The Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) conference is the premier scholarly event in Australia and New Zealand for tertiary educators interested in technology-enhanced learning. The diverse range of presentations, panels, and workshops explored the latest trends and innovations in the field. Three prominent themes emerged from the conference: Generative AI, student engagement, and the evolving role of learning designers (and I have just used the name of the lead author for the presentations).
AI
The recent advance of Generative AI was front and centre at the conference, with numerous sessions focusing on the implications of these powerful educational systems. Many speakers explored the potential of Generative AI to support educators and the concerns around academic integrity in the age of AI. For example, Grammarly presented “The AI Dilemma: Balancing Innovation with Academic Integrity”, and Homa Babai Shishavan offered practical guidance for assessment design in “AI in higher education: Guidelines on assessment design”. A presentation by Tim Fawns, “Gen AI and student perspectives of use and ambiguity”, provided insights into student perspectives, while Cory Dal Ponte’s presentation, “Enhancing productivity with custom GPTs to support curriculum development” explored the use of custom GPTs for curriculum development. Many speakers, including Paula de Barba, whose presentation “Supporting students to develop artificial intelligence literacy”, stressed that developing AI literacy among students and educators is crucial.
Student Engagement
Numerous presentations at the conference explored how to best engage students in a learning environment increasingly reliant on technology. Some speakers explored student engagement with specific technologies. For example, Mathew White examined how to “Design branching scenarios to support clinical reasoning in dental education” using VR, while James Birt discussed how mobile learning might be “(Re)defining Mobile Learning in the Post COVID-19 and GenAI Era”. Others looked at more general strategies for fostering engagement, such as designing platforms for object-based learning or using games and gamification. The need to understand the student perspective was highlighted in several presentations, including Helena Pacitti’s work showing how “Embedded online self-regulated learning activities improve the student experience and learning outcomes” and Mehrasa Alizadeh’s investigation into the “impact of online learning platform on student engagement and learning outcomes”. The conference highlighted the importance of designing learning experiences that are not only effective but also engaging and relevant to students’ needs and interests.
Changing Role of Learning Designers
The changing role of learning designers in the AI age was another key theme. Sessions and panels explored the challenges and opportunities facing learning designers as they navigate the rapidly changing educational technology landscape. Speakers and panels explored the changing nature of the profession, such as in “Learning Design isn’t a Profession (yet)”, presented by Michael Henderson, and “Learning Designers: A socio-material Snapshot of the Profession” by Stephen Abblitt, which offered a sociological perspective. Adelle Ryall presented the collaborative process of “Co-designing an artificial intelligence (AI) literacies framework for learning designers”. Joab Hwang’s presentation on “Building Bridges: Effective Learning Designer-Subject Matter Expert Collaboration Strategies” emphasised the vital need for effective collaboration between learning designers and subject matter experts. The conference underscored the importance of ongoing professional development for learning designers and the need to advocate for the recognition and value of their expertise in this evolving educational landscape.
The ASCILITE conference is vital for examining the evolving landscape of technology-enhanced learning in tertiary education. The presentations focussed on the implications of AI, the importance of student engagement and the changing role of learning designers. The conference fostered discussions on the ethical and pedagogical considerations surrounding AI, explored innovative approaches to engage students in technology-rich learning environments, and highlighted the evolving expertise and collaboration required of learning designers. This conference gives attendees a sense of the opportunities and challenges ahead.
In crafting this review, I used Notebook LM. This AI tool was instrumental in helping me synthesise my notes, organise my ideas, incorporate the schedule, and refine my writing, ultimately enhancing the clarity and structure of my review.
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