“Navigating New Frontiers: A Balanced Exploration of Integrating Generative AI into Postsecondary Teaching and Learning” led by Erin Allard

Date/Time
Date(s) - 13/07/2023
All Day

This two-hour, interactive workshop invites participants to critically examine the use of generative AI technologies in postsecondary education. As the digital transformation accelerates, generative AI models, such as GPT-4, are being increasingly integrated into teaching, learning, and assessment practices. However, these tools carry both opportunities and challenges that need to be thoroughly understood for responsible implementation.

Our session begins with a comprehensive introduction to generative AI, outlining its capacities, limitations, and potential implications for education. Using real-world case studies, we will unpack the diverse ways this technology is currently being employed in the postsecondary sector, including course design, assessments, and in-class activities.

The workshop will foster a balanced discussion, highlighting not only the potential benefits of AI, like personalized feedback and increased efficiency, but also the potential pitfalls and ethical challenges, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the risk of over-reliance on technology in education.

Through hands-on activities, participants will have the opportunity to engage with these issues firsthand, grappling with the complexities of integrating generative AI into their teaching and learning contexts.

This workshop is designed for a broad audience, irrespective of technical expertise. It aims to equip attendees with a nuanced understanding of generative AI’s role in education, fostering critical discussion and thoughtful engagement with this emerging technology. As we traverse this new frontier, the session underscores the importance of cautious optimism, balanced evaluation, and ethical considerations in leveraging AI for the future of postsecondary education.

(morning session) Erin Allard is a Lead Educational Developer at McMaster’s Paul R. MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Excellence in Teaching where she Leads the Professional Development for Teaching mandate area. In this role, she oversees a team of Educational Developers who deliver the Institute’s centrally offered teaching development programing for Teaching Assistants (TAs), graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, instructors, faculty, and staff. While she supports team members who facilitate a large number of program activities, the activities she is most directly involved in include mandatory paid TA training and the Teaching and Learning Certificates of Completion Program. Passionate about supporting McMaster educators, Erin enjoys the full array of MacPherson Institute supports, ranging from personalized one-on-one consultations to engaging professional development in teaching opportunities.

(afternoon session) Dr. Erin Aspenlieder is the Associate Director at the Paul. R MacPherson Institute for Leadership, Innovation, and Excellence in Teaching at McMaster University. With a PhD in English and Cultural Studies, she leads initiatives in teaching development, learning research, curriculum enhancement, and digital pedagogies. Recently, she has been leading workshops on generative AI’s role in education and is coordinating McMaster’s task force on the same. Known for her approachability and forward-thinking attitude, Dr. Aspenlieder continues to explore the intersections of technology and education, striving to shape the future of teaching and learning in ways that keep relationships at the center.