Once again, we had a great turnout and lively discussion in our recent community meetup. We covered a few discussion points including:
The first centred around how institutions capture and disseminate the use of AI within their teaching practices. Participants shared various approaches, highlighting the need for case studies and real-life examples of use in teaching. We’re happy to collate and share examples on our “GenAI in Practice” hub and Case Studies sections of ExploreAI
Accessibility took a significant part of the meeting, with detailed discussions on the use of GenAI tools like Grammarly. Key points included the funding of Grammarly through the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), which does not differentiate between AI and non-AI tools, ensuring broad accessibility. Ethical considerations were raised regarding the equitable use of Grammarly in assessments, particularly concerning fairness and accessibility for all students. Technical issues discussed involved interactions between Grammarly and locked down browsers used during exams, highlighting inconsistencies in how different systems detect and manage Grammarly’s presence. Participants shared institutional strategies and guidelines to address these challenges, emphasising the need for clear policies that accommodate both the use and restrictions of such technologies. Abertay University’s guide on Grammarly (with CC licence) was highlighted as a good example covering how to switch off the AI features while still making it accessible to disabled students. This guide is licensed under Creative Commons, making it freely available for other institutions to adopt and adapt
The conversation also touched on the development of specific courses aimed at educating staff about GenAI tools, aiming to enhance their integration into daily activities.
The final conversation was around the importance of continued collaboration and ongoing dialogue to effectively navigate the complexities of GenAI use in university settings.
We concluded the meeting with a discussion on membership of several active working groups within the community. These groups are focusing on AI in assessments, AI literacy, and the legal implications of AI, including copyright and intellectual property rights. We are also starting a new working group exploring GenAI’s role in supporting international students.
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Get in touch with the team directly at AI@jisc.ac.uk