Project Lead – Academic Innovation Project – ‘Enhance your subject specialism by embracing AI creatively’.
Core of the project – highlight the importance of pedagogy-first approach. This project acknowledges that educators need to maintain a strong connection to their subject specialisms while incorporating AI.
We follow a multi-model approach to escalate our teaching practices around the current shift towards AI in education. Frameworks that will form the foundation of this project will include – TPACK, UDL (learners’ variability), Backward Design principles, Carpentries material. The latter is specific to pedagogical resources looking at skills relating to data science and AI, takes an applied approach (use of personification, cognitive load, concept mapping, chunking, T-shaped competencies) to solving specific problems and providing hand-on practice. This project will incorporate a co-creation approach with inputs from colleagues across different faculties.
Disclaimer – this project is not about becoming an AI expert, it is about doing what educators must do best – Teaching! (whilst navigating through tech driven landscape)
The project recognises that the successful integration of AI technologies in education goes beyond the mere utilisation of tools and algorithms. It places a strong emphasis on the role of pedagogy in harnessing the full potential of AI to enhance learning and teaching experiences, and ensure that the subject matter remains central to students’ learning. AI should not overshadow or replace the expertise and knowledge that educators bring to their respective subjects. Instead, it should be seen as a complementary tool that amplifies the learning process, promotes innovative approaches to instruction, and ultimately improves student outcomes. The project aims to develop enhanced approaches and roadmaps to effectively leverage AI in ways that align with staff’s subject specialisms. We will explore how AI can be used to address specific learning objectives (including for minorities), facilitate personalised learning experiences, promote critical thinking, and support student engagement.
Key message – go slow & reflect! Avoid including activities created using GenAI or prompt-engineered images solely for the purpose of promoting your teaching material. Instead, focus on understanding the pedagogical relevance. The frameworks we will develop will serve as enablers to ensure this.