For Hong Kong primary and secondary schools
AI that helps students think, not an AI that writes for them.
Penpal coaches every student through Writing, Reading, Listening and Speaking, in English and Chinese. Its feedback points to what needs another look and leaves the fixing to the student. It marks the finished work against the rubric you already use, and a teacher decides when results go out.
How we think about AI
Three rules we don’t bend.
Rule one · Ownership
Students do the thinking
Penpal is built on one idea: learning happens when the student does the thinking. AI is there to assist. It can point to where a piece needs another look, but it never writes a sentence for the student or hands over the answer. The thinking even starts before the task: every task opens with a pre-task, where students gather their ideas and words first.
- AI assists, never authorsHelp points the way and leaves the work to the student.
- Thinking is the pointFinding the problem is the part being taught.
- Ready before they startA pre-task gathers ideas and words first, so the thinking starts early.
DraftLast summer I go to Cheung Chau with my family.
Look at this verb. When did it happen?
Revised by the studentLast summer I went to Cheung Chau with my family.
AI points the way. The student finds the fix.
Rule two · Control
Teachers are in control
AI marks the work first, against the rubric the task names. Then the teacher takes over: open any script, check every score, change what needs changing, add their own feedback, and release only when they are satisfied. Nothing reaches a student without the teacher’s say-so.
- Marked before you open itThe first read is done, so your time goes where you are needed.
- Review every scriptOpen any AI-marked piece and check each score.
- Fine-tune before releaseChange a score, add your own feedback.
28 of 30 scripts reviewed
AI scores the work. The teacher reviews, adjusts and releases.
Rule three · Transparency
Schools see what AI is doing
A school should not have to take AI on trust. Penpal shows the school how much AI help is being used and on what, how many teachers and students are active each day, and which classes have gone quiet. Student data is protected throughout: AI is sent only the work it needs to see, never personal data.
- See how AI is usedHow much AI help the school uses, week by week, and on what.
- See who is activeDaily activity, and which classes have gone quiet.
- Student data protectedAI is sent only the work, never personal data.
2 classes quiet this week
AI sees the work, never who wrote it.
The loop
One assignment, start to finish.
Teacher sets the task
The rubric, the pre-task and how many checks
Student writes
After the pre-task, in their own words
Check my work
AI names what to look at, never what to write
Student revises
Finds the fix, then checks again or moves on
AI scores, teacher releases
After hand-in, the teacher reviews and sends it out
Words that stay
New words join the vocabulary book, with mini-games
Give your students a coach, not a shortcut.
Book a walkthrough for your English or Chinese panel.
Book a demoTalk to us
Book a walkthrough for your department.
Tell us which school you are from and we will arrange a time. It isn't a sales call. It's a working session with your English or Chinese panel.