UIC students were privileged to have Dr Freek Olaf de Groot back on campus again. In collaboration with Dr Jackie Yeoh, a lecturer from the English Language and Literature Studies (ELLS) programme, he facilitated a hands-on workshop on delving into the boundless possibilities of Generative Artificial Intelligence in education. This workshop which took place on 9 April 2024 captivated the attention of two faculty members and thirty-three eager students. The workshop which focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and assessment also provided insights into the potential limitations of AI for both educators and learners alike.

Dr. de Groot was introducing the aims of the workshop

During the workshop, participants actively engaged in hands-on exercises involving AI-generated content. These exercises encompassed generating a motivation letter for an application, creating multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and providing constructive feedback on specific writing tasks through the utilization of Ernie Bot, a local ChatGPT-like chatbot.

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Students were generating a motivation letter for application using Ernie Bot

Dr. Jackie was guiding students during a hands-on activity using Ernie Bot

In order to gather valuable insights from the participants, a post-workshop interview was conducted. Both the faculty members and students identified two significant points they learned from the workshop. Firstly, they commended the AI tool for its ability to generate effective MCQs, and its inherent value in not only providing plausible distractors but also offering corresponding explanations. This versatile tool holds immense potential in aiding the creation of assessments tailored to students' proficiency levels, encompassing varying degrees of difficulty. Secondly, they discovered the value of leveraging the AI-given framework as a foundation to meet their unique requirements, resulting in significant savings in time and effort. One participant remarked, "The 9 ChatGPT Frameworks empowered me to formulate more precise and targeted questions”.

They emphasized the significance of employing precise and specific prompts when interacting with AI to generate accurate responses, and exercising critical thinking to validate AI-generated content.

Upon reflecting on the broader theme of AI's relevance in teaching and learning, participants perceive it as an evolving process with increasing significance. They acknowledged AI’s potentials of bestowing convenience to diverse facets of education, including activity planning, content synthesis, and assessment creation. As AI technology advances, it is poised to play a more prominent role in supporting educators and learners. However, participants cautioned against over-reliance on AI, as it may potentially undermine the progression of learners’ educational journey.

The workshop proved to be a resounding success, igniting participants’ comprehension of AI’s vast potential in the realm of education and fostering a mindset of cautious optimism as they embark on their journey as pre-service and in-service educators.

Reporter: Yao Nan

Edited by: Dr. Jackie Yeoh