Follow our seminar series where experts and experienced AI users in the UFS community (and beyond) help us navigate the AI environment in higher education.
Presenters Nola Redelinghuys (Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures) and Katinka de Wet (Sociology, Interdisciplinary Centre for Digital Futures) spoke about the hidden environmental footprint of AI. The presentation explored the environmental impacts of AI, from the energy demands of training large language models to the vast infrastructure requirements of the data centres that power AI tools. It also considers the paradox of AI as a tool that can be used in the quest to achieve an environmentally sustainable future and mitigate environmental harm while also being responsible for growing carbon emissions, energy consumption, resource extraction and large volumes of e-waste. Lastly, it looks at emerging solutions to decrease AI development’s growing environmental footprint.
This seminar was presented by Dr Angela Stott (Physical Sciences, Education, University of the Free State) and Stefanus Scheepers (Education, University of the Free State) this seminar includes an interactive session on the use of AI and a demonstration of what students are doing with AI.
This seminar was presented by Dr Emile Nkwei (Business Management, University of the Free State), Ms Mpho Manyeli and Dr Karel Nzita.
Jani van der Merwe (Learning Design, Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of the Free State) presents on the possible integrations of AI in the learning management system Blackboard.
This seminar is presented by Dr Adewuyi Adegbite from UFS Computer Science and Informatics on the challenges and shortcomings using Google Gemini for programming. Many tips and recommendations from the discussion in this seminar from 32:48 in the video.
The UFS Library and Information Services had a panel discussion on the implementation of AI in libraries, including some AI tools that can be useful to library users.
The next seminar in this series was presented by Dr Riaan van Wyk from the Clinical Simulation and Skills Unit at the UFS Health Sciences on how AI can be used behind the scenes to help develop simulation experiences. Learn more about how to use AI as a tool to support your teaching and learning across disciplines.
The third seminar in this series was presented by Dr Ina Gouws from Political Studies and Governance (UFS) and Dr Grey Stopforth from Mercantile Law UFS on Assessment design and teaching in AI.
The second in the AI Wayfinder Seminar Series was presented by Dr Peet van Aardt and Zonnike Coetzer from the Centre for Teaching and Learning's Writing Centre on AI in writing: Implications of overreliance. The Writing Centre is driven by helping students cultivate their own academic voice and addresses the concern of students who submit ChatGPT texts as their own.
The first in our series is Ethics and policies in AI by Prof Susan Brokensha from the department of English at the University of the Free State. Prof Brokensha has written extensively about AI. See some of Prof Brokensha's work: AI in and for Africa, Is ChatGPT a friend or foe in the war on misinformation?, and The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for decolonising education in South Africa through the development of indigenous languages.