Facilitated and chaired by: Dr Richard Davies and  Dr Vanessa Cui who are the co-convenors of the Academic Practice Network. For more details about the network and its activities, please click here.

Overview:

Generative AI is transforming higher education in a range of subtle and not so subtle ways. There are some AI systems that seem to support inclusion, for example, Grammarly but there is evidence that AI also has more deleterious effects on the development of inclusive approaches to education.

This roundtable is an opportunity to explore the experiences and emerging research specifically in relation to AI and inclusion. The event takes a broad view of inclusion covering both protected characteristics and the wider panoply of issues identified in institutional EORRs.

This event aims to develop shared understanding of the potential and limitations of AI in terms of developing inclusivity in education (at pedagogical and curricula levels).

Schedule:

Speaker bios

David Grundy has worked in university Business Schools for the last 22 years and describes himself as: Digital Enthusiast, FT News Geek, Finance Economics & Politics Nerd, Gamer & Academic. In September 2019 David joined Newcastle University Business School as Director of Digital Education. His research interests include investigating AI literacy, digital adoption and digital approaches to effective teaching and learning. He mainly teaches MBA Accounting & Finance and for his last decade in higher education has had a number of wide-ranging leadership and management roles.

Richard Davies is programme leader for the MA in Education at the University of Hertfordshire. He is a co-convenor of the Academic Practice Network at SRHE and an Executive Officer of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain, where he also convenors an AI interest group. His research interests include a range of philosophical issues related to higher education 

Vanessa Cui is a Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City University Centre for the Study of Practice and Culture in Education (CSPACE). She is an experienced practitioner education researcher with research interests and expertise on collaborations in education practices and research and policy-practice interactions. Vanessa is currently leading a British Council International Science Partnership Fund funded project with educators and researchers in Vietnam on inclusive use of AI across secondary schools in Vietnam investigating the needs of educators and schools across urban and rural areas.

Louise Wheatcroft is a Senior Lecturer in ITE at Birmingham City University. In her research, Louise draws upon her experiences as a primary teacher and teacher educator to further research literacy and digital literacies in school and teacher education practices. Her PhD explored the digital literacy projects and practices of student teachers when navigating complex spaces in primary literacy classrooms. Louise has worked as a co-investigator on a number of international education research projects including the impact of Covid on schools, communities and pupils and teachers’ digital and AI practices in Vietnam.

Simon Edwards is senior lecturer in youth studies in the school of Education, Languages and Linguistics at University of Portsmouth. He is pathway lead for the Childhood and Youth Studies with Social Pedagogy programme and vice chair of the faculty of humanities and social science ethics committee.  Corresponding with the theme of this workshop, he has written and delivered taught modules and supervised students with their dissertations on bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes on themes around digital technologies, social media and education. His research and publications have considered the role social media play in the construction of viable self-narratives, young peoples’ lived experiences of school exclusion and ethical relational practices that support young people’s and their families’ wellbeing and social and academic development. He is currently leading discussions at school and faculty level that consider the ethical implications of using AI in teaching and learning and research processes.