Hangzhou, May 12, 2026 — The World Digital Education Alliance released the Best Practices in AIED: Scenario-Driven AI Plus Education Transformation at the 2026 World Digital Education Conference in Hangzhou on Tuesday, presenting ten examples of how artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are being applied in education systems around the world.
The cases were selected from more than 500 submissions received through a global call launched by the Alliance. The selection focused on real-world application, measurable outcomes, ethical responsibility and sustainability. The selected cases cover a wide range of areas, including personalized learning, smart campuses, intelligent assessment, teacher development, education equity, international Chinese language education, AI ethics and research innovation.
In Hangzhou, the Smart Education of China platform was recognized for supporting a new model of AI-enabled science education. The initiative connects online science and technology resources with local museums, science centers and other public learning spaces, helping students learn, teach, create and explore science through both digital tools and in-person experiences.
A second Chinese case, led by Beijing Normal University, focuses on AI-supported assessment of students’ overall development. Built on national research and pilot projects, the initiative involves 44 regions and more than 8,000 primary and secondary schools. It explores how data and intelligent tools can support more comprehensive student evaluation across diverse local contexts.
The Shenzhen Cloud School was selected for its “four-dimensional classroom” model, which brings together lead teachers, assistant teachers, field-based teachers and AI teaching assistants. Over five years, the model has connected 27 primary and secondary schools, serving more than 10,000 students and 750 teachers through shared lesson planning, teaching and research.
The E-Library for Teachers, developed by UNESCO’s Institute for Information Technologies in Education and the Chinese tech firm NetDragon, was recognized for supporting teacher professional development. The open-access digital resource platform provides courses, materials and communities of practice to help teachers strengthen AI competency and apply AI in ethical, inclusive and human-centered ways.
Singapore’s Student Learning Space was selected for its Adaptive Learning System, launched in 2023. The system uses machine learning to recommend personalized learning pathways across subjects and stages of learning. It has been integrated into Singapore’s national learning platform and is available to about 150,000 students in selected subjects and grades.
The Mindspark platform, developed by Mona Foundation, was recognized for supporting large-scale personalized learning in underserved schools. Used in India, South Africa and Zambia, Mindspark diagnoses students’ learning levels, creates individualized learning pathways and provides teachers with AI-generated analysis of misconceptions, learning gaps and targeted remedial strategies.
Canada’s Contact North | Contact Nord was selected for its free AI application suite for higher education. Designed to support learners in small, rural, northern and remote communities in Ontario, the suite provides tools for student learning, teacher preparation, and education and career planning. It has reached nearly 350,000 users worldwide.
In Australia, a Mandarin learning and assessment platform developed by Lyrebird Education was recognized for adapting international Chinese proficiency standards to local curriculum needs. Starting with the Victorian Certificate of Education Chinese curriculum, the platform connects HSK-based learning with Australian classroom requirements and is being expanded to other state and national systems.
Purdue University’s PeteChat was included as a higher education case. The course-level chatbot, piloted in an electrical and computer engineering course, is developed through repeated cycles of classroom-based design, testing and revision. It aims to offer a balanced approach to AI use in universities, between outright prohibition and unrestricted adoption.
The final case is the ALECSO Charter of AI Ethics, developed by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. The charter provides a regional framework for responsible AI use in education, culture and science, aligning technology with principles such as human dignity, fairness, inclusion, transparency, accountability, cultural respect and sustainability.
The Alliance said the ten cases will serve as a public good for the global education community, offering practical references for countries, schools and institutions seeking to advance digital education in responsible, inclusive and locally adaptable ways.
