To round off our Learning Podcast Series for this academic year, we conclude our in-depth look into the use of AI in the Further Education and Training (FET) sector with Part 3 of our ‘AI in FET’ series. Dr Michael Hallissy is joined by Michael McCann and Anne Kennedy from Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education to talk about how their students are using GenAI and how as teachers they are exploring ways, they can encourage their students to use AI tools, not just content generation but also challenging them to elevate their critical thinking.
To begin, Michael details how he first started using AI in his own study and the huge impact it had on helping him be more time efficient, and how this experience proved to be the catalyst for him to start using AI tools with his students. Anne then casts a light on the crucial conversation surrounding AI’s biases and the necessity for students to grasp the underlying mechanisms that drive this technology. The discussion continues with Michael and Anne suggesting some strategies teachers can employ to foster a culture of originality and critical thought in theAI era, so students don’t just see these tools merely as content generators.
As this episode concludes, the focus turns to the integration of AI Chatbots like ChatGPT into disciplines like software development and project management and how AI tools can simplify and automate routine tasks, freeing up people to tackle more intricate problems. To finish the panel iterates the increasing need for digital literacy across all educational levels, discussing the potential for an AI-focused curriculum that rivals the impact of the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) in years gone by to ensure all our students are digitally literate and up-to-speed with important developments in the GenAI space.
This episode is Part 3 of a series, Parts 1 and 2 are linked below…