“The voice of educationists, foregrounding educational theories, could enrich the narrative of bridging the gap between artificial intelligence and educational theory."

This was the main message brought by Dr Sonja Strydom, Deputy Director (Academic Development and Research) at the Centre for Learning Technologies and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Higher and Adult Education, at the final in a series of four virtual seminars hosted by the Division for Learning and Teaching Enhancement. The theme for the virtual Learning and Teaching Enhancement (LTE) seminar series this year is “Assessment". Dr Strydom passionately reflected on the current higher education landscape with the emphasis on teaching and learning in the digital space. She focussed on two worlds, namely the increasingly automated world and the world in continuous need of equality, diversity and inclusivity. During the talk, Dr Strydom outlined a few actions for attempting to bridge the gap between these two worlds, such as interdisciplinary research. She also referred to possible ways forward within the Stellenbosch University context, suggesting in-depth conversations, dialogues and professional development practices with regard to critical digital pedagogies.

Dr Strydom concluded the seminar by quoting Selwyn (2014:6)[1], who reminds us of the fact that “[Educational technology] needs to be understood as a knot of social, political, economic and cultural agendas that is riddled with complications, contradictions and conflicts." That does not however imply that we should not continue to approach both worlds with a sense of innovation and curiosity, at the same time remaining deeply aware of our social responsibility.

The seminar was attended by 51 staff members from various SU communities, and there was lively engagement in the MS Teams meeting chat. In the words of one of the participants, “The presentation was very informative and leaves me with a better understanding of how AI impacts the field of higher education." 

More information and access to the recording of this seminar are available here.

[1] Selwyn, N. 2014. Distrusting educational technology. Critical questions for changing times. New York: Routledge.

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