By Chris Bell (Senior Learning Technologist)
In partnership with our academic colleagues, members of the Digital Learning Team at the University of Derby are continually seeking out innovative methods to enhance the student experience and positively impact learning outcomes. One such innovation is the AI Conversation Tool in Blackboard Ultra. This tool uses generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to create interactive and immersive learning experiences based on two dialogic approaches: role play and Socratic questioning (with a ‘debate’ option available soon)
What is the AI Conversation Tool?
The AI Conversation tool is built into Blackboard Ultra and is designed to facilitate deeper learning through interactive dialogues that simulate those conversations which may take place in personal, academic and professional contexts. From a subject perspective, it provides our academic colleagues the opportunity to create AI-driven conversations around discipline-related topics or scenarios, encouraging students to engage in critical thinking and reflective learning across a wide variety of pedagogic contexts.
Key Features and Benefits
Socratic Questioning: This method involves asking open-ended (continuous) questions that stimulate critical thinking, providing students with the space to explore complex ideas and develop arguments from different perspectives. In doing so, it also encourages students to challenge their own beliefs and articulate their thoughts clearly.
Role-Playing: This method creates scenarios where students interact with AI personas. These personas can be customised to represent different characters relevant to the course material. For example, a history module might include a conversation with an AI persona of a historical figure, providing a unique and immersive learning experience.
Reflection and Feedback: Each AI conversation ends with a reflection question (which can be changed), prompting students to consider what they have learned and how they interacted with the AI. This not only reinforces the material but also helps students develop AI literacy, an increasingly important skill and one which graduate employers are on the lookout for.
Customisation and Control: By setting the parameters, choosing the complexity of the AI responses, and reviewing the interactions in the form of a submitted transcript, our academic colleagues have full control over the AI conversations that they are putting in front of their students and can see how these conversations have developed over time.
Practical Applications for the University
The AI Conversation tool can be deployed across any programme or module in Blackboard Ultra to enhance subject knowledge through the deep exploration of complex and tricky problems. A great place to embed the tool is in the pre/post-session folder we provide in Blackboard Ultra, this is where we can set tasks for students to develop their ideas prior to (or after) a taught session, such that when our students are with us we can provide a more active experience where they build on ideas that they’ve explored asynchronously. This is sometimes called the flipped, or inverted classroom. To do this, find the folder that you want to place the AI Conversation into, hit the purple plus button and go to ‘Create’ > ‘AI Conversation’ (under the ‘Participation and Engagement’ heading), then choose the relevant tool and explore the options.
A perhaps less obvious, but equally important aspect of this tool is that it provides students with a space to develop their AI digital capabilities and build confidence in their language skills to leverage the power of Generative AI. Central to these skills are thinking about tone, audience, iteration, bias and wider linguistic structuring. It may also help our academic colleagues develop their confidence in using more AI tools in their practice too!
The saved transcripts from the conversations that our students have with the AI tool can be submitted as part of a formative or summative assessed component or may even just be kept by students as a snapshot of their learning and as an insight into how their ideas developed over time.
Subject Specific Examples
As we’ve just explored, Blackboard’s AI Conversation tool offers a range of subject-related applications that can significantly enhance the learning experience for students. It may also be an opportunity to explore how students can work ‘cross-discipline’ to develop their knowledge of subjects and topics outside the immediate realm of their programme of study, something which is increasingly attractive to graduate employers. Here are some practical use cases linked to discipline areas:
Humanities
1. Historical Role-Playing
Example: In a history course, students can engage in conversations with AI personas representing historical figures.
2. Literary Analysis
Example: Literature students can use the AI Conversation tool to analyse texts by conversing with AI personas of authors or characters.
3. Creative Writing
Example: Creative writing students can use the AI Conversation tool to develop their storytelling skills. They might interact with AI personas of fictional characters they are developing, exploring different dialogue options and character motivations.
4. Ethics
Example: In ethics courses, students can discuss moral dilemmas with AI personas. For example, a student might engage in a conversation with an AI persona representing a whistleblower, discussing the ethical implications of their actions.
Sports Science
1. Simulating Coaching Scenarios
Example: Sports science students can engage in conversations with AI personas representing athletes or coaches. For instance, a student might interact with an AI persona of a professional athlete to discuss training programmes, injury prevention, and performance optimisation. This helps students apply theoretical knowledge to real-world coaching scenarios.
2. Nutrition and Performance
Example: Students can have conversations with AI personas of sports nutritionists to discuss dietary plans, supplementation, and the impact of nutrition on performance. This practical application helps students understand the role of nutrition in sports and how to tailor dietary strategies for different athletes.
Clinical Skills
1. Simulating Patient Interactions
Example: Clinical skills students can engage in conversations with AI personas representing patients with various medical conditions. For instance, a student might interact with an AI persona of a patient presenting symptoms of diabetes. This allows students to practice taking medical histories, asking diagnostic questions, and developing treatment plans in a risk-free environment
2. Practicing Communication Skills
Example: Effective communication is crucial in clinical settings. Students can use the AI Conversation tool to practice delivering difficult news, explaining medical procedures, or discussing treatment options with AI personas of patients or family members. This helps students build confidence and improve their bedside manner, particularly before they head out on placement.
Business
1. Simulating Business Negotiations
Example: Business students can engage in conversations with AI personas representing clients, suppliers, or partners. For instance, a student might negotiate a contract with an AI persona of a supplier, practicing negotiation strategies and techniques. This helps students develop their negotiation skills in a realistic, risk-free environment.
2. Exploring Ethical Dilemmas
Example: Students can discuss ethical issues in business with AI personas representing different stakeholders. For example, a student might engage in a conversation with an AI persona of an HR Director, exploring the ethical implications of their actions, how making difficult decisions can impact the company and how that risk is mitigated. This encourages students to think critically about ethics and the implications of their actions in a business context.
Arts
1. Film and Media
Example: Students studying film and media can interact with AI personas of directors or film critics. They might analyse the cinematography of a classic film with an AI persona of a renowned director, discussing visual storytelling techniques and the director’s artistic vision. This may help deepen their understanding of film analysis and production.
2. Analysing Artistic Techniques
Example: Visual arts students can engage in conversations with AI personas representing famous artists. For instance, a student might interact with an AI persona of Vincent van Gogh to discuss his painting techniques, colour choices, and the emotional impact of his work. This helps students gain deeper insights into artistic methods and historical contexts
Hopefully, some of these examples have given you the inspiration to use your subject expertise to curate your own activities and make these tools really come alive!