Presentation by Tony Bates, EDEN Senior Fellow, at the 2019 European Distance Learning Week's fourth-day webinar on "Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education" - 14 November 2019 Recording of the discussion is available: https://eden-online.adobeconnect.com/p7d4zev81s1s/ & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eebqKEIcM8

1. AI in Higher Education
Current situation: trying hard but must do better
Tony Bates

2. Definition problems:
• Statistical analysis (multiple regression;
analysis of variance) – well established
• Learning analytics: data ‘trawling’;
search for patterns: no decision-making
• AI: use of algorithms to identify (and
interpret?) patterns of student behaviour:
decision making

3. Decisions?
Actions?

4. Core features
Massive amounts of data
Powerful algorithms for
• search/identify
• data analysis
• pattern recognition
Very powerful computing (cloud) Image: Datamation, 2019

5. Applications of AI in HE
Institutional:
• admissions/enrolment; marketing; curricular
Student support
• Intelligent tutoring e.g.(chatbots); automated
feedback; early warning/at-risk
Instructional
• adaptive learning (test and re-direct)
• assessment (automated grading)

6. Main impact to date on HE
Very little:
• Mainly institutional level (‘screening’)
• Mainly ‘old’ AI (adaptive learning)
• Some learning analytics: mainly NSD
• Experiments with MOOCs
• Limited to ‘low levels’ of learning
(comprehension/understanding:
declarative knowledge - NRC)

7. Why so little impact?
Papers mainly by computer scientists
Limited understanding of learning (behaviourist)
Data rather than theory-driven
Contrary to values of education
• equity;
• agency of the individual
Data sets too small: HE fragmented

8. BUT: don’t be complacent
Change will be driven by global internet platforms
AI goal: replace not improve HE system: meet employer
expectations; bypass the institutions; reduce costs;
A potential
commercial
educational
system based
on
AI

9. Questions
Is AI an opportunity or a threat?
Is it all smoke and mirrors?
Will it disrupt the HE system?
What are the implications of AI for:
learners?
teachers?
institutions?