Hello AI Enthusiasts 👋

Thanks to everyone who sent kind words after my last newsletter mentioned the university restructure I'm navigating. I've been keeping my spirits up with pop playlists, channeling Lily Allen's approach of putting an optimistic spin on challenging times — think “Everything’s Just Wonderful”.

This month, I achieved a major milestone: submitting my book manuscript "AI-Powered Scholar: A Beginner’s Guide to Artificial Intelligence for Academic Writing & Research" to my publisher, Routledge 🥳. Look for its release later this year – you'll be first to know when it's available!

Now, let's dive into the latest AI and Higher Education resources! 🎓 💻 🤖

Catch up on the latest blog posts

• AI Literature Reviews: Exploring Google's NotebookLM for Analysing Academic Literature
  Imagine having a tireless research assistant with a photographic memory, capable of analysing every paper you’ve ever read at lightning speed. That’s NotebookLM in a nutshell. It doesn’t just store your documents; it intelligently dissects them, extracting key points, summarising content, and serving up relevant information at your fingertips. In this blog post, I provide an overview of NotebookLM, exploring its potential to enhance how we extract insights from academic literature. Read more…
  

• 7 Tips for Optimising AI Chatbot Outputs
  Have you experimented with AI chatbots, only to find yourself frustrated by irrelevant or unhelpful outputs? You’re not alone. The good news is that with a few pointers on how to write effective ‘prompts’ – those instructional commands we use to guide AI chatbots – the quality of AI-generated content can be greatly enhanced. In this blog post, you’ll discover 7 simple tips to transform your AI chatbot interactions from frustrating to fruitful. Read more…

• Responsible Use of AI Chatbots: Data Upload Guidelines for Academic Researchers

  You’ve probably heard the whispers – that PhD examiner who got into hot water for thinking it was a good idea to upload a student’s thesis to ChatGPT, or the PhD student who accidentally breached ethics guidelines by sharing participant data with Claude.ai. These stories might sound like academic urban legends, but they’re very real and highlight crucial issues in desperate need of attention. Read more…

• How to Turn Your Academic Papers into Social Media Posts Using AI Chatbots

  Promoting research requires more than just publishing in reputable journals. To achieve impact, researchers are increasingly expected to actively engage in marketing their work to ensure it reaches a wider audience. However, with tight schedules and limited budgets, this task can seem overwhelming. Enter AI. Read more…

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Spotlight: Best Practices for AI Integration in Higher Ed Teaching and Assessment

As higher education grapples with integrating AI responsibly into curricula, I've discovered some exceptional resources. These standouts offer logical, reasoned approaches to guiding staff and students, while remaining flexible in our rapidly evolving AI landscape:

• The Artificial Intelligence Assessment Scale (AIAS): A Framework for Ethical Integration of Generative AI in Educational Assessment
  This paper introduces a tool for educators grappling with AI in the classroom: the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS). As GenAI reshapes education, the AIAS offers a practical way to integrate these tools into assessments. It helps teachers align AI use with learning outcomes, bringing much-needed clarity to students and institutions. What I love about this approach is its flexibility – it embraces AI's potential whilst recognising when it might not be suitable. The authors make a compelling case for shifting our focus from AI as a cheating tool to its potential for enhancing teaching and learning.
  🔗 https://doi.org/10.53761/q3azde36

• The EAP-AIAS: Adapting the AI Assessment Scale for English for Academic Purposes
  This paper introduces an adaptation of the AI Assessment Scale (linked above) for English for Academic Purposes (EAP) contexts: the EAP-AIAS. This framework offers EAP educators a structured approach to integrating AI tools into assessments whilst supporting language development and maintaining academic integrity. What's particularly clever about the EAP-AIAS is its five-level system, ranging from ‘No AI Use’ to ‘Selective AI Integration for Advanced Skills’, which provides clear guidelines for appropriate GenAI use in various EAP tasks. The authors explore practical applications across different assessment types, making this incredibly relevant for EAP practitioners. If you're grappling with how to ethically and effectively incorporate AI in language education, this paper is a must-read.
  🔗 PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2408.01075

And… That’s a Wrap!

Thanks for your support and for coming along on my AI journey.

I appreciate you reading the newsletter, sharing it with friends and colleagues, and the lovely messages and AI recommendations I receive from readers !
🤗 🤗 🤗 

Take care and chat soon,

Bron