Motivation
New university students are already making extensive use of AI tools. They are often unaware of the underlying assumptions, costs and implications for their learning process and future as professionals. Universities often respond to this with top-down policies and guidelines. How can a workshop help students to make informed and critical choices about their use of AI?
Hypothesis
The aim of the workshop is to help students develop a critical approach to AI by actively practising how to weigh up different perspectives, consequences and interests. By addressing this early on in the bachelor’s programme, students learn to view AI critically and to make informed choices about its use during their studies and later in their careers.
Desired solution
With the help of the voucher, Constantina and her team are developing a workshop that teaches students to think critically about AI. The workshop consists of four phases. In the first phase, during a plenary discussion, students are challenged to reflect on their own views and assumptions about AI. They then delve into factual information on various topics relating to AI. In the third phase, they practise adopting, evaluating and defending opposing viewpoints. Finally, students reflect individually on what they have learnt and on the questions the workshop has raised for them.
Plan of action
During the preparatory phase, student assistants and five coaches are recruited, and the workshop materials are developed, including scenarios, short thematic briefings, statements and reflection questions. During the workshop, each coach supervises a group of students and helps to guide the discussion on a specific theme by contributing relevant knowledge and encouraging students to explore different perspectives. They receive a briefing on this prior to the workshop.
The workshop will take place in September with a maximum of fifty first-year Economics students. Afterwards, the approach will be evaluated on the basis of a survey, the outcomes of the group discussions and the feedback provided by students to the programme director. Based on this evaluation, the materials will be refined and compiled into a reusable toolkit. This toolkit will be shared within Radboud University so that other programmes can adopt the workshop or adapt it to their own educational context.
