What do generative AI tools like ChatGPT mean for higher education? How are educators responding to it, pedagogically? What can we learn from each other's experiences and emerging practices?

Join colleagues from around campus for a facilitated open forum discussion of AI in classrooms, Friday, Oct. 20, at 12:30 p.m.

Few issues have grabbed the attention of higher education — with such a varied range of responses — as generative AI has this past year. GenAI tools can now produce texts, images, code, music, and videos — even essays — in response to almost any question, and just this month have added the capacity to respond to voice prompts like Siri or Alexa do.

The Office of Open Learning’s Dave Cormier notes that in close to 20 sessions with faculty across campus since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, he’s seen everything from outright bans to full incorporation of AI into teaching.

“The most immediate issue AI raises for faculty is the impact on assessment,” says Dave. “But the bigger picture of how we encourage critical thinking in a world of easy synthetic answers is one that higher ed is going to have to grapple with, and soon.”

The forum will be hybrid — both online and face-to-face — and is open to all members of the campus teaching community.

Facilitated by Bonnie Stewart, associate professor of online pedagogy and workplace learning in the Faculty of Education, and Cormier, learning specialist for digital strategy in the Office of Open Learning, the forum will begin with a short introduction to the current state of GenAI, its promises, and its potential issues.

The floor will then open for participants to share their experiences, their concerns, and their hopes for the future of education in a GenAI era.

Join at 12:30pm, Friday October 20, in CEI 1232 or on the Teams link to listen, contribute, and learn together.

Register to attend either on Microsoft Teams or in room 1232, Centre for Engineering Innovation.