Theme: Empowering Teachers, Transforming Futures: Innovating Learning for a Changing Southeast Asia

Speaker: Cikgu Elgamilo bin Habibantan and Cikgu Siti Ainul Murshida binti Syamsuddi

SEAMEO INNOTECH celebrated Southeast Asian Teachers’ Day 2026 – Malaysia on May 25, 2026, in collaboration with the Embassy of Malaysia in Manila and the Ministry of Education Malaysia. The online celebration recognized Malaysian teachers and their contributions to education while highlighting the evolving role of educators in responding to technological and social change. Messages from SEAMEO INNOTECH, the SEAMEO Secretariat, and the Embassy of Malaysia emphasized the importance of supporting teachers as key actors in education reform, strengthening their professional development, and ensuring that technological advancement remains grounded in human values. The celebration also featured two Malaysian educators who shared practical experiences in using artificial intelligence and digital tools to respond to challenges in teaching and learning.

Cikgu Elgamilo bin Habibantan of Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Gasing demonstrated how NotebookLM and generative AI can support teachers facing challenges such as documentation workload, limited planning time, diverse learner needs, and a demanding curriculum. He presented features that can help educators transform source materials into audio overviews, quizzes, flashcards, infographics, mind maps, slide decks, and other learning resources. Cikgu Siti Ainul Murshida binti Syamsuddin of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Orkid Desa, meanwhile, shared how Gemini for Education can support more personalized and inclusive learning for students with special educational needs. She presented MyRPI, an innovation developed using Gemini to assist teachers in planning individualized education interventions, as well as applications of AI in social stories, digital storytelling, gamification, and creative activities. Her presentation emphasized that AI should not replace teachers or become the goal of education itself, but should help teachers respond to different learner needs and create more opportunities for students to participate, express themselves, and succeed. Together, the presentations highlighted a human-centered approach to educational technology in which innovation supports teachers while keeping learners and their diverse needs at the center of teaching and learning.