Date/Time
Date(s) - 11/10/2024
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Location: HH-305

Title: Generative AI: Its implications, and opportunities, for policy, pedagogy and practice within the mathematical sciences.

Abstract:

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) describes algorithms, including ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot, that can be used to create new content, including text, computer code, images, and audio. Whilst the technologies are themselves not new, recent advances in the field have led to a new era where the way in which we approach content creation is fundamentally changing at a rapid pace.

Generative AI tools are becoming accessible to a much wider audience and so have the potential to impact our teaching, learning, assessment, and support practices in increasing ways. These technologies offer the potential to support academic staff in the creation and assessment of course material, and new opportunities to engage students in problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, and communication. But to use these technologies effectively, academic staff need to understand how generative AI tools work within the context of their disciplines and higher education more widely, and students need to be provided with clear information on our expectations for disclosing where such AI technologies have been used within their work. It is also important that students understand the role of generative AI in the development of their graduate attributes, since the ability to use these tools in an effective and ethical manner is likely to be a skill increasingly required and expected by employers.

Within this talk I will consider the implications and opportunities for higher education institutions associated with the rapid rise in generative AI technologies. I will focus upon my own experience of using these tools within the mathematical sciences, including with learners, but I will also discuss the pedagogic and policy level implications for higher education institutions drawing upon work undertaken at the University of Birmingham.

Speaker: Michael Grove (Birmingham, UK)

Michael Grove is Deputy Head and Head of Education within the School of Mathematics with responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the school’s teaching and learning provision. He is Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education and teaches mathematics to undergraduate students along with researching issues relating to learning and teaching in higher education with a particular focus upon mathematics support. He is a National Teaching Fellow, the UK’s highest award for teaching and learning within higher education. He is also Honorary Secretary, with responsibility for Education, of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, the UK’s professional and learned society for qualified and practicing mathematicians.

Since 2006 he has received grant funding totaling over £26million, including £24miillion from the Higher Education Funding Councils for national activities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). He has also published numerous academic works including research papers, book chapters, books and articles.

See the talk here