Top prize for innovative education awarded to Methodist Preschools

Methodist Preschool Services (MPS) was awarded the top prize for the Gartner 2022 Eye on Innovation Awards in Education (K-12 category) for the use of the Luka AI Reading Robot to enhance Chinese language learning. The international award recognises education institutions for their innovative use of technology to drive best-in-class initiatives. MPS topped three other finalists from Australia, USA and Brazil. It is the first preschool group in Singapore to win the education innovation award in the new K-12 award category introduced by Gartner this year.

Luka was introduced to support Mandarin learning at the group of five MPSmanaged preschools in 2022. Children can enjoy listening to stories read aloud by Luka in an animated and pleasant voice from its extensive library of 70,000 audiobooks of different genres and themes. In addition to storytelling, Luka also assists our students in independent learning of Chinese characters using its AI-image recognition capability. The AI robot provides clear and accurate pronunciation of Chinese words and their meanings from flashcards placed in front of it.

Since its debut, teachers have noted a significant boost in interest for Chinese language learning, improvement in Chinese literacy, communication skills and greater motivation for self-initiated learning outside lesson time among students. Students’ Chinese vocabulary and communication skills have also been enhanced as they converse and sing along with Luka.

(top) Storytelling by Luka

(bottom) Activitybased Chinese learning using Luka

For more information, scan the QR code to visit the MPS website