Ed/Tech must-reads

Universal Design for Learning in action - TELedvisors Network webinar Thursday 28th Sept 12 noon AEST

Universal Design for Learning (or UDL - not the trashy mixed drinks in a can) is a set of principles for providing all learners with an equitable experience. While commonly associated with enhancing accessibility, many of the concepts are as much about better presenting information for understanding, which seems like something that anyone working online would want to do. This webinar showcases two practical presentations from the recent ADCET event and has Anita Jones and Amy Sjoberg (Uni Sunshine Coast) and Kate Mitchell and Stephen Grono (Uni New England) sharing valuable practical examples of UDL in practice.

Announcing Microsoft Copilot, your everyday AI companion from Microsoft

Bard can now connect to your Google apps and services from Google

When it comes to Generative AI, I have felt that while the existing tools have been incredibly impactful, the shoe was really going to drop when they are natively baked into everyday work tools. I’m not sure if this is that moment but it feels very close if it isn’t. Microsoft’s Copilot will add a raft of new functionality, rolling out from today (26/9), across Windows 11, email, Bing (including adding DALL.E 3 image creation) and the functionality that everyone has been waiting for - updated MS Paint. Google is adding their “Bard” GenAI tool to Google apps including Gmail, Google Drive and Docs, YouTube and Google maps, among others. As these tools are normalised, it is inevitable that we will see new applications of them in learning and teaching.

The hype has abated so what now for generative AI and assessment? from Needed now in Learning and Teaching

That, of course, makes this new paper from the TEQSA Assessment Experts Forum - rethinking assessment in the age of artificial intelligence - all the more important. This post on the Needed now in Learning and Teaching newsletter provides a handy overview of the work that has been done to date and future directions. It is not intended to be overly prescriptive, rather to serve as an informed set of guiding principles for sensible use of GenAI in assessment. (In my own contribution to this I did flag that we still need to have a big conversation about the use of GenAI on the educator side in grading and providing feedback but I can see that this is out of scope for this particular resource.)

There is also the following webinar scheduled for this Thursday presenting the paper and discussing the key concepts that is a must-do. Featuring Helen Gniel (TEQSA), Jason Lodge (UQ), Sarah Howard (UoW), Phill Dawson (Deakin) and Margaret Bearman (Deakin).

Assessment reform for the age of Artificial Intelligence - CRADLE/TEQSA webinar Thursday 28th Sept 3pm - 4pm AEST