From a PolyU Creative Education Conversation in 2021 to AI + AR Learning Today: A Reflection

Event photo: Leo presenting StoryTellAR at the Creative Education sharing session.

Back in 2021, our CEO Leo Lau joined a Creative Education sharing session held at PolyU's Jockey Club Innovation Tower, within the SD Plus / PolyU Design context. Looking back from today, that moment feels especially meaningful.

What makes it worth revisiting is not just that it was an event appearance. It was part of a wider conversation around how education was changing in response to social and technological developments— a conversation taking place in a design-led university environment that values innovation, applied thinking, and real-world impact.

At ConnectAR, we have long believed that creativity and interaction are not extras in learning. They are central to meaningful engagement. Through StoryTellAR and related interactive experiences, we have explored how AR can turn ordinary content into something more vivid, memorable, and learner-driven. Instead of only reading, students can interact. Instead of only receiving information, they can create experiences, tell stories, and take part more actively in learning.

Looking back at that 2021 PolyU-linked creative education conversation, it is striking how well the core ideas have held up. If anything, the last few years have made them even more relevant.

Learners today are surrounded by content. What they need is not simply more information, but better ways to engage with it. They need experiences that spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and invite creativity. That is one reason creative education still matters.

AR opened one door. It allowed printed materials, learning spaces, and classroom activities to become interactive in new ways. A page could trigger animation. A school activity could become a digital treasure hunt. A student project could become something immersive and shareable.

Now, AI is opening another door. AI is making it easier to brainstorm ideas, generate first drafts, build prototypes, develop stories, and even create 3D or interactive content faster than before. But once again, the key is not novelty for its own sake. The key is how these tools help learners and educators create, communicate, and engage more deeply.

This is where we see a powerful future: AI and AR not as isolated trends, but as part of a wider shift toward more participatory learning.

A student might use AI to develop a story concept, then use AR tools to turn that story into an interactive experience. A teacher might use AI to speed up lesson preparation, then use immersive activities to bring the lesson to life. A school or organisation might use creative technology to turn campaigns, exhibitions, or educational content into experiences that audiences can actively explore.

That is why this 2021 moment still matters to us. It reminds us that some of the most important ideas in education are not temporary trends. The tools evolve, but the deeper need remains the same: to make learning more human, more creative, and more engaging.

At ConnectAR, we are still building around that vision. We continue to explore how AR, AI, storytelling, and interactive design can support schools, educators, institutions, and brands that want to create more meaningful experiences.

If your school, institution, or organisation is exploring interactive learning, AR experiences, AI-assisted content creation, or creative education projects, ConnectAR would be glad to connect.