Abstract:
In the era of Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI, educators are presented with unprecedented opportunities to transform teaching and learning. By effectively designing and deploying pedagogical AI agents, teachers can create adaptive and personalized learning experiences that respond to the diverse needs of their students—guided by established learning theories and evidence-based pedagogical strategies. This approach not only enhances the personalization of education but also reaffirms the indispensable role of human teachers in an age increasingly shaped by AI.
A key strength of LLMs lies in their deep comprehension of human language, enabling logical reasoning, planning, and the execution of complex tasks. This capability has fueled the notion that “everyone can be a programmer” in the AI era. For educators, it opens the door to natural-language collaboration with AI systems—allowing teachers to articulate lesson designs in plain language while AI agents translate these into executable learning activities. Functioning as avatars or digital twins of human teachers, these pedagogical agents extend instructional reach beyond physical and temporal boundaries, enabling truly ubiquitous learning experiences.
In this presentation, I will introduce a conceptual framework and set of design principles for developing pedagogical AI agents. Through live demonstrations, I will illustrate their versatility using a universal client that integrates both robotic interfaces and general-purpose computing devices such as tablets and computers.
About Dr. Chen:
Dr. Nian-Shing Chen is a Chair Professor at the Institute for Research Excellence in Learning Sciences and the Program of Learning Sciences at National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan.
Professor Chen has received the National Outstanding Research Award three times, in 2008, 2011, and 2015. He is ranked second on the Top Authors list by article count in Computers & Education and fourth on the Top Scholar list in the educational technology field, based on an article published in the British Journal of Educational Technology. One of his papers, published in Innovations in Education and Teaching International, was recognized as the top-cited article in 2010.
Additionally, Professor Chen is ranked third among Social Sciences and Humanities Scientists in Taiwan. According to the AD Scientific Index 2025, he is ranked eighth in Asia and 103rd in the world in Education Research. He is also listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2004 and 2025, as well as in the Lifelong Science Influence Rankings (1960–2024) by Stanford University.
Professor Chen was served as the Editor-in-Chief for Educational Technology & Society (ET&S) journal. He is also a golden core member of IEEE, a lifelong member of ACM, and the former Chair of the IEEE Technical Committee on Learning Technology.