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Tak-Wai Chan is the Director of Science and Technology for Learning and the Chair and Professor of the Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology at the National Central University of Taiwan. Over the years, Chan has worked on artificial intelligence in education, computer supported collaborative learning, computer mediated interactive classrooms, networked learning communities, ubiquitous and mobile learning, and more recently digital game and toy based learning. Chan started his research on simulated learning companion, a concept he proposed in 1988, which has subsequently become an active sub-area of artificial intelligence in education. In 1992, Chan and his colleagues expanded learning companion systems to a networked social learning system in classroom settings. This was the first dedicated classroom-based system in the world to support collaborative learning synchronously. This thread of research, either learning with multiple virtual characters with different roles or persona simulated in a standalone computer or distributed networked system, extended the horizon of intelligent tutoring research to computer supported collaborative learning. In 2000, Chan led a 4-year research project with a budget of USD 14 millions. One of the outcomes of that project was EduCities (www.educities.edu.tw), which is possibly one of the largest networked learning communities in the world with 1.5 million students registered. Another outcome was a series of studies on mobile and ubiquitous learning inside and outside classrooms, pioneered by Chan and his colleagues. Chan is now trying to develop a conceptual framework and foundation for realizing the ultimate vision of learning companion research – lifelong learning companion. Continuing his interest in computer mediated interactive classrooms, Chan and his group are now investigating a series of social learning games such as reciprocal peer tutoring, learning by asking a good question, peer quest, and team competitive learning games in one-to-one classroom, a classroom that every student is equipped with at least a handy computing device with wireless capability for mediating face-to-face interactions. Chan has co-founded conference series ICCEs and GCCCEs, international academic societies AACE-APC, GCSCE (www.gcsce.org), and APSCE (www.apsce.net). In 2003, Chan initiated a network of world-class researchers, G1:1 (www.G1to1.org), for promoting international collaboration in one-to-one technology enhanced learning. Chan has served on editorial boards, as associate editors, or as advisory editors, of about ten international journals as well as on project review panels in the US and the EU. Chan
considers himself a global Chinese since he was born and brought up in Hong
Kong, did his first degree in the UK, got his master and PhD degrees from the
US, and has been working in Taiwan since 1989. He might retire in Africa some
day. |
