Artificial Intelligence for Learning and Teaching

Why we should engage with ideas and resources in Higher Education

We are collectively aware of the rapid development of Artificial intelligence (AI) in recent years and taking more notice as tools like ChatGPT emerge that allow us to generate text content based on user inputs and engage in natural language conversations with humans. With careful planning and implementation, AI has the potential to transform the way we teach and learn. We need to consider how we embrace this opportunity and create engaging learning experiences and authentic assessments.

There are several compelling reasons why higher education institutions should embrace the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for learning and teaching purposes. Here are some key advantages:

• Personalised Learning: AI enables personalised learning experiences by analysing vast amounts of data about students’ performance, preferences, and learning styles. It can tailor instructional materials, recommend appropriate resources, and provide targeted feedback to individual students. This personalised approach helps learners grasp concepts more effectively and promotes greater engagement and motivation.
• Intelligent Tutoring Systems: AI-powered intelligent tutoring systems can provide students with interactive and responsive learning environments. These systems can simulate one-on-one tutoring experiences, offering personalised feedback, guidance, and assistance to students as they navigate through various subjects. By adapting to individual progress and addressing specific learning gaps, AI tutors can augment traditional teaching methods and help students achieve better academic performance.
• Intelligent Content Creation and Curation: AI can assist in generating and curating high-quality educational content. Natural language processing algorithms can analyse vast amounts of information and create summaries, study materials, and even interactive simulations. This capability not only saves time for educators but also helps in the development of comprehensive and up-to-date learning resources, benefiting students in accessing relevant and engaging content. Students can also build products or artefacts as part of the learning and/or assessment requirements using AI tools.
• Adaptive Assessment: AI can revolutionise assessment methods by providing adaptive and personalised evaluations. AI-powered assessment systems can dynamically adjust the difficulty level of questions based on individual students’ abilities, providing a more accurate measure of their knowledge and skills. This approach ensures that students are appropriately challenged and allows educators to gain deeper insights into their progress.
• Collaboration and Communication: AI technologies can facilitate collaboration and communication among students and instructors. Online platforms powered by AI can enable real-time discussions, group projects, and knowledge sharing, transcending geographical boundaries. AI can also assist in language translation, enabling effective communication and collaboration among students from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
• Lifelong Learning and Professional Development: AI can extend learning opportunities beyond traditional classroom settings. Online courses, virtual simulations, and intelligent learning platforms can enable individuals to engage in lifelong learning and pursue professional development at their own pace. AI can recommend relevant courses based on learners’ interests, provide personalised coaching, and track progress, supporting continuous skill development in a rapidly evolving job market.

It is important to approach the use of AI in education responsibly, with careful consideration of ethical concerns, privacy protection, copyright and IP, and the need for human interaction and guidance. By using AI to do the ‘menial’ tasks we can increasingly focus on higher order thinking activities. Balancing the benefits of AI with human expertise and maintaining a learner-centric approach is essential to ensure its effective and responsible integration into learning and teaching in higher education. 

UniSQ: Exploring, adopting and adapting AI tools

UniSQ is starting to foster deeper conversations around practical and pedagogical applications of a range of tools that assist, support and scaffold student learning as well as teacher facility and productivity. The challenge is to provide awareness and guidance so these new AI tools will have positive impacts and not be used inappropriately or unethically.

The Technology Demonstrators Community of Practice is an ideal construct within the university to explore the benefits of AI for learning and teaching, share knowledge and insights, and discuss tools like ChatGPT in the context of best practice, professional ethics and integrity. 

Conversations and collaborative explorations are ongoing including:

• The use of content creation tools for videos, images and infographics such as Synthesia, D-ID, DALL-E2, Infogram, as well as various generative text tools such as ChatGPT4, ChatSonic, and Jasper.
• February CoP session where 80+ UniSQ attendees listened to internal guest speakers and discussed implications for learning and teaching including a focus on re-imagining assessment in an AI world. The three presentations are available via this newsletter and share ideas for how we should now teach in the world of AI, the rise of AI in assessment and student success, and AI tools for productivity. Discussion at this session focussed on:
  • The need to change methodologies and pedagogies – with technology being the channel to do so – and more resources to support academics to make these changes
  • Future proofing the impact of AI and leveraging opportunities
  • Alternative assessments including performance based

Note: The bullet points sharing compelling reasons and key advantages for AI in higher education were adapted from generated text using ChatGPT4 via responses to the following prompts:

• Explain why higher education should be using AI for learning and teaching purposes, and
• Articulate why AI should not be banned at a university and share attributes of AI that can support learning and teaching

Resources

Bates, T., Cobo, C., Mariño, O., & Wheeler, S. (2020). Can artificial intelligence transform higher education?. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 17(1), 1-12.

Cutcliffe, K. (March 2, 2023). Introduction to the theme AI and ChatGPT. https://create.usq.edu.au/edtech/2023/03/02/introduction-to-the-theme-ai-and-chatgpt/ 

Educause Review Special Report. (June 1, 2022). Artificial intelligence: Where are we now?. https://er.educause.edu/toc/educause-review-special-report-artificial-intelligence-where-are-we-now 

Illingworth, S. (January 19, 2023). ChatGPT: students could use AI to cheat, but it’s a chance to rethink assessment altogether. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/chatgpt-students-could-use-ai-to-cheat-but-its-a-chance-to-rethink-assessment-altogether-198019 

Jacka, L. & Lindsay, J. (February 16, 2023). AI and ChatGPT. Balancing the Shift podcast. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/balancingtheshift/episodes/06–AI-and-ChatGPT-e1v1vv1/a-a9bh5d7 

Lindsay, J. (February 17, 2023). Adventures with AI – ChatGPT. https://create.usq.edu.au/edtech/2023/02/17/adventures-with-ai-chatgpt/ 

Lo, CK. (2023). What Is the Impact of ChatGPT on Education? A Rapid Review of the Literature. Education Sciences. 13(4), 410. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13040410 

Mewburn, I. (May 2, 2023). Using ChatGPT (ChattieG) to write good. The Thesis Whisperer. https://thesiswhisperer.com/2023/05/02/usingchatgpt/ 

Spencer, J. (February 4, 2023). We can’t predict how AI will change learning #ChatGPT. https://spencerauthor.com/ai-predict/ 

Spencer, J. (February 20, 2023). The future of writing in a world of artificial intelligence #ChatGPT. https://spencerauthor.com/ai-essay/ 

Sullivan, M., Kelly, A., & McLaughlan, P. (2023). ChatGPT in higher education: Considerations for academic integrity and student learning. Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching, 6(1).

Technology Demonstrators CoP. (February 28, 2023). Theme: Ai and ChatGPT. https://www.smore.com/xcrtk 

TEQSA. (May 9, 2023). Artificial Intelligence (resources). https://www.teqsa.gov.au/guides-resources/higher-education-good-practice-hub/artificial-intelligence 

Venaruzzo, L., Ames, K., & Leichtweis, S. (2023). ‘Embracing AI for student and staff productivity.’’ Australasian Council on

Open Distance and eLearning (ACODE). Canberra. Australia. (9 March). DOI: To be advised. Available from: https://www.acode.edu.au/pluginfile.php/13426/mod_resource/content/1/ACODE88-Whitepaper.pdf