Danny Liu | Professor of Educational Technologies
The University of Sydney

Danny is a molecular biologist by training, programmer by night, researcher and faculty developer by day, and educator at heart. A multiple international and national teaching award winner, he is Professor of Educational Technologies at the University of Sydney where he co-chairs the University's AI in Education working group and leads the Cogniti.ai initiative that puts educators in the driver's seat of AI. Most recently he has been coordinating the development of the Castlereagh Statement (castlereagh.ai), a trans-sector approach to reframing education in the age of AI.

Appearances:

Pre-conference Workshops @ 10:00

[M4] 3 Nov (AM) - No code, no limits: customising your own AI learning tools

It can often feel like AI is happening to us and that we have little control. The reality is that AI can be easy to steer, within the right platform, and with thoughtful pedagogical intent. In this workshop, we will explore ways that educators can take control of AI to build their own learning experiences for students. From custom agents to specialised mini apps, we will see how to start with an educational context and goal, turn this into instructions for AI, and build interactive learning experiences for students.

This session reframes the educator's relationship with AI from passive consumer to active creator. We will unpack the surprisingly accessible architecture behind custom AI tools, demystifying what once seemed like the domain of developers and tech specialists. Through guided experimentation, participants will discover how clear pedagogical thinking translates directly into powerful AI behaviour and outputs, putting educator expertise at the centre of the design process. Whether you want to build a writing coach that asks better questions, a maths tutor that adapts to student misconceptions, or a history simulation that brings primary sources to life, this workshop provides an ideal starting point.

Key takeaways include:

Design and build a custom AI learning tool aligned to a specific curriculum objective using a no-code platform
Apply structured frameworks to translate pedagogical intent into AI-enabled learning activities
Develop approaches to evaluate when custom AI tools add genuine value to learning

Danny Liu, Professor of Educational Technologies, The University of Sydney

EDUtech Asia 2026 Conference Day 1 @ 10:20

Keynote: Are we driving learning in the age of AI, or are we the passengers?

As AI transforms education at breakneck speed, a critical question emerges: are we truly driving learning - or simply along for the ride? This keynote challenges educators to rethink teaching, assessment and institutional priorities, questioning whether we are truly developing the human capabilities that matter most. Danny shares his insights, fresh perspectives and practical shifts that will inspire educators and institutions to lead with purpose, agency and intention in an AI driven world.

Danny Liu, Professor of Educational Technologies, The University of Sydney