Unleashing the AI Monster: Terrors and Triumphs in the Digital Realm

Presenter biographies and session outlines

Keynote: Being present with the wicked problem haunting higher education: Dr Louise Drumm

Dr Louise Drumm is an Associate Professor in Digital Education in the Department of Learning and Teaching Enhancement at Edinburgh Napier University. Louise has been at the forefront of her university’s, and the wider sector’s response, to the advent of generative AI and how it impacts how we teach, learn, and assess in higher education. Arguing for the application of existing critical digital literacies which recognises a plurality of possible responses, Louise has shared both her recent research and teaching materials on AI under open access. That research, which forefronted the student voice as both participants and co-researcher, is now being replicated in other universities. Similarly, the guidance and teaching approaches she has taken with students on the MSc in Blended and Online Education on generative AI in education has also been widely shared and used. This short presentation will briefly discuss these and argue for how we need sit with the discomfort of the challenges and complexities of generative AI in order to navigate through this new territory.

Keynote: Move Fast and Break Things: Kenji Lamb

Kenji works for the College Development Network (CDN). Facebook’s old motto seems particularly relevant when talking about the rise of generative AI in the last 12 months; each week brings with it a new development that challenges the idea of what’s possible. Assessment was one of the first victims as students started turning to AI to ‘help’ with assignments – homework ‘support’ services felt the pain more than most. As the year progressed, more commercial online services and courses started to embed AI, providing a 24/7 service that people were willing to pay for. Duolingo, the popular language learning platform saw a rise of 63% of users paying for the premium subscription-based offering which included AI; their CEO has never been shy about the company’s goal of making something that ‘can teach you as well as a one-on-one human tutor’.

With AI being embedded in Windows 11’s latest update, it’s almost impossible to ignore – I guarantee (some of) your students are definitely racing ahead. We need to understand how best to apply this new technology, and pass on what we learn to our students, helping to shape their experiences to be positive and productive. We ran the ‘AI in College Education’ event in September (registration required to view recordings) which to be honest generated more questions than answers, but it did help to focus the discussions around policy, practice and productivity. This session continues the conversation and shares our perspective on an AI-enhanced future for the college sector.

* Not an AI expert or futurist by any means, but the part of my upbringing that was influenced by Japanese family and friends meant that I don’t relate so closely to the idea of an ‘AI Monster’ – in my mind, it’s more of an earless blue cat.

Harnessing AI in Curriculum Design: A Brief Introduction: Andrew James Gibson

In this short presentation, Andrew Gibson (UHI Curriculum Development Lead) will look at the impact AI is having, and will continue to have, on curriculum design and development. With remarkable speed, AI can streamline curriculum development tasks, granting you more time to focus on what truly matters – inspiring and guiding your students. There are, however, a variety of concerns, for example, around the ethical use of such tools. Focusing on the efficiencies of AI, we’ll look at tools that can be used to help with curriculum development tasks and how these outputs can be adjusted to cater to diverse styles and ability levels.

Join us for an opportunity to explore this educational collaboration, where AI complements human expertise, making curriculum design more effective, efficient, and impactful.

Jekyll & Hide: Transforming the Student learning experience with ChatGPT: Gary Souter

Gary Souter, Your Student Association Vice President (Education) is a recent UHI graduate, having completed a BSc (Hons) Sport & Fitness this year as well as receiving a life changing ADHD diagnosis at the age of 33. Currently taking a sabbatical after being elected Vice President (Education) of Your Student Association, Gary hopes to continue onto post-graduate study with UHI.

During his 4^th year. Struggling with the mounting workload and playing catch up with missed deadlines, Gary turned to ChatGPT to try and find a way of combating the poor executive function, time blindness, and issues with focus that so often are prominent characteristics of ADHD. This presentation will explore how ChatGPT contributed to his learning experience, helped him overcome the challenges of ADHD and the potential pitfalls of crossing the ethical boundary.

AI in Education: Unlocking its potential and igniting further questions: Fiona McConnell

Fiona McConnell is the Digital Skills Training Officer at UHI Inverness, she is passionate about training and development within the realm of education, where her commitment lies in the technologies used in teaching and learning, with a focal point on learner-centric methodologies. Her professional interests include the utilisation of artificial intelligence tools in education, focusing on how AI could support staff through personalised learning and how AI can enhance the quality and accessibility of learning experiences for both educators and students. In her role at UHI Inverness, she is keen in exploring innovative ways to integrate AI tools into educational practices. Additionally, she is dedicated to finding the best methods to support staff in this transformative process.

Artificial intelligence is transforming how students learn and lecturers teach. ChatGPT and other generative AI tools have recently sparked excitement about AI's potential in the classroom. This presentation will unpack the hype and discuss responsible ways to integrate AI into education. We'll define generative versus assistive AI and look at how students are already using tools like ChatGPT to assist their learning, including ideas on how staff could use ChatGPT to support their practice. However, lack of digital literacy and AI bias remain challenges. Developing students' abilities to critically evaluate AI output is crucial. We'll share examples of how other educational institutions are responding to AI, including considerations around academic integrity and assessments. Attendees will leave with an understanding of current best practices in teaching with AI to spark creativity and critical thinking. The presentation will also discuss the need to close digital divides so all students can build essential AI literacy skills for the future. While AI's long-term impacts are still unfolding, this session will provide practical guidance on harnessing AI as a force for good in education.

The Genie is out of the bottle Artificial intelligence, the Biggest Game Changer in Education Since the Invention of the Printing Press: David Gourley

David is the Head of Learning and Teaching Enhancement at Perth College UHI, where he leads the development and implementation of innovative learning strategies and technologies. He has a Ph.D in biomedical science from the University of Glasgow and a Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. He has worked as a researcher at the Universities of Glasgow and Dundee, as well as in the life-science industry. He has also held management positions at Dundee College and UHI Perth. He is passionate about supporting students with learning difficulties and fostering a vibrant research culture at Perth College UHI.

Dr Gourley is also a believer in the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and its ability to enhance education by personalising education, making it more exciting and engaging, and removing barriers to access and inclusion. He advocates for ethical principles for AI in education that respect human rights and promote social justice. He envisions a future where AI can augment human intelligence and creativity, rather than replace it.

Using ChatGPT to Aid the Design of Class Materials: Amanda Mason

Amanda teaches bookkeeping & accounting. She started her accounting career working for KPMG Peat Marwick, as a Junior Accountant mostly completing small sets of Financial Statements and Tax returns for Estates and Trusts. Having especially enjoyed her master’s papers in Finance and Taxation (Lincoln University – New Zealand), she published an article in the National Business Review of New Zealand, titled: ‘Commission Mulls Equity Warrants to Hedge Risks’. She moved over to the Investment Banking industry working for BZW who was taken over by ABN AMRO (Sydney, Australia). She worked on the trading floor, supporting traders in an accounting role (middle office) and moved to London where she worked for Deutsche Bank as a Financial Controller - Global Investment Banking – Special Purpose Vehicles (Financial Vehicles). A lot of very interesting jobs later she landed her dream job of becoming a Lecturer.

"Part of my professional development involves keeping up with AI technology (specifically business related), due to delivering the Business Awareness for Accountants Module. I didn’t relate AI in education until the College Development Network (CDN) day webinar called ‘AI in College Education’, March 2023. As a consequence, I started using AI as a tool, helping to create class materials. It’s like having an assistant, all I had to do is to learn how to ‘prompt AI’ in the right way."

Michele Smith

Michele is a Lecturer of Core Skills at UHI Moray and an AI enthusiast. Michele has been using AI for the past 2 years and is passionate about exploring the potential and challenges of AI in various domains, such as education, health, and entertainment.

"I am excited to be part of this discussion panel and contribute to the conversations."