As online education continues to evolve, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as a transformative force, reshaping how we design, deliver, and assess learning. Generative AI is not merely enhancing existing methods; it is fundamentally redefining the way educators and institutions approach teaching and learning. These AI tools are no longer just concepts of the future; they are practical technologies actively enhancing the learning experience, streamlining administrative tasks, and supporting personalized learning today. In this blog post, we’ll explore specific ways AI is being leveraged in online education and connect these examples to insights and strategies that attendees of the OLC Accelerate conference masterclass, Magic Pixie Dust: Leveraging Generative AI to Craft Dynamic Learning, can implement to bring a personalized, dynamic learning experience to life in their online and blended courses.
1. Crafting Dynamic, Tailor-made, and Interactive Content with Generative AI
Generative AI, like ChatGPT and other large language models, has the power to create dynamic, personalized, interactive content that adapts to subject matter areas, learner needs and interests, and instructor preferences. This allows educators to develop materials that are not only informative but also engaging and tailored to the individual learner.
Specific Example: At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business, learning designers work with instructors to design and implement custom chatbots, AI-based assessments, and intelligent tutors to support a dynamic learning environment. For example, in a creativity course, instructors run a synchronous session in which learners use a custom chatbot to brainstorm about creativity at work. For more ways in which Gies is using AI to support learning, access this open Canvas site with more examples.
Application for OLC Accelerate Attendees: During the Magic Pixie Dust masterclass, you will explore how to harness generative AI to craft similar personalized learning experiences. You’ll learn techniques for using AI to generate interactive case studies, discussion prompts, and real-time feedback mechanisms that respond to individual learner progress. By the end of the session, you’ll have a toolkit of AI-driven strategies to make your course content as engaging as it is educational.
2. Automating Routine Tasks to Focus on Student Engagement
AI can significantly reduce the administrative burden on educators by automating routine tasks, such as grading and course management, allowing them to dedicate more time to engaging with learners and enhancing the learning experience.
Specific Example: In a marketing course in the iMBA program at the Gies College of Business, instructors and learning designers are building custom AI tools and integrating third-party AI solutions to automatically grade complex assignments, including short essays and case analyses. The intent of these tools is not only to grade the assignments but also to provide comprehensive and consistent summative and formative feedback to learners, enabling them to improve their work iteratively. As a result, instructors will be able to allocate more time to facilitating meaningful online discussions, engaging in more direct interactions with learners, and enhancing future iterations of the course.
Application for OLC Accelerate Attendees: The Magic Pixie Dust masterclass will introduce you to AI tools that can streamline your course management tasks. You’ll get hands-on experience with AI-driven grading systems and learn how to leverage them in your course. By automating these routine tasks, you’ll be able to focus more on high-impact interactions with your learners.
3. Enriching Student Experiences through AI-Driven Mass Personalization
One of the most powerful applications of AI in online education is its ability to support personalized learning at scale. By analyzing learner data, AI can identify learning patterns, predict challenges, and suggest tailored resources or learning activities that meet each learner’s unique needs. By leveraging AI-based tools, instructors can facilitate the types of intelligent tutors, customized learning paths, and personalized learning experiences that lead to the best learning outcomes.
Specific Example: Gies College of Business is exploring an AI-driven platform for its undergraduate business minor learners that analyzes engagement and performance data to create personalized learning pathways. For example, if a learner pursuing a major in art and a minor in business struggles with basic accounting concepts, the system would suggest additional readings, video tutorials, and practice problems that are specifically designed to address those gaps. This targeted support helps learners to stay engaged in the minor program and achieve their learning goals.
Application for OLC Accelerate Attendees: In the masterclass, you’ll explore how AI can be used to analyze learner data, offering insights that allow you to create personalized learning experiences. You’ll explore AI-driven dashboards that provide actionable insights into learner performance, enabling you to intervene early and support learners more effectively. This kind of personalization can significantly enhance learner satisfaction and success in your courses.
4. Making Learning More Accessible and Inclusive with AI
AI tools can play a crucial role in making online learning more accessible and inclusive, ensuring that all learners, regardless of their abilities or background, have equal opportunities to succeed.
Specific Example: A current pilot is underway at the Gies College of Business to implement MetaFrazo, a language translation and lip dubbing tool for video. Lecture video content is produced in English (including screen text, multimedia graphics, audio, and lip movements) and can be quickly reproduced in 60+ languages to match learners’ native tongue. In addition, traditional and extended captions are being developed using AI to support learners with hearing impairments. These efforts help ensure that all learners can fully engage with course materials.
Application for OLC Accelerate Attendees: During the Magic Pixie Dust masterclass, you’ll explore the use of AI to make your courses more inclusive. You’ll learn to implement tools that automatically generate accessible content, such as captions and translations. By the end of the session, you’ll be equipped to create a more inclusive online learning environment that meets the needs of all your learners.
5. Enhancing Content Production with AI-Generated Avatars
AI-driven avatars offer a unique way to engage learners by creating personalized and interactive content that feels more human and relatable. These avatars can be used in videos, interactive simulations, and even as AI-powered teaching assistants, providing a consistent and engaging presence throughout a course.
Specific Example: At the Gies College of Business, custom AI-generated avatars are being explored for use in asynchronous course content. These avatars are tailored to resemble the course instructors in appearance and speech, ensuring consistency in tone and style throughout the course. They are used to provide introductions, summarize key points, and potentially respond to learner queries during video content. For instance, in a finance course, the two instructors developed avatars to deliver their lecture videos. This approach not only allows for easy updates to keep the content fresh but also significantly reduces the instructors’ workload by minimizing the need for frequent studio recordings.
Application for OLC Accelerate Attendees: During the Magic Pixie Dust masterclass, you will witness the potential of AI-generated avatars for content production. You’ll learn about tools to create and integrate avatars into your courses, exploring ways they can be used to deliver content, along with ways to generate content that can be leveraged with avatars and in content production. By the end of the session, you’ll be knowledgeable about how to use avatars as a powerful tool to enhance the interactivity and appeal of your online learning materials.
Conclusion
AI tools offer educators a wealth of opportunities to enhance online learning, making education more engaging, efficient, personalized, and accessible. By attending the Magic Pixie Dust masterclass at OLC Accelerate 2024, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to leverage these AI tools effectively, transforming your teaching and your learners’ experiences. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to incorporate AI-driven strategies into your online and blended courses, from crafting personalized content to automating routine tasks, and even creating custom avatars for dynamic engagement.
Join us on November 18th for an interactive journey that will empower you to harness the full potential of generative AI. Let’s bring the magic of imagination into learning together. Register now to secure your spot and start designing the future of education today.
About the Master Class:
Magic Pixie Dust: Leveraging Generative AI to Craft Dynamic Learning
Date: Monday, November 18, 2024
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm U.S. Eastern Time Zone
Lead Presenter: Tawnya Means, Assistant Dean, Education Innovation & CLO, University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign
Co-Presenters: Adam King, Sr Assoc Director of T&L Technology, University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign
Embark on a magical journey using AI-driven technologies to transform teaching and learning into an enchanting experience. In this interactive master class, you’ll learn to sprinkle AI fairy dust on your content and learning activities, crafting dynamic, tailor-made, and captivating educational materials that bring the magic of imagination into learning.