Australian Education Experts Visit Hangzhou in 2026

From 24 to 31 October 2026, Australian education expert Dr Josey De Rossi, Nick Rose, Chair of Curriculum Writers Association Australia, and international education specialist Roger Shen visited schools in Hangzhou, including Hangzhou Entel Foreign Language School, Qinglan Primary School, Shangde Experimental School in Xiaoshan District and Binjiang Experimental Primary School. Comparing Australian and Chinese practice, they focused on students’ thinking, teachers’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) and how AI could help meet different learning needs.

The visitors emphasised that AI education should start with understanding how we think. Students need time to form their own views and explain their reasoning, building the judgement to assess what a tool tells them.

De Rossi illustrated this approach using See–Think–Wonder, a thinking routine developed by Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dr Josey De Rossi uses a beach photograph to guide students’ observation and thinking.

Teacher development was another priority. The experts recommended giving greater priority to teacher training, helping teachers understand AI’s capabilities and limitations and use it in planning lessons, supporting learning and providing feedback.

They discussed how AI could help teachers prepare materials at different levels and try alternative explanations for students with different needs. Teachers would still need to check, select and adapt the suggestions, drawing on their knowledge of each student. At Qinglan Primary School, Rose shared approaches to lesson planning, understanding students’ progress and providing individual support.

Nick Rose discusses classroom uses of AI with teachers at Qinglan Primary School.

At Shangde Experimental School, the delegation observed an English lesson built around conversations about pets and a music lesson using musical theatre lyrics to practise pronunciation and rhythm. Both showed how familiar topics, sound and activities could support understanding and expression.

Students at Shangde Experimental School take part in a lesson combining music and language practice.

At Binjiang Experimental Primary School, discussion turned to curriculum development and collaboration among teachers. The visitors shared their experiences, including challenges facing Australian schools, and considered how schools can support teachers to improve teaching together. These exchanges brought the comparison of educational approaches back to practical questions about students’ learning and support for teachers.

The Australian visitors meet staff at Binjiang Experimental Primary School.