Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education (Oct 2024)

I'm a chatbot, ask me anything: building Learning Development for the future

  • Pauldy Otermans,
  • Stephanie Baines,
  • Beverley Pickard-Jones,
  • Sarah Thomson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi32.1436
Journal volume & issue
no. 32

Abstract

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We explored whether artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can aid learning by offering more effective and dynamic ways for students to interact with learning material. Through a survey, we assessed how students perceive and use AI tools, their impressions of the importance of these tools to their future careers and their awareness of AI policies within their universities. Results show mixed responses in terms of students’ familiarity with the tools and what they believe the AI tools could and should not be used for. The results also indicated that students have a thirst to know more about AI tools and their applications. Based on these, we designed customised teaching sessions to teach students those skills that they highlighted in the survey. In addition, we designed an L4 assessment where students need to demonstrate their abilities to critique a ChatGPT output (assessment yet to be submitted by students). These teaching sessions could be rolled out at university level as they are not subject-specific. This conference session shared the design and delivery of the AI-specific teaching sessions and how these were perceived by students. In addition, it demonstrated the design of the L4 assessment with the AI element and how students performed on this. This innovative research on pedagogical methods supports a broader long-term ambition to better understand and improve our teaching, learning, and student engagement through the adoption of AI and the effective use of technology.

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