StellenboschX: Reimagining higher education teaching in the age of AI

The course is structured around three themes:

AI and HE: What is the hype about?

Here we look at the question: Could AI be the much-needed opportunity for higher education to reimagine teaching, learning, and assessment practices? To begin answering this, we will first explore where we are and how we got here and then investigate the intersection and interplay of AI and HE.

Re-imagining the HE-landscape in the age of AI

The logical follow-up question is: What do our graduates need from us and what will the world need from them? We don't know what the future holds, but we do know that it will be AI-infused. Assuming that human-machine relationships will be key to the successful navigation of this uncharted territory, we will look at AI literacies as a means of cultivating futures-readiness. To this end, we will delve deeper into key topics, such as understanding the possibilities, risks, and limitations of AI. We will also explore practical applications of AI tools, fostering critical thinking skills, and adopting a values-based approach to responsible AI use.

Responding to the invitation to change

The final question to consider, is: How can we prepare our graduates for the future? Reframing of the AI disruption as an invitation to change, we will look at possible responses to achieving the requisite literacies. To better understand how these skills can be applied in practice, we will analyse examples and case studies from various sources. You will also be afforded an opportunity to apply some of the thinking to your own context.