Minkai Wang
Minkai Wang (王珉锴) is a Ph.D. student in Educational Technology at Zhejiang University (enrolled September 2026), supervised by Prof. Xuesong Zhai. His research spans game-based learning, artificial intelligence in education, metaverse learning environments, and esports education. He was jointly trained at the Future Imaging Laboratory from March to July 2026 and continues his joint training at the ZJU International Joint R&D Center for Esports Education.
His research examines how large language models, virtual agents, adaptive mechanisms, and digital games can reshape learning experience, engagement, cognitive load, and behavioral patterns. His academic work has appeared in Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Journal of Educational Computing Research, and Entertainment Computing.
News
- 2026.07 Preparing for the upcoming Ph.D. journey.
Experience
Expected Sept 2026
Zhejiang University
Ph.D. Student in Educational Technology | Supervisor: Prof. Xuesong Zhai
Mar 2026 - Jul 2026
Zhejiang University Yangtze River Delta Smart Oasis Innovation Center · Future Imaging Laboratory
Joint training student in esports education | Supervisor: Yupei Zhao
Mar 2026 - Present
ZJU International Joint R&D Center for Esports Education
Joint training student in esports education | Supervisor: Yupei Zhao
Jan 2026 - Dec 2028
Zhejiang-Netherlands Joint Laboratory for Digital Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Diseases
External Expert (three-year appointment)
Sept 2023 - June 2026
Zhejiang University of Technology
Master in Educational Technology | Supervisor: Prof. Jingdong Zhu
Sept 2019 - June 2023
Zhejiang Shuren University
Bachelor in Digital Media Technology | Supervisor: Hanjie Gu
Sept 2017 - Sept 2019
Chinese People's Liberation Army
Soldier, Strategic Support Force
Publications
Full Publications List
- CSSCI What Should Education Be in the Intelligent Era? A Review of the 2026 World Digital Education Conference
Open Education Research, 32(3), 59-66. (CSSCI, Composite IF = 11.401) [Link] - JCAL Boosting Student Engagement in STEM: Integrating Large Language Model-Based Virtual Agents Into Alternate Reality Games
Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 41(6). (JCR Q1, IF = 4.6) [Link] - JECR ESI Highly Cited Effects of Incorporating a Large Language Model-Based Adaptive Mechanism Into Contextual Games on Students' Academic Performance, Flow Experience, Cognitive Load and Behavioral Patterns
Journal of Educational Computing Research, 63(3), 662-694. (JCR Q1, IF = 8.5) [Link] - EC Optimizing experiential learning in science education: The role of two-tier testing in digital game-based learning
Entertainment Computing, 54, 100960. (JCR Q2, IF = 2.4) [Link] - EC Integrating artificial intelligence and gamification in rehabilitation: A scoping review
Entertainment Computing, 55, 101011. (JCR Q2, IF = 2.4) [Link] - EC Beyond pre-scripted interactions: Mapping the integration of LLMs in digital game-based learning - a scoping review
Entertainment Computing, 56, 101082. (JCR Q2, IF = 2.4) [Link] - JECR Asking, Playing, Learning: Investigating Large Language Model-Based Scaffolding in Digital Game-Based Learning for Elementary Artificial Intelligence Education
Journal of Educational Computing Research, 64(2), 311-343. (JCR Q1, IF = 8.5) [Link] - AS The Impact of a Digital Game-Based AI Chatbot on Students' Academic Performance, Higher-Order Thinking, and Behavioral Patterns in an Information Technology Curriculum
Applied Sciences, 14(15): 6418. (JCR Q2, IF = 2.9) [Link] - AS The Effectiveness of a Digital Twin Learning System in Assisting Engineering Education Courses: A Case of Landscape Architecture
Applied Sciences, 14(15): 6484. (JCR Q2, IF = 2.9) [Link]
Journal metrics reflect information verifiable in July 2026; impact factors are journal-level indicators. The ESI Highly Cited status follows the supplied Web of Science record and may change with ESI updates.
Projects
Waiting for an Egg
Educational game released on Steam.
A game-based learning work exploring lightweight narrative, interaction, and learning motivation through playful design.
Game Project [Steam]
Educational game released on Steam.
A game-based learning work exploring lightweight narrative, interaction, and learning motivation through playful design.
Game Project [Steam]
Sprout's Journey
Campus navigation educational game released on itch.io.
A campus navigation and role-based learning project combining digital media design and educational interaction.
Game Project [itch.io]
Campus navigation educational game released on itch.io.
A campus navigation and role-based learning project combining digital media design and educational interaction.
Game Project [itch.io]
Centennial Shuttle
Red tourism educational game released on itch.io.
A role-playing educational game that supports red culture learning through scenario-based exploration.
Game Project [itch.io]
Red tourism educational game released on itch.io.
A role-playing educational game that supports red culture learning through scenario-based exploration.
Game Project [itch.io]
Digital Esports Potential Assessment System
A web system co-designed / co-developed for esports assessment.
The system supports player profiling, growth tracking, practice experiences, assessment tasks, rankings, and data-driven feedback.
Web Project [Website]
A web system co-designed / co-developed for esports assessment.
The system supports player profiling, growth tracking, practice experiences, assessment tasks, rankings, and data-driven feedback.
Web Project [Website]
Aemeath Academic Desktop Assistant
A Windows desktop pet integrated with a local-first research workbench.
An integration, adaptation, and maintenance project combining an AI desk pet, chat / tray interactions, and paper, project, and task tracking in one desktop workflow.
Open-source Integration [GitHub] The desk-pet baseline follows the FlyingSnowVelvet-Aemeath lineage, and the workbench draws on AugustUp/phd_master_system; see the repository for full credits and asset terms.
A Windows desktop pet integrated with a local-first research workbench.
An integration, adaptation, and maintenance project combining an AI desk pet, chat / tray interactions, and paper, project, and task tracking in one desktop workflow.
Open-source Integration [GitHub] The desk-pet baseline follows the FlyingSnowVelvet-Aemeath lineage, and the workbench draws on AugustUp/phd_master_system; see the repository for full credits and asset terms.
WeddingSeats: Seating & Lottery Integration
A connected workflow for wedding seating, guest export, and live lottery.
An integration and event customization project supporting drag-and-drop seating, Excel export, one-click import, live list synchronization, and optional cloud backup.
Open-source Integration [GitHub] Seating is based on Ajdin Catic / wedding-seats and lottery on LOG1997 / log-lottery; see the repository for full credits.
A connected workflow for wedding seating, guest export, and live lottery.
An integration and event customization project supporting drag-and-drop seating, Excel export, one-click import, live list synchronization, and optional cloud backup.
Open-source Integration [GitHub] Seating is based on Ajdin Catic / wedding-seats and lottery on LOG1997 / log-lottery; see the repository for full credits.
Research Grants
- Host | Zhejiang University of Technology "Canal Cup" Key Project: Research on the Application of LLM Virtual Agents Replacing Reality Games in STEAM Education (2024-2025)
- Host | Zhejiang University of Technology "Canal Cup" Key Project: Design and Practice of LLM-Driven Adaptive Science Education Contextual Games (2024-2025)
- Participant | Zhejiang Educational Technology Center Project: Theme Science Museum - Primary School Practical Education in the Digital Intelligence Era (2023-2024)
- Participant | Ministry of Education National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program: Deep Development of "Immersive Red Tour" Digital Red Tourism Application (2022-2023)
- Host | Zhejiang Provincial Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program: Research and Development of Role-Playing Based Campus Navigation Game (2021-2022)
Other Participated Projects / Programs
- Dongtou PBL Gamified Practice Education Curriculum Development
- Zhejiang University Digital Esports Experience / Practice / Assessment System
- Research on Excellent AI Education Teaching Cases for Primary and Secondary Schools
- Geely Automobile Industry Sci-Tech Innovation Practice Education Base
- Intelligent Learning Space for Motor Skills
- Cultivation of New Comprehensive Practical Education Venues
- Theoretical Research and Technical Service for Project-Based Learning Activities in Wuzhong District
- "Moral Education in Subject Courses" Classroom Teaching Cases
- Digital-Intelligence Garden Reading-and-Farming Learning Space
Awards
- Provincial Outstanding Graduate, National Scholarship, and University Graduate Academic Star Award, plus a First-Class Academic Scholarship during master's study.
- University Outstanding Graduate, University Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis, University Outstanding Student Party Member, and Outstanding Youth League Cadre during undergraduate study.
- Third Prize in NCDA Zhejiang Division; Second Prize in Zhejiang Provincial University Multimedia Works Design Competition.
- Main referee for the Matata category, 2025 World Robot Contest Youth Robot Design Contest, Hangzhou Selection.
- Excellent Recruit, Excellent Conscript and commendation, and Third Prize in the Team Combat Injury Rescue Competition during military service.
Services
Journal Reviewer
- Artificial Intelligence Review
- International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction
- npj Digital Medicine
- BMC Medical Ethics
- BMC Medical Education
- Virtual Reality
- Humanities & Social Science Communication
- Journal of Academic Librarianship
- Cognitive Neurodynamics
- Universal Access in the Information Society
- Entertainment Computing
- Cognitive Development
- SoftwareX
- Acta Psychologica
- Frontiers in Psychology
- International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems
- JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
- IEEE Access
- Scientific Reports
- Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
- Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans
- Discover Sustainability
- Social Sciences & Humanities Open
- Discover Artificial Intelligence
- Discover Psychology
Academic Communities and Reports
- Person in charge of the WeChat Official Account "Digital Game-based Learning Research".
- Deeply participated in the compilation of the Blue Book on Digital Education Development in Zhejiang Province.
- Deeply participated in the compilation of the Development Report on New Comprehensive Practical Education Venues in Zhejiang Province.
Talks
- The 1st National Symposium on AI-Empowered Interdisciplinary Project-Based Learning (2024, Xiamen)
- China Educational Technology Academic Conference (2026, Hangzhou)
- Puyuan Esports Summit (2026, Jiaxing)
Teaching
Teaching and Instruction
- Nov 2025 | Teaching Assistant | Advanced Workshop on AI Literacy for Primary and Secondary School Teachers in Yuhang District
- Apr - Nov 2025 | Intern Teacher | Jiaxing Experimental Junior High School, Information Technology
- Mar - Jun 2024 | Programming Teacher | Hangzhou Wenxin Primary School and Zhongtai Center Primary School
- Mar - May 2024 | Competition Instructor | Robotic Arm Competition Training for schools in Hangzhou
- Mar 2023 - Dec 2024 | Part-time Teacher | Hangzhou Cuiyuan No. 2 Primary School and programming institutions
- Jul 2020 | Programming Teacher | Jiashan Experimental Primary School
Study Tour Mentor
- Jul 2026 | Operation Dawn: Coastal Defense Technology and Martial Spirit Study Tour
- Jun - Jul 2025 | Decoding Zhejiang Science & Technology Genes Study Tour
- Jun - Jul 2024 | Geely Automotive Dream Factory Study Tour
Volunteer Service
- Jul 2024 | Wuxing Village "Holiday School" Mental Health Class
- May 2024 | Hanghai Road Community Neighborhood Youth Center Inquiry-Based Science Class
- Oct - Dec 2023 | Candlelight Volunteer Program - Online Teaching
Other Leadership and Coaching
- Feb 2023 / Feb 2024 | Skiing Instructor | Hai Ben Camps Ski Winter Camp
- 2020 - 2022 | Military Instructor | Zhejiang Shuren University, Jiashan No. 2 Senior High School, etc.
- Sept 2018 - Sept 2019 | Squad Leader | Strategic Support Force Unit, PLA