DCU Teaching Enhancement Unit (TEU) header
Teaching Enhancement Unit

Artificial Intelligence in Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Artificial Intelligence (AI), and particularly Generative AI (GenAI), will have a significant impact on society in general, and very particularly on education.  DCU recognises that it is both exciting and challenging at the same time.  The Russell Group principles on the use of generative AI tools in education and QQI’s Advice on artificial intelligence in education and training are informative in this regard. The National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN) has recently issued Generative AI guidelines for educators.

 

An initial approach to address the role of AI in teaching and learning at DCU is planned which spans three dimensions:

  • Its potential for how we teach 
  • Its impact on assessment approaches, including how we safeguard academic integrity. 
  • Its impact on the relevance of our programme content

 

1. Opportunities for AI in Teaching and Learning

DCU has always been innovative in teaching, learning and assessment.  It is important to ensure that our students know about Artificial Intelligence, how to use it ethically in a disciplinary context and they can learn that from how we integrate it into approaches to teaching.  Module coordinators will be asked to review their modules to identify the best way to integrate knowledge and use of AI tools.

We recognise that this is a rapidly evolving area and the TEU will support staff as appropriate throughout the academic year.



 

2. Artificial intelligence, Assessment and Academic Integrity

Artificial Intelligence tools, particularly Generative AI (GenAI) tools do require a response to protect academic integrity via assessment design.  Guidance was provided to staff in January 2023 in advance of Semester 2 2022/23 and this guidance still applies.  More detailed advice on this topic can be found on the TEU Academic Integrity Hub, including Initial Guidance on Assessment and GenAI.  Staff are asked to consider their assessment design and have GenAI tools designed into them (designed-in) or (re-)designed to avoid possible breaches of academic integrity with the use of GenAI tools (designed-out).  DCU is an active member of the National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN) and the Dean of Teaching and Learning and the recently joined Academic Integrity Officer  in the TEU (a SATLE funded position) will continue to monitor and disseminate information to staff on this topic. We are not employing GenAI detectors for student assessments at this time, due to the high number of false positives and other concerns. We are also working toward expanding the use of alternative assessment approaches, such as Interactive Oral (IO) assessments. These actions form part of DCU’s ongoing commitment to designing authentic assessment approaches. 



 

3. Programme analysis for AI-world readiness

We have a responsibility to ensure that our offerings to students are relevant and prepare them to be successful in whatever they do once they graduate.  As part of our commitment to prepare our students for a world in which AI tools will be used in a variety of ways, DCU will conduct an analysis of the current portfolio of programmes to ensure that 1) each programme is anticipated to remain relevant and demand for the numbers of graduates to be strong and 2) content reflects the emphasis on knowledge frameworks, competency over information etc which will ensure our graduates will continue to be relevant and ready for an AI-infused world.