Online Learning News - April 5, 2023

Seven Major Developments in AI and the Assessment of Learning

One focus for the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is the assessment of students. There are seven major developments worth following:

1. Assessment at scale
2. Automated item generation
3. AI and peer-to-peer assessment
4. AI and project-based learning and assessment
5. Supporting inclusion
6. Checking for cheating
7. What’s next?

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What’s Next for Micro-Credentials?

Micro-credentials must be industry-supported, available on demand, leading to demonstrable skills, portable and connected to a larger competency framework. To unlock their potential, backward design must be implemented to design competency-based assessments based on industry needs and curate learning activities to complete the assessment. Expanding places in existing programs, new pathways to skills and certification, public-private partnerships, new program domains, and recognizing immigrants' skills are additional responses to the skills and productivity challenge. A systematic, coordinated, Canada-wide response is necessary, and a national qualifications framework may be needed to address the issue.

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Dr. Tony Bates’ Latest Blog:
Online Learning and Distance Education

In this blog post, Contact North | Contact Nord Research Associate Dr. Tony Bates reviews the challenges and opportunities of generative artificial intelligence.

Read Dr. Bates’ post:

Two useful briefings on generative AI: and why it is potentially dangerous for public education

Podcasts and Vodcasts on Online Learning

TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast

TOPcast (Teaching Online Podcast) is a podcast for online and blended-learning professionals hosted by two digital learning experts, Thomas Cavanagh and Kelvin Thompson, from the Center for Distributed Learning at the University of Central Florida. The podcast offers insightful conversations on a range of topics, such as the student experience, government regulations and the value of online education. In each episode, Cavanagh and Thompson explore the latest trends, best practices and technologies in online education, providing listeners with both informative and entertaining insights.

Choose your episode

This Week’s Must-Read Book
on Online Learning

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Education: Practices, Challenges and Debates

Edited by: Wayne Holmes & Kaska Porayska-Pomsta (2023)

As ChatGPT gains popularity, it is important to consider the significant ethical and practical issues that arise with the use of AI-enabled technologies, such as 3D printing of art, AI-generated music, text and presentations. For instance, a single prompt to beautiful.ai generated a 25-slide deck in just six minutes for a class. However, questions arise regarding ownership and responsibility of the content, as well as the boundaries between having a digital research assistant versus academic dishonesty. Furthermore, if ChatGPT makes mistakes (as it often does), who is accountable for correcting them (given that it can be trained)? In this time of disruption, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in reshaping the teaching-learning paradigm. It is a thought-provoking resource filled with insightful cautions, novel ideas and compelling challenges.

Browse all Must-Read Books

Contact North | Contact Nord’s Searchable Directory of 95+ EdTech Start-Ups

Contact North I Contact Nord’s searchable directory of 95+ EdTech Start-Ups includes companies developing communication/collaborative tools, learning management systems, and online tutoring, student assessment, and presentation/delivery tools.

Explore the directory

Upcoming Events in Online Learning 

ASU+GSV Summit: Brave New World

April 17-19, 2023 

San Diego, California
Virtual and In-Person Options

The Arizona State University (ASU) and Global Silicon Valley (GSV) summit connects leading minds around education and skills to ensure a new era of equitable access.

Topic includes:

• Early childhood
• K-12
• Higher education
• Workforce/adult consumer
• Digital education master classes
• Emerging tech
• Equality

For more information and to register

About Contact North | Contact Nord

Contact North | Contact Nord is a free, local bilingual service to help residents in 1,500+ rural and remote Ontario communities access online programs and courses from colleges, universities and training providers without having to leave their communities.

Visit contactnorth.ca for more information

Most Popular Resources on teachonline.ca

1. Contact North | Contact Nord Webinars 
2. A New Pedagogy Is Emerging... and Online Learning Is a Key Contributing Factor 
3. Ten Facts You Need to Know About Micro-Credentials
4. AI in Higher Education Resource Hub
5. Must-Read Books on Online Learning