CIT Teaching & Learning Unit

Project TITLE

MTU Ethical Learning with GenAI

Project Lead

Dr Violeta Morari (violeta.morari@mtu.ie)

Project Status

• In Progress

Project Lead Home Department

• MTU Cork - Science and Informatics - Mathematics

Alignment to HEA and NFETLHE SATLE 2023-24 Themes

• Best Practice in Upholding and Cultivating Academic Integrity

Alignment to MTU Strategy Themes

• Learner Education & Experience
• Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Project Description

This project builds upon the foundational work carried out during the previous SATLE 2022-23 project, “Academic Integrity – Supporting Staff Student Courageous Conversations in MTU” which involved the collection and analysis of student survey and focus group data. The current initiative is further informed by the guidelines set forth by the National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN).

The project will be broken into the following parts:

• Building on the work done during the SATLE 2022-23 project.
• Develop AI Induction for First Year MTU Students (in the first instance).
• Explore the use of GenAI in the Academic Learning Centre (ALC).
• Identify use and perception of GenAI by academic staff and provide guidelines on using GenAI in creating Learning Resources.

The project will be divided into the following key components:

Building on the SATLE 2022-23 Project

• The team will leverage the insights and learnings from the previous project to inform and guide the activities of the current initiative.

Develop AI Induction for First-Year MTU Students

• The project will focus on developing and piloting AI induction resources specifically tailored for incoming first-year students at MTU.
• This induction will address concerns raised by student participants in the 2023 survey.

Explore the Use of Generative AI (GenAI) in the Academic Learning Centre (ALC)

• The project will investigate the potential of utilising GenAI to tutor students in problem-solving.

Identify Use and Perception of GenAI by Academic Staff

• Through staff surveys and focus groups, the project aims to understand the perceptions, challenges, and opportunities associated with the use of GenAI in teaching and assessment practices.

The core objectives of the project are to:

Extend and update the Courageous Conversations (CC) guidelines

• Update and expand Courageous Conversations guidelines for staff and students.
• Align these with MTU’s new Academic Integrity Policy.
• Disseminate, pilot, and collect feedback with a view to initiating a continuous review cycle.

Develop, pilot and disseminate a suite of Academic Integrity induction resources for First-Year Students

• Design and pilot stage-relevant induction resources with a view to embedding an extended induction on academic integrity and critical AI literacy for undergraduate students.
• Develop Open Education Resources (OER) based on the final iterations of the induction resources.
• Investigate Staff Perspectives on Opportunities and Challenges of GenAI

Design and administer staff survey focussed on knowledge, perceptions and use of GenAI.

• Conduct interviews and focus groups with selected staff from across disciplines and partner HEI to understand discipline-specific challenges and opportunities, as well as explore alternative assessment approaches.
• Explore embedding GenAI in module delivery to enhance students' understanding of its appropriate use.

Use GenAI to help students with assessment revision in the Academic Learning Centre

• Conduct an experiment comparing the effectiveness of a GenAI tutor against traditional study methods.
• Determine how GenAI can assist students in exam preparation.
• Investigate GenAI’s capability to help and assist students in problem-solving.

Utilise GenAI to Generate Learning Resources by Staff

• Utilise GenAI to create extensive banks of practice questions based on existing exercise sheets and previous exam questions.
• Use GenAI to produce detailed solutions for past exam papers. Research the accuracy and reliability of the solutions for paid and unpaid versions of GenAI such as ChatGPT.

By addressing these objectives, the project aims to enhance academic integrity, foster critical AI literacy, and explore the strategic integration of GenAI in teaching, learning, and assessment practices at MTU and beyond.

What is the anticipated impact of this project?

The anticipated impacts of this project are as follows:

• The proposed Academic Integrity Induction for first year students (in the first instance) will provide them with a solid understanding of the dos and don’ts of academic integrity. It will emphasise the dangers of contract cheating, such as subsequent blackmail. Furthermore, it will give initial tips on best practice around academic writing.
• The report on current understanding of GenAI matters among MTU students and staff as well as information gathered from the surveys and focus group will inform the direction of subsequent information campaigns. This will ensure that the community is well-equipped to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-assisted learning.
• Practical tips and guidelines for staff relating the abilities of GenAI will help them adapt their assessment strategies to maintain academic integrity. This will empower faculty to create learning environments that foster genuine academic achievement.
• Guidelines for students in the Academic Learning Community (ALC) will help them understand the role of GenAI in their studies and how to use it responsibly. This will enable students to leverage the benefits of these technologies while upholding academic integrity

Building on the SATLE 2022-23 project “Academic Integrity – Supporting Staff Student Courageous Conversations in MTU” the project team will:

• Continue with the established Academic Integrity Learning Community meetings.
• Integrate materials and templates developed with the new Academic Integrity Policy.

Seminars and workshops led by international experts, such as Cath Ellis, Kane Murdock, and Thomas Lancaster, will provide the MTU community with cutting-edge insights and best practices in academic integrity.

Recommendations on how to incorporate training materials into assessment design will ensure that academic integrity is seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, fostering a culture of honesty and excellence.

MTU, with its six campuses, over 18,000 students, and 2,000 staff, has a responsibility to develop and maintain a strong academic integrity culture. This project will have a far-reaching impact, equipping both staff and students with the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity.

HOW Will the outputs of this project be DISSEMINATED?

The project outputs will be disseminated as follows:

Updated Courageous Conversations Guidelines

• Distributed through staff development workshops.
• Integrated into the student orientation pack.
• Shared through MTU's internal communication channels.

Academic Integrity Induction Resources

• Launched during new student orientation week.
• Extended to returning students during academic integrity sessions.
• Made available as Open Educational Resources (OER) on MTU's digital platforms.
• Presented at educational conferences and published in peer-reviewed publications to share best practices with the broader academic community.

Research Findings on GenAI's Use in Academic Learning centre (ALC)

• Developed into guidelines for students on the appropriate use of GenAI in the ALC.
• Published in peer-reviewed journals to contribute to the scholarly discourse on the integration of emerging technologies in higher education.
• Presented at national and international conferences to engage with and learn from the broader academic community.

GenAI-Created Learning Materials (Practice Questions and Solutions)

• Integrated into course materials accessible via MTU's learning management system (Canvas).
• Utilised in classroom settings to enhance student learning and engagement.
• Shared at educational technology conferences and in related publications to inform and inspire the use of innovative teaching practices.

Staff Surveys and Focus Group Findings on GenAI Use

• Shared through internal reports to inform decision-making and strategy development.
• Incorporated into staff training sessions to equip faculty with the knowledge and skills to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-assisted teaching and learning.
• Published as case studies in academic and professional development publications to contribute to the broader discourse on the implications of GenAI in Higher Education.

These dissemination strategies are designed to ensure that the project outputs reach a wide audience, engage key stakeholders effectively, and promote a comprehensive understanding and adoption of the practices developed through the project. By leveraging a variety of channels, the project team aims to create a lasting impact and contribute to the advancement of academic integrity and responsible technology integration within the MTU community and beyond.

Team Members