2023 Carolyn D. Baker Annual Memorial Lecture (in person)

 

Education was still recovering from the pandemic, while a second disruptor emerged in late 2022 – artificial intelligence, specifically generative AI. Since that time, education has come to question itself, the nature of learning and our relationship with this new technology.

 

Education has navigated many new digital technologies, which have all been predicted to revolutionizing teaching and learning. This has not yet happened. However, over the past few months we can see that generative AI might be different. The integration of a digital technology that has ‘intelligence’ and can out-perform humans in some ways, is causing educators to ask questions about learning processes, identifying learning, assessment and capabilities. In short, how do we know what students can do and what machines are doing; also, does it matter?

 

In this talk, I will explore the implications of these issues for educators, learning and institutions. The risks along with some of the benefits will be balanced, to consider how this new technology, and the ones coming quickly along after it, can be harnessed to work with humans – not the other way around.

 

 

Sarah Howard is an Associate Professor of Digital Technologies in Education, at the University of Wollongong, in Australia, and a Visiting Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium. Her research looks at technological innovation and educational change in schools and higher education. Specifically, her recent work considers implication of artificial intelligence and educational data, how they are designed and made meaningful for teachers and learners. This work involves collaboration with data scientists and artificial intelligence engineers to design new ways of capturing digital technology use in teaching and learning across physical and digital spaces. She has extensive experience collaborating with practitioners in her research and industry stakeholders.

 

Event Details: Registration: 5.45pm for a 6pm start

Public Lecture: 6–7pm

Reception: 7–8pm

Location: May Hancock Auditorium, The Women's College College Rd, The University of Queensland, St Lucia campus.

Enquiries: ea.education@uq.edu.au

 

 

Carolyn Baker was an Associate Professor in the School of Education at The University of Queensland. Associate Professor Baker, who passed away in 2003, is best remembered for her research and her excellent postgraduate supervision and teaching.’

 

This prestigious annual memorial lecture commemorates the life and valuable contribution that our colleague, Carolyn, had generously shared with all of us during her time with the School of Education. The Carolyn D. Baker Memorial Lecture is the highlight of the annual research week that we celebrate at the School each September.

 

Join us as we remember our colleague and friend Carolyn Baker at the annual memorial lecture.