InstructureCon 2023 Highlights
Two members of the FSCJ EdTech team recently attended InstructureCon in Denver, Colorado. Instructure is Canvas’ parent company, but much more than Canvas was featured at this convention. This event brought together educators, educational technology experts, and leaders of various industries to share ideas about the state of technology in education now with a look towards the future. Jody Taylor and Thomas Lewis are excited to share with the FSCJ community their favorite sessions from the convention.
Click here to peruse the recorded sessions from the InstructureCon website.
Jody’s First Pick: How Assessment Practices are Changing in the Age of Generative AI Tools
I attended a very engaging presentation by Gretchen Hanson, Turnitin's Product Manager. Hanson started by highlighting a seismic shift in educators’ concerns. Within merely a year, the topic that most concerned educators changed from “effectively delivering feedback to students” to “preventing student cheating.” Why the sudden shift? You probably already guessed it - generative AI tools like ChatGPT. The advent of ChatGPT in November 2022 has brought about diverse and polarizing reactions - from excitement to utter dread. Turnitin is striving to address educators’ concerns with cheating while also embracing the possibilities for improvements in education.
Hanson continued by noting that Turnitin is not a stranger to AI technologies. She reviewed Turnitin’s history with AI integration as part of their plagiarism detection software that began in 2014. Currently, they are working to integrate AI technology into some of their products and continuing to improve the AI detection tool launched earlier this year to address the concerns educators have about academic integrity.
Even though Turnitin’s AI detection tool is very helpful, it is worth noting that it is not 100% accurate. There are false positives, meaning some student writing will be flagged as written by AI even if it’s not. Hanson addressed this concern by saying that the detection tool is a starting point for a conversation with students.
Hanson offered suggestions on how assessments can be adapted in this AI era. Ideas include integrating oral exams, closely aligning assignments with course materials that students must cite, and incorporating personal reflections. She noted that some educators are incorporating AI into their assessments by asking students to critique AI sources and to evaluate AI writing prompts.
As AI reshapes education, Hanson stressed the importance of collaboration among stakeholders - administrators, educators, parents, and students - as key to fostering a holistic and fair approach to academic misconduct policies revolving around AI usage.
Jody’s Second Pick: Keynote Speaker Arianna Huffington
In a world that glorifies perpetual hustle, Arianna Huffington’s keynote reminded us of the importance of prioritizing well-being and self-care. Like many of us, she once believed that one had to work until exhaustion to be successful, but collapsing from fatigue forced her to reevaluate what it means to lead a productive life. This experience led Huffington to write her books Thrive and The Sleep Revolution. Huffington noted that the research is clear: people are more productive when they get enough rest. Her work as the CEO of Thrive Global aims to establish a cultural shift that places well-being at the forefront.
Huffington says the following five habits can make a big difference in a person’s well-being:
Sleeping enough
Eating better
Having a work/life balance
Moving throughout the day
Managing stress
Huffington says these five habits do not need to be big gestures - small steps make a big difference. Simple breathing exercises are great at reducing stress, we can improve sleep by not taking our phones to bed with us (easier said than done!), and we can move more by parking a little further away. Huffington reminded us that true success extends beyond professional accomplishments.
Thomas’s First Pick: Opening Keynote with Dr. Jordan Nguyen
This Instructurecon keynote featured an engaging session by Dr. Jordan Nguyen, founder of Psykinetic, based in Sydney, Australia. Dr. Nguyen delved into the blend of excitement and apprehension surrounding the future and explored innovative concepts. Notably, he discussed anthropomorphism, attributing human qualities to non-human entities. His presentation highlighted his AI creation SANDRA, an emotional robot capable of expressing anger, and a mind-controlled wheelchair using brain signals and AI for shared control.
Eye control technology and the eye-operated game Kinetic Zero were demonstrated, showcasing the potential of AI. Dr. Nguyen emphasized AI's positive impact on wildlife conservation through security devices. He stressed the importance of prioritizing humanity over technology when addressing AI concerns. Projects like Psykinetic's VR concert "Stargaze" and the documentary "Becoming Superhuman" were highlighted.
Dr. Nguyen's involvement aimed to shift perceptions about AI, presenting it as a force for good rather than a malevolent entity. Instructurecon tapped into his expertise to promote the constructive potential of AI.
Thomas’s Second Pick: Canvas Third-Party Integrations: Evaluating Faculty Needs, Use of Protected Data, and Accessibility
This presentation delves into the important considerations when integrating third-party applications into the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). The speaker represents a sizable institution with a focus on optimizing this integration process while addressing faculty needs, data protection, and accessibility concerns.
The standard for integrating external apps with LMS platforms like Canvas is known as Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI). With over 500 apps available on Eduappcenter for integration, the selection process involves key questions:
Data Access and Handling: What data will the app access and process? How does it manage sensitive or protected data? Is data being resold? Can the institution request data deletion? Liability for data breaches and security measures are critical topics.
Accessibility Inclusion: Inclusivity is a priority when integrating third-party apps. Addressing accessibility needs, such as color blindness, hearing impairments, visual impairments, and motor skill limitations, is vital. Testing on various devices, browsers, and compliance with accessibility standards (VPAT and WCAG) ensures a comprehensive approach.
Privacy Safeguards: Institutions must be cautious with privacy settings to protect user data. Opting for anonymous settings over public ones whenever possible, and restricting or rejecting service admin account access, is recommended. Legal collaboration for data protection agreements, especially regarding FERPA, adds an extra layer of security.
Thorough Testing: Comprehensive testing on different devices, operating systems, web browsers, and the Canvas app is crucial before finalizing any integration. Running a one-year pilot can provide insights into performance and user feedback.
App Limitations and Resources: Understanding the potential limitations of integrated apps is essential. Leveraging resources like 1edtech, which compiles app limitations, and Educause's Hecvat compilation for addressing challenges, can guide institutions.
By evaluating faculty needs, safeguarding user data, and ensuring accessibility standards are met, institutions can make informed decisions about integrating third-party apps into Canvas. This approach leads to an inclusive and secure learning experience for all users.