Supercharging education: Building AI tools to support teaching and learning at NUS

In the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), human connection and collaboration remain paramount. Staff from NUS Information Technology (NUS IT), the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) and NUS faculties have been working together to develop practical AI-enabled tools that draw on different forms of expertise. Educators contribute their understanding of students, disciplinary contexts and intended learning outcomes; CTLT’s academic developers and education technologists bring learning design expertise; and NUS IT provides the technical knowledge to develop tools for wider use. “Building an AI solution for education is not just about whether technology can do it, but whether it should be done, how the solution supports the learning objective, and how students might respond,” said NUS IT Associate Director Ng Jun Da, who is involved in developing all seven tools. This principle keeps the team anchored to a human-centred approach: AI should support the people involved in education, while preserving the thinking, interaction and judgement through which learning occurs. Three of the tools are currently being piloted in NUS courses. Brainstorm: Getting students past the bl