GenAI Champions Project - Exploring the potential of AI tools in education

Overview

If I had to describe the project in one word, it would be…enlightening  GenAI Champion, MTU Kerry

Imagine AI as your tutor, mentor, and collaborator. For 36 students across Ireland, this became a reality. The GenAI Champions project brought together students with learning differences and disabilities from 7 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the Republic of Ireland. This short synopsis provides an overview of the project, its objectives, methodology, key findings, learnings and a final reflection. The following highlights the significant impacts on student learning and personal development and underscores the potential value of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools in fostering inclusion and academic success. This project was funded by The National Technological University Transformation for Recovery and Resilience (N-TUTORR) and lead by Rebecca Roper, who, during the project, was the Head of Teaching and Learning in Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design (IADT), Dublin, Ireland. The project ran from February – June 2024, with the application process commencing in December 2023.

GenAI Champions Zainab Apako, Evelyn Cooper, Kim Crowshaw, Sophie Walsh, Aine Cleary and Dara Ryder at AHEAD Panorama  Conference, March 2024.

Introduction

Purpose of the Project:

The GenAI Champions Project explored the central question: How might we use Generative AI tools to support student learning in Higher Education

Background

In late 2022, ChatGPT hit the world, sparking curiosity and excitement about Generative Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) role in education. ChatGPT, a Large Language Model (LLM), creates original content from a prompt, making written work, images, audio and now video. These developments have disrupted higher education as well as many other institutional foundation areas of society.

This project, conducted primarily online over four months in 2024, was a first-of-its-kind project in Ireland, exploring AI as a partner for students with diverse learning needs with a view to how these tools might be used by all students to support their learning. Together, we explored the potential of AI as a learning partner, engaging in co-designed tasks and collaborative experimentation. A student-staff partnership approach was employed throughout the project, with ‘learning by doing’ and reflection at the heart of the experience.

Methodology

The GenAI Champions project was designed to centre students as co-creators in exploring the potential of generative AI tools. By adopting a learning by doing approach, the project provided participants with practical, hands-on experiences to develop their skills and confidence.

Recruitment and Funding

Funding was secured through the N-TUTORR initiative, enabling the project to offer paid positions for students with learning differences and disabilities. Recruitment was carried out through social media campaigns and direct outreach via Student Support Offices across seven Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, the application process was streamlined. Applicants were required to be registered with their institution's support services. Of the 79 applicants, 59 were invited for online interviews, which involved a panel comprising representatives from the student’s HEI and a project facilitator. Ultimately, 36 Champions were selected to participate.

Collaborative Project Design

The project was structured to foster collaboration and innovation. Participants engaged in bi-weekly group meetings, which featured:

Guest Speaker Sessions: Industry experts and educators shared insights on AI, accessibility, and ethical usage.

Ethics Co-Creation: In early meetings, a self-selected subgroup of participants developed an ethics statement. This statement, informed by UNESCO guidelines and the National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN), was presented and agreed upon by the entire team, ensuring a shared commitment to ethical AI use.

Meetings after 6.00 pm: Supporting student schedules, the team elected the times for the biweekly meetings.

Drop-in: Tuesday evening sessions for catch ups.

Tasks and Support

Six carefully designed tasks formed the core of the project. These tasks combined creativity and critical thinking, enabling participants to:

1. Identify and recommend useful tutorials on prompt engineering.
2. Develop personalised study schedules using Large Language Models (LLMs).
3. Experiment with AI as a personal tutor for academic support.
4. Create research presentations or artifacts using AI tools.
5. Produce visual pieces based on AI-generated prompts.
6. Reflect on their experiences and learning throughout the project.

To support participants, each task was accompanied by clear templates and guidelines allowing for student feedback on the tools and tasks. Students shared their progress and insights during group meetings, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Feedback on Task 3:

‘10/10 I’m not sure anything can be improved here. This became the perfect way for me to learn how to code for the API which I had minimal knowledge in.’ GenAI Champion, SETU

Overcoming Challenges

Though the project was primarily conducted online, some logistical challenges arose. Limited access to platforms like Microsoft Teams at certain institutions required alternative communication strategies, such as email support. Administrative challenges like student payment and procuring the software caused some frustration.  Despite these hurdles, the Champions adapted and maintained good levels of engagement throughout the programme.

Through this thoughtful and collaborative methodology, the GenAI Champions project succeeded in creating a space where students could explore, learn, and grow alongside peers with similar challenges. Communication, curiosity and empathy were encouraged throughout the project.

Key Findings

Quantitative Insights

Academic Impact: 4.67/5 rating – Students created personalised study plans and ethical research strategies.

Personal Impact: 4.52/5 rating – Increased confidence and collaboration.

Qualitative Insights: Participants reported improved confidence, organisational skills, and AI literacy. Most described the project as transformative for both academic and personal growth.

Challenges

Administrative Hurdles:

Issues with student payments and software procurement caused delays, impacting the project timeline. Not all HEIs have Teams available to students and this was a particular challenge for meetings and access to the shared folder. The lack of consistent access to Teams across HEIs showed how infrastructural barriers can limit student collaboration. The group started a WhatsApp group for the Champions to help mitigate this challenge.

Timeline Conflicts:

Tasks scheduled after the Easter break faced reduced engagement due to academic pressures.

Learning how to use the new technology was a challenge in a good way. GenAI Champion, Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Sligo

Impact and Feedback

Academic Impact:

Students leveraged AI tools to enhance their studies, created personalised study plans, supportive supplemental tuition, gained additional feedback channels and conducted ethical research.

Personal Impact:

The project fostered a sense of belonging and confidence among participants, many of whom valued the opportunity to collaborate with peers facing similar challenges.

Participant Voices:

Selected feedback highlights:

It has made my studies easier... and made me more aware of how ethical I am being in my work. GenAI Champion, TUS

This project has allowed me to better understand the potential of AI for aiding in my academic achievement. GenAI Champion, TUD

The presentations and getting first-hand experience in this safe environment took away some of the nerves when I had to do this in person. GenAI Champion, MTU

I wish this project would never end. GenAI Champion, SETU

What will you take with you on your continuing learning journey?

I will definitely take with me a better understanding of the tools that are available to help assist me with my learning. I will also take with me the confidence that everyone helped me gain in myself and my ability to persevere when faced with challenges. Gen AI Champion, Technological University Dublin (TUD)

Conclusion 

The GenAI Champions Project successfully demonstrated how generative AI can support student learning, potentially levelling the playing field for students with disabilities. Key pedagogical principles, such as belonging and mattering, were integral to its success. An extraordinary group of students were at the centre of this project and they are all listed below.  The GenAI Champions Project not only showed what’s possible when AI meets inclusive education, but it also laid the groundwork for a future where all students can thrive.

Recommendations

1. Institutional Support: Provide institution-wide licenses for AI tools, paired with training sessions for students and faculty.
2. Future Projects: Address administrative challenges early, including access to online tools across HEIs and explore alternative timelines to mitigate academic conflicts.
3. Scalability: HEIs can build on the project’s findings and integrate AI training for all students and staff.  Consider and action integration of AI tools into higher education curricula.

Personal Reflection from the Facilitator:

The GenAI Champions Project was a transformative journey for both the students and me. Identifying students with learning differences and disabilities as Champions fostered a new sense of identity and pride. Watching them grow, connect, and achieve was inspiring.

As more than one participant noted, this project was enlightening - a sentiment that resonates with the transformative potential of AI in education.

The collaborative nature of this project was key to its success, and I’m grateful to all who supported it. Rebecca Roper

Outputs and Dissemination

Max Jones’ short video on the project from his perspective as a learner is well worth watching as it gives a succinct visual and auditory account of the project.  The video is available with/without audio description. Details for the channel are below.

GenAI Champion Max Jones presenting at the N-TUTORR showcase.

Conferences and Events:

The project was presented at national and international conferences, showcasing the Champions and the project’s innovative approach (details below). This was an opportunity for the Champions to speak publicly about their work and share their findings with a broad national and international audience. Of the 36, 15 volunteered to speak publicly on behalf of the project and their learning in online and in-person forums.   This is significant as many of these students indicated that they were not comfortable with presentations on their original applications.  Through the support of the team, students were empowered to ‘stretch’ out of their ‘comfort zones’ to try things they never had before.  The project and Max Jones’ video were highlighted by several thought-leaders online after the N-TUTORR Showcase event in November.

GenAI Champions presenting at AHEAD Panorama Conference March 2024

Videos and resources are available on the GenAI Champions YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@GenAIChampions/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@GenAIChampions/playlists

https://www.youtube.com/@GenAIChampions/community

List of conferences and events:

• AHEAD Panorama Conference, March 2024
• Accessibility Week Thompson Rivers College, Canada, May 2024
• GATHER, AHEAD May 2024
• IADT AI and Academic Integrity, June 2024
• Wiroo trial event, June 2024
• N-TUTORR Showcase November 2024

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the AHEAD team, Dr. Perry Share, and the N-TUTORR team at IADT, led by Bernie Meagher, for their invaluable contributions.

For further information, contact Rebecca Roper at rroper@hea.ie (currently seconded to Teaching and Learning and advising on Student Success for the HEA) or Rebecca.roper@iadt.ie.

Partner Institutions:

• Atlantic Technological University;
• South East Technological University
• Munster Technological University
• Technological University of the Shannon
• Dun Laoghaire Institute Of Art Design and Technology
• Dundalk Institute of TechnologyTechnological University Dublin