NYC Gazette

In November, Aaron Ross and John Vivolo from Katz School led a workshop titled "Beyond Jarvis: Unleashing the Power of Generative AI" at the Online Learning Consortium Accelerate 2024 conference in Orlando. The event explored the transformative potential of generative AI in higher education.

Generative AI, which can produce text, images, and other content, is seen as both an opportunity and a challenge for educational institutions. It raises questions about ethics, privacy, and its role in teaching.

A key feature of the workshop was a practical exercise where participants created AI personas. These fictional profiles simulate real-world scenarios to enhance communication and problem-solving in academic settings. The process involved defining persona purposes, establishing key dimensions like motivations and challenges, and refining them through feedback.

Participants engaged in a role-playing exercise with "Dr. Robert 'Bob' Stanton," a fictional professor resistant to online learning. This demonstrated how AI personas could help address underlying motivations behind resistance to new methods.

Ross explained that the exercise aimed to show how personas can facilitate understanding of reluctant users by simulating interactions and testing strategies. He highlighted plans for further presentations on using AI personas in nursing education to teach empathy through simulated patient interactions.

Vivolo introduced the concept of digital instructional designers—AI assistants handling repetitive tasks so human designers can focus on more complex responsibilities like faculty mentorship.

The workshop also discussed ethical concerns regarding generative AI, such as creating digital versions of people for practice or negotiation without their consent. Vivolo emphasized the need for policies ensuring responsible use of these tools.

Ross and Vivolo conveyed that generative AI should be viewed not just as an efficiency tool but as a catalyst for creativity and meaningful interaction. Their presentation won the Best-in-Track award at the conference, leading to an invitation to present again in March.

"The use of AI in higher education, including ethical uses, is hotly debated," said Vivolo. "Luckily, the online learning industry has embraced this potential."

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