EdUHK–NNU Research on Neuroscience and Education Technology in Special Education

The Integrated Centre for Wellbeing (I-WELL) of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), in collaboration with Nanjing Normal University of Special Education (NNU), and supported by the Tin Ka Ping Foundation (TKP), completed a research on neuroscience and education technology in special education in 2020.

In the presentation, Professor Leung Chi-hung, Co-Director of I-WELL and Professor (Practice) at the Department of Special Education and Counselling (SEC) of EdUHK, summarised three stages of professional training to benefit students with autism, hearing impairment or intellectual disabilities in the mainland, especially those living in remote areas. NNU professors and in-service teachers who participated in the programme shared their experience, along with their respective research topics, led by Professor Leung, and Associate Professors at SEC Drs Liu Duo and Angus Wang Li-chih. The topics covered the areas of music and information science, early childhood education, applied hearing impairment teaching, and sports and rehabilitation.

A special education e-manual, comprising concise knowledge about neuroscience and e-learning, was also developed. This knowledge can be transferred into applied research plans, addressing the learning needs of children with special educational needs in Nanjing. NGOs and special schools in Hong Kong will be invited to download the e-manual, together with the training manual, for reference.

I-WELL recently received another funding grant from TKP for a new engagement, titled “Research, Development and Application of Educational Materials on Neuroscience and Education Technology in Special Education”, which is a continuation of this project. With NNU as the same partnering university, the new project will focus on the production of educational materials, training and applications related to neuroscience and education technology in special education to cultivate special education in the mainland.

More information on the project is available at the I-WELL website.