The course offers teaching academics at SU an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and experience in the increasingly important topic of increased automation and its role and impact on human-related TLA practices in HE.
The course will draw on sound theoretical perspectives, evidence-based practices, appropriate models & frameworks, combined with the opportunity to think innovatively and creatively about the shift in the relationship between machine and humans.
Rooted in a social justice perspective, the course is designed for academics that have a keen interest in the impact and role of increased automation (e.g. AI) on people, places and practices within the HE TLA landscape. Participants should want to learn more about : (1) their own theoretical understanding and positioning of digital technologies viz human adoption and use, (2) broadening their own understanding and practice in how to communicate and critically engage with automated tools such as GenAI, (3) develop a deeper knowledge and understanding about the broader impact of increased automation on power relations and marginalised students and staff, (4) collaboratively and innovatively explore practical ways in which such issues could potentially be addressed in the in- and out-of-class learning experience.
Course outcomes
After completion of the course, the participants will be able to:
- Outline broad theoretical perspectives in explaining the relationship between humans and machines,
- Identify critical AI literacies appropriate for their unique disciplinary contexts,
- Apply newly acquired knowledge in using different prompting techniques to communicate with GenAI,
- Evaluate and apply different social justice perspectives in relation to AI and their own disciplinary contexts, and
- Develop a working understanding of how to adapt existing TLA practices to enable a more inclusive learning experience when engaging with GenAI.
Topics
Topic 1: Introduction to social justice in the HE digital sphere
Topic 2: Developing critical AI literacies
Topic 3: Exploring the interplay between AI and socially just pedagogies
Topic 4: AI, social justice and praxis
Topic 5: Final assignment
Mode of participation
Flexible mode: weekly sessions occur in person or via Teams, with the rest of the week open for preparation and task completion.
The average hours that a participant could expect to spend on the course is 40 notional hours over 5 weeks.
Dates for 2025
First semester 2025: 3 March - 11 April
Second semester 2025: 11 August - 19 September
After successful completion, the participant will receive an official short course certificate.
Enrol for the course
To indicate your interest in the first-semester course, please email Magriet de Villiers at mdev@sun.ac.za.
Upskilling Learning Units (ULUs): Introduction to Blended Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Stellenbosch University uses the term ‘Blended Learning’ to refer to the application of technologies to support teaching, learning and assessment practices. This series of introductory ULUs aims to help teaching staff critically analyse and implement blended learning approaches effectively to support student learning.
Each ULU is open for one year and can be completed at your own time and pace. You will receive a SUNLearn badge for each ULU completed and a document of completion for completing one whole series of ULUs.
ULU-series outcomes
After completion of the ULUs, the participants will be able to:
- Describe the field of educational technology,
- Apply the theoretical grounding of Blended Learning,
- Apply their developed practical and context-specific skills in the integration of learning technologies into the curriculum, and
- Explain the concept of e-assessment and how to apply it in an assessment strategy.
Click on the ULU topic to register
- Understanding Blended Learning
- Creating & integrating multimedia
- Online engagement and collaboration
- E-Assessment
- Entire ULU series
Notional hours
The maximum hours that a participant could expect to spend on a ULU is 3 hours.
Dates
These ULUs are available to complete throughout the year at your own time and pace.
Enrollment
Click on the individual registration links above to enrol via SUN e-HR. You will receive an email from the Centre for Learning Technologies with your enrollment details once access has been manually granted.
Upskilling Learning Units (ULUs): Advanced Blended Teaching, Learning and Assessment
To advance our Blended Learning approaches, we incorporate Diana Laurillard's Six Ways of Learning (2012) as pedagogical strategies. This series of more advanced ULUs aims to improve learning activities by testing and applying learning technologies that support 1) knowledge acquisition, 2) collaboration, 3) discussion, 4) investigation, 5) practice and 6) production.
Each ULU is open for one year and can be completed at your own time and pace. You will receive a SUNLearn badge for each ULU completed and a document of completion for completing one whole series of ULUs.
ULU-series outcomes
After completion of the ULUs, the participants will be able to:
- Analyse the pedagogical strategies of Laurillard's Six Ways of Learning,
- Search, assess and use up-to-date learning technologies in order to improve their teaching,
- Design, develop and implement meaningful learning experiences in order to activate learning.
Click on the ULU topic to register
- Read, watch, listen
- Investigate
- Produce
- Discuss
- Collaborate
- Practice
- Reflection
- Entire ULU-series
Notional hours
The maximum hours that a participant could expect to spend on a ULU is 3 hours.
Dates
These ULUs are available to complete throughout the year at your own time and pace.
Enrollment
Click on the individual registration links above to enrol via SUN e-HR. You will receive an email from the Centre for Learning Technologies with your enrollment details once access has been manually granted.
Contact
For ULU and short course queries, please contact:
