Presenting NZ Research at UNESCO Digital Learning Week 2024

Digital Learning Week is UNESCO's annual flagship event on ⁠digital learning and the transformation of education. The event brings together digital education leaders, policy-makers, researchers and practitioners from a variety of organisations, including UN agencies, governments, NGOs and the private sector in order to steer technology for education.

Nathalie presented at a breakout session on "The Design and Use of (Gen)AI to Serve Marginalized Groups”. Discussions in the breakout session raised awareness of AI’s role in promoting educational equity globally.

Her presentation was well received and helped increase visibility for New Zealand's approach to addressing educational inequities through AI.

Nathalie’s project developed equity-centric prompts using ChatGPT to create tailored communication strategies for first-year commerce students at the University of Otago.

There were two phases to the project – the planning phase and the execution phase.

The planning phase involved identifying the specific challenges faced by Māori and Pasifika students, including their need for culturally responsive teaching methods and enhanced communication strategies. By engineering AI prompts aligned with these needs, the project sought to enhance engagement and reduce anxiety around academic expectations.

During the execution phase, the AI-generated prompts were integrated into various communications, such as assignment instructions and emails. The initiative was designed to be ongoing, with data collected across the academic year to evaluate effectiveness

There was a significant increase in student engagement, particularly among Māori and Pasifika students, who reported feeling more supported in their transition to university life.

Student feedback indicated a reduction in anxiety regarding assignments, as AI-enhanced instructions were clearer and more culturally responsive.

Initial data showed an improvement in academic performance among underrepresented groups, narrowing the performance gap with other students.

During her time at UNESCO’s Digital Learning week Nathalie established connections with global experts at UNESCO’s Unit for Technology and AI, and other institutions. She also initiated potential cross-institutional research and collaboration on AI-driven educational inclusion.