About Me
I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong, specialising in the intersection of artificial intelligence, learning analytics, and culturally relevant pedagogical approaches.
My research investigates how to make AI education more engaging and effective by designing authentic learning experiences. I focus on using creative mediums like music to culturally-situate and motivate students to demystify complex AI concepts. A key part of my work involves cross-cultural comparisons, particularly between Hong Kong and Mexico, to understand different learning patterns that are unique or shared across contexts. I aim to use AI to support and enhance learning, bringing actionable insights from research to educational practice and policy.
Education
Ph.D. in Education (in progress)
The University of Hong Kong, 2021-Present
Thesis: Culturally-Based Approaches for Artificial Intelligence Education for Secondary School Students with Music
M.Ed. Educational Technology and Innovation
Universidad del Valle de México, 2018-2020
M.Sc. Computer Science
Tecnológico de Monterrey, 2018-2020
B.Eng. Mechatronics
Tecnológico de Monterrey, 2011-2016
Skills
Research
- Mixed Methods
- Learning Analytics
- Bayesian Analysis
- Sequential Analysis
Technical
- R, JavaScript, Python, LaTeX
- Machine Learning, Weka
- MS Office, Adobe CC, Inkscape
Research
Research Interests
AI (in) Education
Designing equitable access for learning about AI while exploring how AI can enhance teaching and learning experiences.
Learning Analytics
Developing data-driven approaches to understand students' learning processes and enhance learning outcomes, acknowledging the cultural context in which learning occurs.
Culturally Relevant Education
Investigating how educational technologies can be designed to incorporate and honor diverse cultural perspectives relevant to students' cutural identities.
STEAM Education
Examining approaches that integrate arts into AI education to foster creativity, innovation, and engagement to promote meaningful learning.
Current Projects
Culturally-based AI Education for Secondary School Students
This is my Ph.D. thesis! In this project, I investigate the effect of cultrally relevant and cross-cultural learning for improving students' learning outcomes when learning about AI.
Equitable ICT Education for Secondary School Students
In partnership with SEED Foundation and Impact Analytics, this longitudinal study examines the long-term effects of ICT education for preparing the youth with knowledge and skills for future opportunities in the digital era.
Publications
Journal Articles
Collaborating with classmates and AI to create music pieces: A topic modeling and sentiment analysis approach
BJET (In preparation)
Ng, D.K.T., Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X.
Interaction Patterns in AI Education: A comparison of two contexts
Under review, 2025
Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X., Wang, C., Ng, D.K.T.
Computing Education Meets the Arts: Insights from a Systematic Review
Review of Educational Research, Under Review
Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X.
Conference Proceedings
Insights from Culturally Relevant AI Education Programme for Secondary School Students
Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED), 2024
Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X., Ng, D.K.T.
WekiMusic: Machine Learning Music Activities to Foster Constructionist AI Education
IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT), 2025
Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X.
Perceptions of Learning Analytics Dashboard and Their Associations with Online Professional Learning Outcomes for College Teachers in the Global South
IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT), 2025
Wang, C., Hu, X., Hernández López, N.P.
Culturally Relevant Artificial Intelligence Education with Music for Secondary School Students
Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED), 2024
Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X.
Preliminary Evaluation of Learning Analytics Dashboard for College Teachers' Online Professional Learning
IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT), 2024
Wang, C., Ng, J.T.D., Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X.
Needs Analysis of Learning Analytics Dashboard for College Teacher Online Professional Learning in an International Training Initiative for the Global South
International Conference of Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK), 2024
Wang, C., Hu, X., Hernández López, N.P., Ng., J.T.D.
What Can Students Learn From Their Own Data? Data Literacy With Student-Facing Learning Analytics
International Society of Learning Sciences (ISLS) Annual Meeting, 2023
Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X.
Student-facing Learning Analytics for Data Literacy: Findings from an Integrative Review
International Conference of Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK), 2023
Hernández López, N.P., Hu, X.
Book Chapters
Understanding Learning in Culturally Relevant Artificial Intelligence Education
In Doctoral Consortium of the Learning Analytics Summer Institute Europe 2024 (LASI Europe 2024 DC), 2024
Hernández López, N.P.
Chapter: CEUR Workshop Proceedings
Razonamiento Estadístico (Statistical Reasoning)
In Conocimiento y Razonamiento Computacional (Computational Knowledge and Reasoning), 2019
Estrada Real, A., Hernández López, N.P.
Chapter: Academia Mexicana de Computación
Outreach
Public Talks
SCAPE Seminar: AI in Education
The University of Hong Kong (March 2025)
Shared insights and recommendations for the use of culturally relevant educational tools to develop creativity and empower students with AI for members. The audience included faculty members and students from the Faculty of Education of The University of Hong Kong.
Panel de Discusión: El Papel de la Mujer en la Ciencia (Discussion Panel: The Role of Women in Science)
Consulate General of Mexico, Hong Kong (March 2023)
Participated in a discussion panel with two other Mexican women doing research in diverse fields in Hong Kong to discuss the challenges and opportunities of doing research abroad. The audience included a mix of research profesionals and general public.
TALE 2022 Interdisciplinary Postgraduate Student Forum
IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment and Learning for Engineering (TALE) (November 2022)
I shared my doctoral thesis with other research students in a round-table format.
- Reciepient of 2nd Runner Up Award
Forum for Social Experiments for AI in Education
Graduate School of Education, Pekin University, China (October 2022)
I shared insights with other research students for the integration of the arts to leverage Computer Science and AI Education.
Teaching
MLIM7351: Information system analysis and development
Teaching Assistant, The University of Hong Kong (Spring - Fall 2024)
This graduate-level course introduces students to the principles and applications of information management systems in educational settings.
- Graded and provided feedback on student projects
Professional Learning
Doctoral Consortium
25th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED 2024)
Doctoral Consortium
Learning Analytics Summer Institute Europe 2024 (LASI Europe 2024)
Learning Analytics Summer Institute 2023 (LASI 2023)
Society of Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR)
- Reciepient of Erik Duval Travel Scholarship
Learning Analytics Summer Institute 2022 (LASI 2022)
Society of Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR)
- Reciepient of Erik Duval Travel Scholarship
Volunteering
Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED25)
Italy (July 2025)
- Assisted with registration.
- Supported chairs and speakers during in-person and online sessions.
Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL24)
Hong Kong (December 2024)
- Assisted with registration and logistics.
- Coordinated and supported in-person and online sessions.
- Facilitated in-person poster session.
Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIED24)
Brazil (July 2024)
- Assisted with registration.
- Supported in-person sessions.
International Society for Music Information Retrieval Conference (ISMIR22)
India (Online, December 2022)
- Supported online sessions.
Contact
Get in Touch
Office
Room 401, Runme Shaw Building
The University of Hong Kong
Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong