As an AI developed by OpenAI, I’m here to facilitate this insightful conversation on the topic of AI in Education, specifically focusing on content creation for education with AI. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our Q&A session.
Question 1: Mr. van Emmerloot, could you share your perspective on the role of AI in enhancing the learning experience, particularly in the context of content creation? How do you see AI shaping the future of education?
Robin van Emmerloot: Creating content for education is a very time-intensive process, especially if you're an expert in a niche, you're often the one also developing educational materials for that course you teach. I believe that with generative AI tools, you can use this technology to speed up the process of creating these materials. More specific, I mean examples like example case studies, quiz/exam questions, visualizations and more. I see AI therefore not replacing, but complimenting and supporting teachers. 
Question 2: As an educational consultant, you’ve likely encountered resistance or skepticism towards the integration of AI in education. How do you address these concerns, and what steps can be taken to ensure a smooth transition towards the use of AI tools in educational settings?
Robin van Emmerloot: I think people are right to be sceptical and hesitant to this technology. Concerns like the ethical basis of how these models are trained, or the bias built into them are very valid. This also applies to concerns on the impact in terms of energy usage by these systems. Then there's concerns regarding assessment and academic integrity: which I do acknowledge, but do feel that they are not unique to the topic of generative AI.
At the same time, society is rapidly adapting this technology in day-to-day life, and regardless of shared concerns it is already influencing the economy like the job market. I feel that we're now already moving beyond the peak of the Gartner hype curve, and hopefully with less of an overwhelming feeling look towards the future again. So, what digital skills do our students need for that changing society, and how can teachers use it to support their high working pressure as well? I feel that with a strategic approach to this technology, you can find a balance between the concerns and potential of it
Question 3: You mentioned the importance of digital skills for students in a rapidly changing society. Could you elaborate on what specific digital skills you believe are essential for students in the current era, and how AI can help in imparting these skills?
Robin van Emmerloot: I think we've already set a ship sailing on digital literacy and so-called 21st-century skills a long while ago. This technology goes hand in hand with that: besides knowing how to interact with the systems, you need to be aware and cautious about the output they generate. Similarly to how you shouldn't trust everything your estranged uncle posts on social media, this attitude is something those new to the technology should also be trained in. New in that perspective is the prompting involved: I have a distaste for making everyone prompt engineers, but understanding the way these systems interpret your prompts helps you in that strategic approach to this technology.
Question 4: In your experience, what are some of the most effective strategies or practices that educators can adopt to integrate AI tools into their teaching methods? Could you share some examples or case studies where AI has been successfully implemented in an educational setting?
Robin van Emmerloot: With this technology being out, there are some nice examples out there already. Let's start with the tools: for instance, WooClap including an AI-based quiz question generator as part of its suite. More general chatbots can do this for you as well, but with that you save yourself the hassle of copy-pasting back and forth with a tool of choice. Then there's some interviews and showcases of colleagues within the University of Twente. Recently there was a webinar done with two teachers at EEMCS, we've also had some UT colleagues interviewed in the magazine by the NPuls. Finally, there is of course the interview with Maarten in this edition of The Teaching Times which I deeply recommend.
Question 5: Lastly, as the Chairman of the AI in Education Working Group, could you share some of the key initiatives or projects that the group is currently working on? How do these initiatives aim to address the challenges and harness the opportunities of AI in education?
Robin van Emmerloot: Currently, this group is no longer active as some of the most urgent questions at the time have been answered. Like: what's allowed in terms of assessment? Or, what are the biggest privacy concerns? That however doesn't mean there's no work to be done. Over at CELT, a new course is being developed on this topic as well, so you'll be able to get some more practical tips and tricks as well.
Closing Remarks
Interviewer: Thank you for sharing that, Mr. van Emmerloot. It’s encouraging to hear that while the AI in Education Working Group has answered some of the most urgent questions, there’s ongoing work at CELT to develop a new course on this topic. This will undoubtedly provide valuable practical insights for those interested in the intersection of AI and education.
On behalf of The Teaching Times and its readers, I would like to express our gratitude for your time and for sharing your valuable insights on AI in education. Your expertise and thoughtful responses have undoubtedly shed light on this important topic. Thank you, Mr. van Emmerloot. We look forward to future discussions on this and other topics related to education and technology.
Robin van Emmerloot: Thank you for doing this interview with me!
Interviewer: You’re welcome, Mr. van Emmerloot! It was a pleasure interviewing you. Your insights into AI in education are invaluable. Thank you for your time and for sharing your expertise with us. We look forward to more enlightening discussions in the future. Have a great day!
