New Student Modalities

David Kellermann from UNSW

Greetings from the last day of EdutTech 2023 in Melbourne. The session is on new modalities, this includes on studios specifically design for online learning. David Kellermann from UNSW is talking on what to do with online students post pandemic. His definition of hybrid has every student online and in the room can communicate with each other. He has had a classroom built for this mode. This was prototyped in a conventional lecture theater. Students can book to attend the face to face class, with a BBQ after as an incentive. This looks to me a good setup for the "sage on the stage", where students are focused on the instructor. A different room design, is needed for workshops with more student teamwork. I am on next on  "Projects & internships for student employability". 

Can't Get Away from AI

EduTech 2023 Australia Plenary

Greetings from day two of EdutTech 2023 in Melbourne. The exhibition is buzzing, with plenty of free coffee,. I tried to go to a panel on assessment, but it was standing room only. So I am in the plenary session, in a room that can seat thousands. I thought it was a panel on training more tech workers, but AI is being discussed. I suspect, whatever the official topic, the discussion is going to stray onto AI. 

Using Generative AI for Education

Greetings from the Melbourne Convention Center, where EdutTech 2023 just started. This is a big conference with many streams, covering pre-school to professional development. One big question being asked, and perhaps answered, throughout many of the streams, is what do we do about generative AI? First up is Dan Hickmott with "Grok Academy - Unlocking the power of Generative AI in education".

A very useful technique is being used for the introduction of the workshop. The presenter is getting us to do paper based exercises, then demonstrating the AI equivalent. This avoids getting lost in the mechanics of the tool, and instead explore the concepts by which it works. One issue being explored is the bias built into the tools, due to the bias in the text it was trained on. What I find interesting is what the tools might tell us about ourselves. 

If you are in Melbourne, there is still time to come along to the free trade show with talks, or the paid conference. I am on Friday morning speaking on "Projects & internships for student employability". 

ps: I never thought "Go the Newcastle Knights", would be in an AI talk

Projects & internships for student employability

I will be speaking on "Projects & internships for student employability" at 9:40am 25 August 2023 of EduTECH, in Melbourne. In this I will highlight my experience teaching in the Australian National University's Techlauncher program of student projects for real clients, and mentoring ANU interns at major companies, and government agencies. Comments and suggestions would be welcome. Also I am happy to give a preview webinar to practice, if someone has a venue.

"Universities are under pressure to turn out job ready graduates. But there is only one way to ensure a student is really ready for a job: put them in a real workplace. In this presentation hear how Australia's leading university runs group projects, and internships for computer students with major companies, government agencies. Tom will share insights from 20 years designing and delivering work integrated learning.

To will help you:

1. Understand where to start with projects and internships 
2. Understand how to effectively support work integrated learning 
3. Critically review whether WIL is for your institution"