By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication. Photo: Jørgen True

Artificial intelligence and text generation tools like ChatGPT have made their way into the world of education. The new technologies are evolving rapidly and creating new conditions for the development of knowledge and skills. According to  Pro-Rector Anne Marie Kanstrup, Aalborg University (AAU) and the rest of the education sector thus face both opportunities and challenges. 

- This development calls for answers on how we can and should use artificial intelligence in education. So along with the other Danish universities, we have created a common framework for how we will deal with artificial intelligence in education. At AAU, we now need to look more specifically at how we incorporate the new technologies into teaching and exams in a good way, says Pro-rector Anne Marie Kanstrup.

More AI at AAU in the future

At present, AAU's students are generally not allowed to use AI chatbots that can generate text, code, illustrations, images, graphic overviews and tables in an exam paper. Unless explicitly stated in the examination regulations for the individual study element. In the slightly longer term, AI chatbots can be a support if they are used consciously, reflectively and with a critical approach. For example, to generate ideas, or to provide creative input or feedback on student texts.

Knowledge building and inspiration

AAU has many experts in technology development, artificial intelligence, pedagogy and education research, and Anne Marie Kanstrup hopes that many of them will contribute to the deliberations and discussions that will take place in the coming period.

In the autumn, teaching staff and students will be invited to seminars and workshops on the use of artificial intelligence in teaching at AAU. These will take place under the auspices of the Institute for Advanced Study in PBL (IAS PBL) which will also be responsible for an 'inspiration catalogue' on teaching where generative AI is used as a tool or academic topic. In addition, IAS PBL in conjunction with Aalborg University Library has preliminary teaching material on method and source criticism regarding the use of artificial intelligence.

Before the end of 2024, all study boards must also assess how artificial intelligence plays a role in the individual degree programme and whether it means changes to the curriculum.