Lecturers, educational support staff and policy advisors came together to explore what’s already happening at VU Amsterdam in the field of AI literacy, where opportunities lie, and what still needs attention. Here are some of the key insights.
5 topics of concern to education professionals
The first plenary session opened with a core question: what exactly is AI literacy? In short: understanding what AI is, knowing how to engage with it critically, and being able to use it responsibly and effectively in education.
Using an interactive Mentimeter, the audience was asked: “What do you think students really need to learn about AI?”. Five key themes emerged:
- The sustainability dilemma. What’s actually more harmful to the climate, AI or endless scrolling on TikTok or binge-watching Netflix?
- AI is here to stay. How do you keep up? Being literate in AI isn’t just important now, but for your students’ future careers too.
- Do you share personal data with ChatGPT? Privacy was a hot topic. We don’t fully know what happens with our data, and it’s ethically questionable to input research data or names into AI tools.
- Does your course design need a rethink? The use of AI clearly calls for different approaches to teaching. It changes how we think about learning, assessment and guidance.
- What if students talk more to a chatbot than to you? How does that affect their motivation or mental wellbeing?
Real-life examples from VU Amsterdam
Across VU Amsterdam, educators are already experimenting with AI in their teaching. At the faculty of Medicine, AI has been formally integrated into the curriculum. Students take part in training sessions on how to write effective prompts for AI tools, and eventually, they teach these sessions themselves. There’s also a student-simulation bot: it acts like a student, while real students take on the role of lecturer and explain the course content to the bot. A creative way to deepen understanding. Students also use EvidenceHunt, an AI tool that helps them search for scientific literature.
The University Library is also active in this area. Their information literacy workshops on finding and evaluating reliable sources now include modules on critically engaging with AI tools. Students, for example, learn to use Elicit, a tool that supports research design.
The Academic Language Programme is focusing on the impact of AI on writing education. How do we ensure students still learn to write if a tool like ChatGPT can do it for them? Their answer: sharper learning goals. Don't let students write just to finish a paper, but structure their thinking and build critical reflection skills. They also learn to use tools like Writefull, which offers writing suggestions, but leaves the decision-making to the student.
Coming soon: handbook on AI in education
While much is already happening, there’s still plenty to do. The VU Centre for Teaching & Learning is currently developing a Handbook on AI in Education: a practical guide full of learning trajectories, design principles, and key considerations around ethics, assessment, and privacy. The aim is to provide lecturers with concrete tools to integrate AI thoughtfully and effectively into their courses.
VU CTL also offers a range of workshops to help you integrate AI applications into your teaching practice, from didactic choices to tool selection.
Curious about the workshops or interested in contributing to the handbook? Visit the VU CTL website or email ctl@vu.nl.
