and te reo Māori experts. The findings of this research will enable the development of an AI-based te reo Māori pronunciation coach that provides detailed, real-time, culturally aligned feedback to help learners improve their pronunciation and their confidence in interacting with te reo Māori speakers.

Following a brief overview of each project, the panel will engage in a Q&A session around challenges and opportunities for utilising AI in Education in Aotearoa.

Biography

Dr Allen is a Māori-medium graduate, teacher and parent whose PhD research focused on rebalancing mātauranga and school mathematics curriculum content. Piata also designs and delivers online learning programmes for te reo Māori (Māori language), Hangarau Matihiko (Digital Technologies) and Pāngarau (Mathematics). The focus of her work recently has been examining the affordances of emerging technologies for te reo Māori and place based learning.

Dr Nasser is a senior lecturer in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering. He teaches in the Software Engineering programme, covering fundamental programming concepts and software design. His research focuses on utilizing his software development background to create digital solutions across several educational domains.

Professor Watson joined the Department of Electrical and Computing Engineering at The University of Auckland in February 2004. Her main research interest is speech production for both humans and machines and her work impact both speech science and speech technology through building models of speech articulators, speech synthesis, and acoustic phonetics.

Dr Jesin's main research areas are speech signal processing, under-resourced languages, machine learning and engineering education. During 2012-2014 she worked on developing a Text To Speech synthesis system in her native language, Malayalam (language spoken in south India), with special emphasis on developing a prosodic model for the same. In 2016, she joined the University of Auckland as Ph.D scholar in computer systems engineering. For her PhD, she worked in the Healthcare Robot project (part of CARES, University of Auckland), with special focus to improve the naturalness of synthetic speech and incorporate empathy into the robot voice, to further improve its acceptance.

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/uETnq-El8l4?feature=share

Tuesday 03 June 2025
Talk title: I Prompt, Therefore I Code: Adapting Computing Education in the Age of AI

Speaker: Prof Paul Denny, School of Computer Science, University of Auckland.

Abstract

Sure, I'll write an abstract for your talk! Generative AI is rapidly transforming the landscape of computing, presenting both complex challenges and exciting opportunities. At the professional level, debate continues about the future of software development: will AI largely replace human developers, or will it enhance efficiency and drive an even greater demand for skilled professionals? Similarly, in computing classrooms, where programming has traditionally been the foundation, the ease with which AI models can generate code has prompted an urgent need to re-think teaching, learning, and assessment strategies. In this talk, I will share some attempts to adapt to this evolving challenge, a topic that has become increasingly central to computing education research. I will also take a moment to express my gratitude to those who have supported my academic journey, which began with a Master’s thesis under the supervision of Associate Professor Peter Gibbons; it is an honour to deliver this inaugural lecture as part of the Gibbons Memorial Lecture Series.

Biography

Dr Paul Denny is a Professor in the School of Computer Science at the University of Auckland, where he has broad research interests spanning computing education and educational technology. He has recently led multiple international initiatives on generative AI in computing education, and his published work has been recognised with 16 Best Paper or Paper Impact Awards and most recently ACM SIGCSE’s “Test of Time” Award. Paul has also been recognised for contributions to teaching both nationally and internationally, receiving New Zealand’s National Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award, the Computing Research and Education Association of Australasia Award for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching, and the QS Reimagine Education Overall Award.

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/Hdq3RHI-d5A?feature=share