Exploring New Educational Paradigms in the Age of AI

The 2026 World Digital Education Conference was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province from May 11 to 13.

More Scientific and Comprehensive Growth for Teachers and Students

At the Chongwen Century City Experimental School in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, research director Xie Ying showcased the daily work of teachers. “We use voice input on our phones to evaluate students, and the system automatically collects this information as data stored in the students’ data warehouse.” This model not only makes teachers’ work more efficient but also establishes personalized and systematic growth data for students.

While recording student growth, this model also facilitates teacher development. Xie Ying explained, “Collaborative work allows teachers related to each child to come together, enabling young teachers to further grasp effective teaching and nurturing methods through data analysis.”

The application of artificial intelligence in higher education is also noteworthy. In recent years, Zhejiang University has focused on creating a talent cultivation system that spans the entire lifecycle from “awareness enlightenment to capability cultivation, project incubation, enterprise landing, and ecological linkage.” “Cultivating critical thinking, innovative spirit, and creative ability is the core of education that no technology can replace,” said Ma Yanming, president of Zhejiang University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “The application of artificial intelligence will accelerate the shift from knowledge transmission to value guidance, capability shaping, and creative practice.”

More Equitable and Accessible Educational Outcomes

In the deep mountains at the source of the Qiantang River, the central school in Qixi Town, Kaihua County, Zhejiang Province has only six classes and 72 students. Smart technology is helping them break down educational resource barriers. Principal Wu Zhangde shared, “AI companion ‘Qian Xiaowa’ and smart terminals turn the mountains into vibrant classrooms.” Children record plant growth through QR codes; ‘AI companion + online famous teachers’ help them reach city-level artistic stages; and through AI real-time translation and cloud connections, they engage in dialogue with peers from a sister school in Indonesia. Smart technology is continuously bridging the urban-rural education gap through personalized tutoring and resource sharing.

How does AI empower special education? At Hangzhou Yang Lingzi School, a circular screen named “Yang Ling Brain” allows each student to become a colorful “tree”: each branch represents different dimensions of student abilities, and each color indicates the child’s developmental level, with subtle changes precisely recorded and clearly presented.

The AI learning companion “Ling Xiaozhi” at Hangzhou Yang Lingzi School has become the children’s closest “desk mate.” Especially in social communication classes for children with autism, this fluffy panda friend not only initiates conversations based on the children’s interests and patiently guides them to express themselves, but also provides comfort and solace during emotional fluctuations through its soft touch.

Such digital educational scenarios are becoming a reality in more rural schools. During the conference, 118 excellent practice cases were showcased at the global digital education achievements exhibition. Wang Hanzai, a researcher from the Basic Education Research Office of the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone Education Bureau, explained that they are exploring pilot projects to establish a digital linkage mechanism from quality urban schools to weak rural schools, gradually rooting the new ecology of teaching and learning restructured by artificial intelligence in 129 primary and secondary schools across the district.

A More Diverse and Colorful Future of Education

“This year’s Venice Biennale China Pavilion exhibition is the most cutting-edge part of the entire exhibition, especially the display of ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ which builds a platform for cultural exchange and dialogue among young artists in China.” During the conference’s newly established “lightning talk” segment, Yu Xuhong, president of the China Academy of Art, was the first to take the stage, discussing their initiative for the China Design Manufacturing Award (DIA) over the past decade, advocating for the integration of humanities intelligence, life wisdom, art and technology, and industrial think tanks to connect academia, science, industrial design, and R&D systems.

Technology has brought new opportunities to art education, making it more diverse; it has also opened up new opportunities for countries around the world, making education more colorful. On May 12, the Global South Teacher Digital Literacy Improvement Action Plan, initiated by the Global Teacher Development Institute Africa Academy, was released during the parallel session of the conference titled “Preparing Teachers for Future Schools.” According to the plan, developing countries will receive systematic support in the digital transformation of education, serving as a practical measure for China to deepen South-South cooperation and participate in global education governance.

“China is a strong partner of UNESCO in its areas of responsibility,” stated Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, during the conference. In addition to numerous cultural heritage sites, learning cities, and UNESCO category II centers, China has also established the UNESCO International STEM Education Research Institute, which will effectively promote the development of education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, helping cultivate talents with comprehensive abilities.

In this regard, Wang Jian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of the Zhijiang Laboratory, shares a similar view. “Artificial intelligence is an important public product of technology,” Wang Jian said. Looking to the future, more interdisciplinary cooperation in science and technology engineering fields will become possible, and the integration of artificial intelligence with technological infrastructure will help unlock more possibilities for educational research.