Strengthened by multidisciplinary collaboration, the VU Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) has the expertise to shape an appropriate response to deal with contemporary challenges posed by the rising use of AI-based applications. We are here for you to help you take advantage of the many opportunities for education posed by this fast evolving technology.
AI: Many applications, many possibilities, many didactic and ethical issues
AI offers many possibilities to foster efficient and effective teaching and learning. However, it is important to determine when and how the use of AI is meaningful in education. E.g., what would you like to use AI for? What are your underlying goals? What impact does pursuing these goals have on the world? It is important to be aware of these effects. To give an example, imagine we use an AI assistant to answer student questions in the context of workload reduction, what impact (positive or negative) does this have on the learning process of these students, and is this impact proportional for the whole group?
Also consider the data you use yourself: where does it come from, how is it generated, how is it recorded and encoded, how well or poorly does it reflect reality, etc. This too has an impact on your work, your teaching, and therefore your students.
Bottom line, it is valuable to exchange knowledge about AI inside and outside VU Amsterdam, ask ourselves and each other the right questions, and share the lessons learned. VU Amsterdam has a VU Working Group on AI in Education, which coordinates and facilitates this exchange. Needs for CTL and UB workshops on AI in education are also identified and developed in this context. This working group additionally supports the VU-UvA task force on AI in education. The working group consists of colleagues from CTL, UB, IT and SOZ Education Policy, among others.
Want to know more?
Please consult the information below:
- Generative AI and ChatGPT: your use, our expectations - Information page for VU students from the perspective of testing.
- ChatGPT for Teaching and Learning - Page on Canvas with comprehensive information for teachers on how to deal with ChatGPT in education.
- Various AI Chatbots/Generative AI workshops - Within the VU CTL Shorts series, VU CTL offers different workshop about AI chatbots: How to use them in teaching, learning and assessment, how to use it for Course Design and how to use it for your work.
- Didactic tips for dealing with ChatGPT - Practical tools for teachers to anticipate the use of ChatGPT in their teaching productively and responsibly.
- VU-UvA taskforce AI in education - In this task force, eight experts are working on the challenges and new opportunities that artificial intelligence can bring to education.
- The AI Maturity in Education Scan (AIMES) - The AI Maturity in Education Scan (AIMES) is designed to assist teachers, programme directors, and faculty board members in assessing their Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy.
- Microsoft Copilot - Since February 2024, Microsoft Copilot is available to VU students and staff. To use this chatbot securely, log in with your VU credentials. The data then remains only at VU Amsterdam and is not shared with OpenAI. Teachers cannot mandate students to use ChatGPT, but can in fact ask them to use Microsoft Copilot for assignments via the VU license.
Contact
For general policy questions on AI and questions about the VU-UvA taskforce, please contact Alice Schaap of the Education Policy Team. For questions on how to deal with generative AI/Chatbots as a programme director or teacher, please contact the VU Education Lab at onderwijswerkplaats@vu.nl. You can get in touch with the VU Working Group on AI in Education through Luuk Terbeek. Press questions? Get in touch with the VU press office.