AI: five actions for college leaders
Michael Webb, director of AI, shares his insights into the latest AI advancements and outlines five practical steps to help colleges effectively implement AI tools.
We're excited to join the Association of College's conference as a proud digital partner and Beacon Award sponsor. Our director of AI, Michael Webb, will discuss AI's evolving role in further education.
The pace of artificial intelligence (AI) development has been relentless, with new, exciting and sometimes challenging advancements emerging almost daily.
Many colleges have moved beyond the piloting and testing phases, discovering practical and effective uses for AI - particularly generative AI. The conversation is shifting from its potential to how to build on the success of pilots and innovators to ensure a successful, college-wide approach to AI adoption.
Generative AI tools like Teachermatic are already delivering value, saving staff around three hours a week in Jisc college pilots (pdf). Off-the-shelf tools are also making it easier for colleges to deploy their own chatbots. We’re currently piloting LearnWise with 12 colleges, allowing students to ask questions like 'I’m interested in gaming – what courses would I like?'. The AI-based solution provides a range of relevant course options and can even answer follow up questions, all based on college-supplied information.
AI tools are transitioning from novelty to providing real value. For example, around 20 colleges are working with Jisc on AI-generated images, using them to create engaging marketing resources and educational materials.
Generative AI also presents significant challenges. Striking the right balance on guidance to learners on the use of AI in assessment continues to evolve as the technology changes. As AI evolves, so does its potential to spread misinformation. Voices can be cloned in seconds, and deepfake videos and images can be produced by anyone with a smartphone in little time and with minimal expertise.
So, what steps should college leaders take to prepare learners for this complex, fast-changing world and maximise AI's benefits responsibly? We think these five actions are a great starting place:
1. Lead by example: make good use of AI tools yourself
We know that many college leaders are already making good use of generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT. If you do this, you’ll be in a much better position to understand the tools’ strengths and weaknesses and engage with staff knowledgably.
How about using AI to perform an initial review or summary of a paper you need to read? Or to help compose emails, or to proofread and give feedback on a report?
2. Set boundaries to enable exploration
We often hear from staff that they aren’t sure whether they are allowed to use AI tools or not, so they play it safe and avoid them. Ensure your college has clear guidance on what staff can do and check it reaches everyone.
It’s best to make sure the guidance is very clear and specific, for example giving a list of recommended AI applications, and examples of their use.
3. Invest in staff development to ensure learners get the support they need
We’ve talked to a lot of learners as part of our perceptions of AI work, and they are clear they want support from their lecturers and other support staff on using AI to help their studies. This can only happen if the staff have the necessary AI skills.
Ensure there is a staff development programme in place and that staff are aware and encouraged to participate in it.
4. Create an AI culture that encourages curiosity and critical thinking
It’s natural for staff to feel conflicted about AI, especially generative AI. While it can save time and enable new ways on teaching, it also has environmental impacts and can produce biased outputs. The training data for generative AI isn’t culturally balanced, and nor are its outputs. Staff will be worried about the impact on their jobs, and the loss of learning opportunities for their students, especially if AI is seen as a shortcut.
These concerns are all valid, and encouraging open debate helps build capacity for thinking critically about AI, which is crucial for its effective use.
5. Collaborate with industry to learn how AI is changing the workplace
Colleges have always had strong links with employers, but the rapid pace of change in some disciplines makes it even more important to form strong ties with AI leaders in industry. The Department for Education has produced a useful study on industries that are affected by AI, which can help prioritise areas. For example, AI in the arts industry progresses film and music production. In business, it’s increasingly used for tasks such as contract review, and in computer coding, AI-assisted software development is becoming the norm.
Embedding real-world examples of AI in the workplace into courses will help students feel prepared for an AI-enabled world.
Further resources
- Listen to our podcasts, recorded live at this year’s AOC Conference 2024, covering topics including AI, future of assessment, digital poverty and cyber security
- Visit our dedicated AI webpage for more information and resources
- Join our AI community to connect with over 1,000 educators working with AI
- Explore Jisc and AoC’s AI Principles for FE Colleges
- See how we can support your college’s AI journey with our AI Maturity Toolkit
About the author
I lead our work supporting the responsible and effective adoption of artificial intelligence across the education sector, through a range of pilots, advice, guidance, and community support activities.