Living On The Edge of Chaos
190: Blending AI and Academia: Insights from Stella Lee
Episode Summary
In this episode, I speak with the Dr. Stella Lee who I am so excited to speak with after coming across her AI Literacy Competency Framework for Educators which then lead me down a path to all of her work. Dr. Stella Lee has over 20 years of progressive experience internationally in consulting digital learning initiatives with higher education, government, NGOs, and the private sectors. Today her focus is on enterprise-wide learning strategy and governance, digital ethics for learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and e-learning applications, learning management system (LMS) design, evaluation and learning analytics. Stella has served as subject matter expert in evaluating e-learning standards for the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and conducted postdoctoral research with iCore Research Lab at Athabasca University, Canada’s Open University. She has a doctorate in Computer Science with a focus on adaptive learning technology from University of Hertfordshire. Stella serves as Canada’s Startup Advisor and is the technology columnist for Training Industry Magazine.
Episode Notes
Here is video version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmyaQv2oYKY
CHALLENGES & GOALS
- Challenges such as the rapid evolution of AI and its implications for education, concerns about AI replacing human roles, privacy issues, and ethical considerations.
- The primary goals identified include helping educators keep pace with these changes, understand their implications, and adapt teaching practices accordingly. There's also a shared goal to make sense of these developments collectively due to their rapid evolution.
SURPRISING TAKEAWAYS
- Stella initially expressed skepticism towards generative AI imagery creation programs due to their limitations in capturing human creativity but later acknowledged the potential utility for beginners or those experiencing creative blocks to help work through Blank Canvas Syndrome.
- Despite initial fears around AI replacing educators' roles, we believe that educators will be needed more than ever before because critical thinking skills are necessary for effective interaction with AI tools.
EMERGING PATTERNS
A need for resources, templates, guidelines, policies, and frameworks to aid educators in understanding and implementing AI within their teaching practices.
An emerging interest in cross-pollinating knowledge across different sectors to gain diverse perspectives.
Themes surrounding trust in technology versus humans, the impact of AI on society at large, and being critical towards hyped-up promises made by AI vendors.
KEY MOMENTS
- "I think perhaps it might even highlight that our creativity is really unique."
- "AI can only regurgitate what's already existing."
- "Yes, it's great usage for training in art school… but at the end of the day, I think perhaps it might even highlight that our creativity is really unique."
- "We will need to start pushing the limits because otherwise generate generative A I is only gonna keep feeding you the same thing."
- "It's not incorporating life experiences; it's not incorporating emotions."
- "Is AI shaping the way we learn and teach or are we as educators actively using our skills and brains to shape AI?
RESOURCES