ALT South’s activities over last year and next – Generative and AI futures in higher and further education
The ALT South group, your regional friendly network for the Association for Learning Technology (ALT) members and beyond, continues to champion the integration of cutting-edge technologies into higher and further education settings. Building on our commitment to exploring the evolving landscape of Generative (GenAI) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in education, over the past year we have hosted some insightful webinars that focussed on the latest developments and practical applications of GenAI/AI tools in teaching and learning.
In May 2023, we ended the previous year with discussions on the impact of AI on education and this last year too the number of developments in this area mean we continue to focus on even more AI developments to meet the needs of our audience (you). Recognising the rapid advancements and growing interest in GenAI / AI technologies, we have dedicated ourselves to providing a platform for educators and technologists to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices. Let’s take a recap of what we did and also look into future events that we have planned for you.
One of the sessions we organised was from Dr. Isabel Fischer, an advocate for ethical AI integration and Dr. Niharika Gupta, a data scientist and software developer. Dr. Fischer has a wealth of experience in leading technology projects and focuses on promoting fairness and democratization in education through AI. Dr. Gupta offers practical insights into AI’s applications in education, emphasizing the enhancement of teaching practices through technology. The speakers introduced the concept of the “Pedagogic Paradigm 4.0,” highlighting AI’s potential to transform education by fostering partnerships between educators, students, and AI tools. They emphasized that AI can address perceived weaknesses in current educational practices, such as providing timely formative feedback and ensuring fairness in assessments. They stressed that AI should not be a standalone tool but embedded within existing pedagogical frameworks. By acknowledging students’ familiarity with technology and positioning educators as experts and facilitators, they can inspire students to explore AI’s potential responsibly. The webinar showcased various AI tools and their applications in teaching as a nice bonus. Dr. Gupta showcased the art of crafting effective prompts to obtain desired outputs from AI models like ChatGPT, emphasising that mastering this skill can lead to more meaningful and accurate results. The speakers acknowledged the limitations of AI, including biases in data, ethical considerations, and the need for equity and accessibility. They emphasised the importance of using AI ethically, particularly concerning academic integrity and data privacy. As always the webinar trigger some great discussion exploring AI Limitations and how to get GenAI to generates outputs to use it effectively through prompt-based inputs or conversational exchanges. Audience and presenters shared concerns about ensuring that all students should have equal access to GenAI tools.
Next it was Dr. Samantha Penrice and Tomasso Bendoni who provided a comprehensive overview of Natural Language Processing (NLP), and AI concept, explaining how it bridges the gap between human language and computer understanding. They shared a pioneering project on using NLP to detect gender bias in social media interactions, aligning with International Women’s Week themes. Our very own Lucinda also shared insights from her collaborative project on computer-assisted qualitative analysis, highlighting the synergy between human expertise and AI tools. Dr. Penrice explained the complexities of human language and how NLP enables computers to process and interpret linguistic data. Key concepts covered included word classification, stemming, and machine learning techniques used in NLP. Tomaso showcased his research on utilizing NLP techniques to identify and analyse gender bias on Twitter, focusing on interactions with male and female tennis players. His findings revealed subtle differences in sentiment and thematic content, offering insights into societal biases present in social media discourse. The webinar fostered engaging dialogues among participants, who raised pertinent questions and shared insights on the implications of using AI to analyze sensitive data and the potential for reinforcing biases and its accessibility.
In other news, the chair of the group, since becoming a visiting Professor at Faculty of Engineering, McGill University Canada, has been making connections with friends of the group working in learning design in Canada. We expect to bring their work to the group at a suitable point in time in near future.
What lies ahead
These recent webinars underscore ALT South’s ongoing dedication to exploring emerging technologies and their role in education. The incessant developments within the field of GenAI and AI, means that we will be focussing on the effectiveness and trustworthiness of these technologies within contexts such as teaching, learning, assessments and research. We recognise the importance of staying abreast of new tools as well as focus on their efficacy and effectiveness. Our webinars will serve as a platform for educators to share experiences, challenges, and strategies for integrating GenAI / AI into their practice ethically and effectively alongside seeking opportunities to evaluate and generate evidence that sheds more light on the efficacy and effectiveness of the same. We are planning to offer a hands-on sessions to develop proficiency in using GenAI tools for teaching, research, and other administrative tasks within the context of higher and further education. Furthermore, we look forward to collaborating with you on systematic reviews and or research.
We invite all educators, technologists, and stakeholders to join us in this ongoing dialogue. By collaborating and sharing our collective expertise, we can harness GenAI / AI’s full potential to enrich educational experiences and outcomes.
Get Involved with ALT South
Email: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=ALTSOUTH
Website: https://www.alt.ac.uk/groups/members-groups/alt-south
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YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxoWy14N6f8suQUQ8eOSya2pgmSA4m1aS