* Some events do not have specific resources available

GenAI vs Higher Education Assessment

4 September 2024

More than a year has passed since reports of ChatGPT-3.5’s capability to pass exams sent shockwaves through education circles. These initial concerns led to a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary study to assess the performance of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) against assessment tasks used across 10 engineering subjects, showcasing the capability of GenAI.

Assessment types included online quiz, numerical, oral, visual, programming and writing (experimentation, project, reflection and critical thinking, and research). This work was award-winning and broke readership records. Twelve months later, the study was repeated using new and updated tools ChatGPT-4, Copilot, Gemini, SciSpace and Wolfram. The updated study investigated the performance and capability differences, identifying the best tool for each assessment type. This presentation by Dr Sasha Nikolic provides insights into performance differences across the various tools.

The GenAI Assessment Security and Integration Opportunity Matrix is presented as a framework to support teaching staff moving forward. Full insights available at https://doi.org/10.1080/22054952.2024.2372154.

Presenter: Sasha Nikolic

Brief Biographical for Presenter

Sasha Nikolic is a Senior Lecturer in Engineering Education at the University of Wollongong. Dr Nikolic has received awards for his contribution to engineering education through the IEEE, AAEE, ASCILITE, UOW, AAUT and other institutions. He became a Senior IEEE Member in 2015 and is a Senior Fellow of the Wollongong Academy of Tertiary Teaching and Learning Excellence. Sasha has served in the development of engineering education internationally, including General Co-Chair for IEEE TALE2018, Chair for the IEEE New South Wales Section 2018-2019, Secretary of the IEEE Australia Council 2021-2022 and has served on many IEEE committees. He is an Executive Committee member of the Australasian Association of Engineering Education and has been a committee member of the annual conference since 2021.

Sasha is the founding president of the Australasian Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Education Centre, a collaboration of 14 universities. The centre's work strives to identify the risks and opportunities of working alongside GenAI and provides many implementation exemplars.

Designing a Financial Analytics and Visualisation Subject for Accounting Curriculum

24 April 2024

Presenter: Dr Yasmin Turton

In response to the evolving impact of digital technologies on accounting, universities in the US and China are reforming curricula to introduce 'Intelligent Accounting' programs. These initiatives have led to innovative interdisciplinary subjects that blend accounting principles with cutting-edge information technology applications.

This presentation explores the conception and design of 'Intelligent Financial Analytics and Visualization in Accounting,' a new course integrating Business Intelligence (BI) with financial analytics.

The innovative subject aims to enhance student motivation, refine practical data analysis skills, and equip accounting students with the ability to leverage BI tools effectively in financial analytics, meeting industry demands. It provides valuable insights and practical experiences for accounting educators seeking to design courses that address the challenges and opportunities of the big data era.

Presenters: Dr Kevin Huang and Dr Stephen Wu

Brief Biographical for Presenters

• Dr. Kevin Huang is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting and Head of Students for Postgraduate Programs (Wollongong Campus), Faculty of Business & Law, UOW. Kevin has received multiple OCTAL Award and an AAUT Citation. Kevin is also the founder and faculty support person for Chinese Academic Business Learning & Education (CABLE).
• Dr. Stephen Wu is Lecturer in Accounting at UOW, specializing in Financial Analytics and Visualisation.

 

Pedagogical Approaches to Decolonised Education: examples and lessons from South Africa

24 April 2024

Presenter: Dr Yasmin Turton

International scholar, Dr Yasmin Turton, is visiting UOW (Social Work, School of Health and Society) from the University of Johannesburg. She will lead a number of seminars and attend teaching activities during the period. Yasmin will present on the South African context and their approach to decolonised education and community activism. The presentation will cover the South African higher education context; decolonising curricula and lessons for global contexts, including Australia. The presentation will contribute to understanding of decolonising teaching and learning in Australia and globally and empower WATTLE members in realising the goals of the UOW in teaching and learning, particularly the decolonisation of teaching and learning.

Research on Faculty Engagement in WIL

6 March 2024

Presenter: Dr Denyse Lafrance Horning

Dr Denyse Lafrance Horning is part of the Elon University Centre for Engaged Learning WIL research program. In this session, Denyse will share highlights of her international team’s research initiatives over the past two years. Recognising the important and unique role that faculty play in WIL, this research program focuses on the perceptions and engagement of faculty in WIL. Insights are derived from the literature, in-depth faculty interviews and a broad scale faculty survey.

Denyse is an Associate Professor in the Nipissing University (Canada) School of Business and an Associate faculty member in the Masters in Kinesiology program. Her career began as a sales and marketing professional before redeploying her marketing knowledge and experience to the classroom. She holds an interdisciplinary PhD in the area of sponsorship marketing and is engaged in sport management, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning (EL) research. She was the Teaching Chair of EL at Nipissing University, was awarded the D2L Innovation Award in Teaching and Learning and is currently a participant in the Elon University Center for Engaged Learning WIL research program.

Inclusive Teaching: Creating Community and Serving all Students

6 February 2024

Presenter: Inara Scott  
 

This event was held in collaboration with the Associate Dean (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) from each Faculty.

• Associate Professor Lisa Slater (ASSH)
• Associate Professor Shamika Almeida (BAL)
• Professor Madeleine du Toit (EIS)
• Associate Professor Yasmine Probst (SMAH)

Description

The workshop will provide a greater understanding of the how and the why of inclusive teaching. It will provide an opportunity for academics to find their unique place in a path toward more inclusive teaching. We believe this work is deeply personal and provides a multitude of ways to further the goal of making classrooms more welcoming and engaging. Therefore, one of the primary intentions of the workshop is for the teaching staff to identify their personal goals as an educator, and what one thing they want to do next semester to grow as an inclusive educator. Before our workshop, we ask participants to please complete the following:

• Watch our orientation video to the teaching perspectives inventory
• Complete the teaching perspectives inventory (TPI)
• Save a copy of your TPI results to discuss during our workshop

Conversation Starters are a series of informal learning and teaching lunch time conversation sessions designed to connect teachers from different disciplines and faculties at UOW (Wollongong Campus and beyond). The aim is to create a supportive community where teachers can come together in person to share experiences, develop cross-disciplinary relationships, and learn tips and tricks for improving learning, teaching, connection and wellbeing.

 

Fostering Inclusive Learning and Teaching at UOW

8 July 2024

Presenter: Susannah Gregory

As the need for increased awareness and application of inclusive practices in learning and teaching becomes more prevalent, there is a necessity to share and reflect on the experiences of staff and students at UOW.

We will hear from Susannah Gregory, Senior Manager of the Student Accessibility and Inclusion Team, UOW students and professional staff from LTC. A short presentation sharing staff and student perspectives on the importance of inclusion at UOW, will be followed by opportunities for wider discussion and sharing.

 

Teaching and Learning at UOW

28 May 2024

Presenters: Dr Henry Lee and Dr Grace McCarthy

Conversation Starters’ event will be led by Dr Henry Lee and Dr Grace McCarthy.  Based on their extensive experience, they will provide reflections and insights on teaching and learning at UOW. They will also discuss some of the current challenges of learning and teaching at UOW.  This will be followed by a series of questions related to the topic area, which will drive small group conversations amongst those in attendance and allow the sharing of insights and perspectives.

Dr Henry Lee was a student at UOW in the 1970s. He is currently the Academic Program Manager at UOW College Australia. He has previously lectured in Australian History and Industrial Relations at UOW.

Dr Grace McCarthy is the current Dean of Business in the Faculty of Business and Law at UOW. According to her biography from the UOW webpage, Grace brings expertise from working in industry overseas and has an interest in ‘blending real- life experience with academic rigour in teaching and researching responsible leadership.’ Her fields of research include ‘strategy, management and organisational behaviour’.

 

Pedagogical Approaches to Decolonised Education: examples and lessons from South Africa

24 April 2024

Presenter: Dr. Yasmin Turton - University of Johannesburg, South Africa

International scholar, Dr Yasmin Turton, is visiting UOW (Social Work, School of Health and Society) from the University of Johannesburg.

Yasmin will present on the South African context and their approach to decolonised education. The presentation will cover the South African higher education context, and their attempts at decolonising curricula. It will also look at the barriers and supports to decolonising curricula, as well as suggested pathways to promote a more decolonised approach to teaching and learning.

By sharing experiences and lessons from South Africa, Yasmin’s presentation aims to inform and empower WATTLE members’ understanding of decolonising teaching and learning in Australia and globally.