Shaping Future Innovators: AI and Smart City Course for Gifted Students

February, 2025 — The e-Learning Development Laboratory at The University of Hong Kong is honoured to receive support from the Gifted Education Fund: Off-School Advanced Learning Programme (2024/25 School Year) for the organization of a special course titled “Application and Technology of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Town Planning and Smart City.” The course will be held from late May to mid-December 2025 and is specially designed for gifted students who are eager to explore the frontiers of emerging technologies. It aims to nurture their understanding of the fundamental principles of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), while inspiring them to apply these concepts to real-world contexts and reflect on the role of technology in shaping the cities of the future.

Throughout the programme, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of AI and ML theory and see how these technologies contribute to modern urban environments. Using smart city initiatives as practical case studies, students will explore applications in areas such as city planning, intelligent transportation, energy optimization, and environmental sustainability. Through real-world examples, they will grasp how data-driven innovations improve quality of life and support sustainable urban growth.

The course integrates theory with hands-on experiences through a series of interactive workshops and experiments. Students will learn to program microcontrollers such as NodeMCU using C++, connect and manage input/output devices, and develop AI-based voice or image recognition applications using Google Colab or MIT App Inventor. They will also design and solder printed circuit boards (PCB) to bring their conceptual ideas to life. These exercises challenge students to apply creative problem-solving skills, enhance their understanding of hardware-software integration, and transform their knowledge into tangible outcomes. Continuous experimentation and testing will deepen their comprehension of AI principles while fostering innovation, critical thinking, and resilience.

A highlight of the programme is the group project, where students collaborate to design and construct a prototype model of a smart city device. Guided by experienced instructors, they will follow the five-step engineering design process — from topic selection and ideation to prototyping and final presentation. This process encourages inquiry-based learning and teamwork, helping participants discover how AI-driven solutions can tackle real-life urban issues. The final showcase will celebrate both creativity and functionality, representing the spirit of independent exploration promoted by gifted education.

Beyond technical training, the course places great emphasis on holistic development. Students will be encouraged to cultivate perseverance, diligence, responsibility, empathy, and ethical awareness. Discussions will guide them to reflect on the social and moral implications of new technologies, ensuring that their innovations align with responsible and sustainable practices. Through this comprehensive learning journey, participants will not only build advanced technological competencies but also grow into thoughtful, socially responsible young innovators ready to contribute to a smarter and more sustainable future.