Future of teaching: AI and learning analytics are conquering universities!

Future of teaching: AI and learning analytics are conquering universities!

The Learning AID 2025 will take place on September 2nd and 3rd, 2025 on the campus of the Ruhr University Bochum. The target group for this conference are teachers, researchers, students and employees in support institutions. The focus is on current questions about artificial intelligence (AI) and learning analytics in higher education as well as the associated technological changes. How news.rub.de reports, the event offers a varied program that will include keynotes, keynote speeches and discussion panels. Up to seven program tracks are planned, including an English-language track to include international perspectives.

A special highlight of the conference will be a political panel discussion with NRW Science Minister Ina Brandes. Further key lectures will be given by Prof. Dr. Sabine Seufert from the University of Saint Gallen and Dr. Melissa Bond from University College London. In addition, a community day is planned for September 1, 2025, which is intended to promote exchange between different groups. Anyone interested can register until August 15, 2025, with the participation fee being 65 euros. Students without reimbursement of costs can register for free, but must send an email with their certificate of study to the organization team.

Challenges and opportunities of AI in teaching

The use of artificial intelligence in higher education is currently a hotly debated topic. The publication of OpenAI's dialog service ChatGPT in November 2022 has sparked the debate about the influence of generative AI on scientific work and teaching methods. How digital-lehre.uni-mainz.de notes, many students already regularly use AI tools, which brings with it new challenges. Universities must find strategic answers to questions about course offerings and teaching methods.

Recommendations for integrating AI into academic teaching include, among other things, critical reflection on the use of AI-generated content. Lecturers should be encouraged to use AI tools in their courses, especially when dealing with technical questions and creating work assignments. Another important aspect is that students learn to both use and critically reflect on AI tools. This also requires that further training courses be created for teachers and employees in order to promote digital competence in teaching.

Best practices and ethical considerations

A detailed discussion of the principles and methods for using AI in teaching is provided on the FH JOANNEUM platform. This platform not only offers insights into innovative AI tools, but also didactic strategies and best practices. Loud fh-joanneum.at Great emphasis is placed on creating a progressive and innovative educational environment that integrates AI technologies.

In addition, university-wide events are recommended to promote discussions about scientific ethics and quality assurance. Examinations and requirements for scientific papers should be adjusted to enable the transparent use of AI. This includes updating declarations of independence and creating a central “white list” for safe AI tools. The focus is on finding the right interaction between AI and traditional teaching.

Learning AID 2025 promises to be an important forum to discuss these important topics and promote exchange between science and practice.