Overview

The Fall 2023 Technology Enhanced Learning Centre (TELC) Newsletter is out!

The Digital Transformation of Higher Education At UNIC

TELC aims to support this transformation by: (1) helping to improve the digital literacies of students, faculty and staff; (2) helping to enhance the learning and teaching environment in a way that is underpinned by sound learning design principles, reflection and innovation.

All TELC Newsletters are packed with ideas and information that relate to the digital transformation of higher education at UNIC. Here are some links to previous newsletters:

  • Fall 2021 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Moodle peer assessment/adaptive learning, Padlet hyflex, introducing Engageli, interactive lecture with Storyline 360, designing better PowerPoint presentations and more.
  • Spring 2022 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Horizon VR Workrooms, Miro Training, Stream on SharePoint, New WebEx Meetings features, Moodle LevelUp plug-in, Engageli 2.0, Forms and more.
  • Summer 2022 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Moodle cookie policy, Camtasia for all faculty, advanced Moodle Assignment usage, Minecraft Education, Miro templates, Padlet, Sway and more.
  • Fall 2022 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Turnitin Feedback Studio & DraftCoach, Gamified Learning, Camtasia Training Recordings, Engageli interactive demos and testimony, TEwT journal news, New Teams technologies, some new PowerPoint features and more.
  • Spring 2023 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: ChatGPT, AI detectors, prompts and assignments, citations and AI, creative writing with AI, Engageli, SharePoint, Doodly, Moodle and more!
  • Summer 2023 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: AI Detectors, Reimagining Assignments in the new AI era, DL course gamification, Human-directed AI learning, image generators, Perplexity and Burstiness, Microsoft Copilot and more!

This Fall 2023 newsletter aims to keep faculty and staff up to date on some of the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence and Learning Technology. Among these include: (i) using AI to make suggestions to improve syllabi; (ii) discussing the concept of Human-Directed AI Creativity, which refers to the “human” being creative in selecting and refining iteratively AI output using intelligently crafted prompt engineering; (iii) Kahoot being used to gamify learning content; (iv) reviewing some options for reimagining assignments; (v) moving the entire MBA DL programme to Engageli active-learning video-conferencing platform.

We therefore wish you good reading!

Overview


The Fall 2023 Technology Enhanced Learning Centre (TELC) Newsletter is out!
The Digital Transformation of Higher Education At UNIC

TELC aims to support this transformation by: (1) helping to improve the digital literacies of students, faculty and staff; (2) helping to enhance the learning and teaching environment in a way that is underpinned by sound learning design principles, reflection and innovation.

All TELC Newsletters are packed with ideas and information that relate to the digital transformation of higher education at UNIC. Here are some links to previous newsletters:

  • Fall 2021 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Moodle peer assessment/adaptive learning, Padlet hyflex, introducing Engageli, interactive lecture with Storyline 360, designing better PowerPoint presentations and more.
  • Spring 2022 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Horizon VR Workrooms, Miro Training, Stream on SharePoint, New WebEx Meetings features, Moodle LevelUp plug-in, Engageli 2.0, Forms and more.
  • Summer 2022 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Moodle cookie policy, Camtasia for all faculty, advanced Moodle Assignment usage, Minecraft Education, Miro templates, Padlet, Sway and more.
  • Fall 2022 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: Turnitin Feedback Studio & DraftCoach, Gamified Learning, Camtasia Training Recordings, Engageli interactive demos and testimony, TEwT journal news, New Teams technologies, some new PowerPoint features and more.
  • Spring 2023 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: ChatGPT, AI detectors, prompts and assignments, citations and AI, creative writing with AI, Engageli, SharePoint, Doodly, Moodle and more!
  • Summer 2023 [Click here to view] This newsletter included: AI Detectors, Reimagining Assignments in the new AI era, DL course gamification, Human-directed AI learning, image generators, Perplexity and Burstiness, Microsoft Copilot and more!

This Fall 2023 newsletter aims to keep faculty and staff up to date on some of the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence and Learning Technology. Among these include: (i) using AI to make suggestions to improve syllabi; (ii) discussing the concept of Human-Directed AI Creativity, which refers to the “human” being creative in selecting and refining iteratively AI output using intelligently crafted prompt engineering; (iii) Kahoot being used to gamify learning content; (iv) reviewing some options for reimagining assignments; (v) moving the entire MBA DL programme to Engageli active-learning video-conferencing platform.

” As we’re living in transformational times, please feel free to contact TELC if you would like to discuss digital transformation in your context! “

We therefore wish you good reading!

Featured

A Fancy New Batch Of MBA Course Thumbnails In Moodle!

All the MBA Course Thumbnails for Moodle have now been created! These were done using a human-directed AI curation approach which was then supplemented with digital editing and design to ensure quality. We’re planning on making thumbnails for all the DL programmes at UNIC!

Reimagining Assignments: A Reminder

These are our recent ideas on how to reimagine assignments in this new AI era.

“Using Kahoot To Promote Active Student Responding” by Lefki Kourea, PhD

“Research has shown that effective instruction improves student outcomes in diverse classrooms (States, Detrich, & Keyworth, 2019). One of the most powerful tactics of an effective instructor is the use of low- and/or high-tech tools that promote active student responding during instruction.”

Human Creativity: Is There A Place For AI?

Arguably, creativity is something that is intrinsically human, but should there be a place for AI in the creative process?

Course Syllabi: AI Suggestions For Consideration

The use of AI and complex interactive prompting to possibly enhance aspects of course syllabi is an area the Technology Enhanced Learning Centre is currently researching.

The Entire MBA DL Programme Moves To Engageli Active Learning Platform

The University of Nicosia’s Business School, as part of its dedication to innovative teaching and learning methods, implements the Engageli platform following its success in UNIC’s Blockchain courses.

The Journal of Teaching English With Technology (TEWT) New Issue

TEWT fast-tracks AI-related research: in this issue there were two AI-related papers!

General AI

TELC Training: The AI Era And Reimagining Assignments

The aim of this training was to introduce key issues and trends of generative AI relevant to higher education. The implications for how student assignments might be reimagined were also discussed.

“The Homework Apocalypse” – Ethan Mollick: Educators Need To Be Ready

“Not enough educators (and parents) are preparing for the Homework Apocalypse that is coming this Fall, as AI becomes ubiquitous among students.”

“Holding Back The Strange AI Tide” – Ethan Mollick

“Most people didn’t ask for an AI that can do many tasks previously reserved for humans. But it arrived, almost completely unexpectedly. Teachers did not want to see almost every form of homework instantly be solvable by a computer.”

New Tech: First Ever In-Meta Interview, Ray-Ban Augmented Reality, ChatGPT Voice Conversations

First Metaverse Interview With Zuckerburg Showcases Cutting Edge Tech. Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Bring Science-Fiction Much Closer To Reality. ChatGPT’s New Audio Feature Allows You To Talk To ChatGPT Verbally, Instead Of Giving It Written Commands.

Comparing Dalle-3 And Midjourney

Dalle-3 Is Rolling Out In ChatGPT, But It’s Currently Powering Bing Image Creator. So, How Does It Compare To Midjourney?

Moodle: AI Text To Questions Generator

This New Moodle Plug-In Might Save Lecturers And Moodle Admins A Lot Of Time When Setting Up Question Banks By Using AI.

Bard’s Expansion: A Look At The Latest Developments

Human creativity is fundamentally driven by curiosity and imagination. This is evident in various scenarios, whether it’s a child inventing a game, friends planning their next adventure, or an entrepreneur devising a new business idea. Our capacity to envision new possibilities is one of our most inherent human traits.

Generating The Same Image In Every AI Platform

Well-Known YouTuber And AI Enthusiast Matt Wolfe Tried Generating The Exact Same Image In All Platforms And Then Compared The Results Before Picking His Favourite.

ChatGPT Vision: Bridging Textual And Visual Realms (With Implications For Assessment)

Instead of being limited to textual interactions, this extended model can analyze images, bridging the gap between textual and visual information.

Google’s Gemini: The Next Big Leap In AI Technology

Unveiling Google’s ambitious project set to redefine the AI landscape.

Practical AI For Instructors And Students By Wharton School

These videos are by Faculty Director Ethan Mollick and Director of Pedagogy, Lilach Mollick. You can see the full playlist here. For convenience, we have embedded the videos below.

Meta AI Research Models: Seamless Communication

A family of AI research models that enable more natural and authentic communication across languages.

Learning Technologies

New Metaverse Moodle Thumbnails

These New Thumbnails Will Make A Small But Very Noticeable Change To The User Experience In Moodle.

Engageli: View/Edit Shared Class Files In Playback Room Class Recordings

Collaborative class files are now included in classroom recordings viewed in Engageli Playback Rooms.

Replacement Of Stream (Classic) By Stream (On Sharepoint)

Stream (On SharePoint) Is An Intelligent Enterprise Video Experience That Is Part Of Microsoft 365. Whereas Stream (Classic) Is Not, And Thus Is Being Retired.

Contact TELC

Dr Chris Alexander
Technology Enhanced Learning Centre (HEAD)

 alexander.c@unic.ac.cy

Mr Vladislav Kolev
Multimedia Expert & Learning Technologist (TELC)

kolev.v@unic.ac.cy