Author: PM

The LEADER-AI Project: Interactive eLearning platform and digital resources –  July 2024

We are excited to announce the successful conclusion of the development phase of our groundbreaking Interactive eLearning platform. Set to enter the alpha and beta testing phase in July, this platform promises to be a “one-stop-shop” for higher education (HE) staff, providing them with instant access to a comprehensive suite of resources.

The Interactive eLearning platform is designed with specific objectives to enhance the digital teaching and learning experience in higher education. Key features of the platform include:

• Interactive Toolkit: A versatile resource offering practical digital teaching and learning materials that HE staff can access anytime, anywhere.
• Self-Paced MOOC: A massive open online course allowing HE staff to learn at their own pace, building their pedagogical and digital competencies.
• AI-Based and Analytics Tools Demonstrations: A custom section showcasing the practical application of AI and analytics tools to personalize teaching and learning.
• Virtual Community: A space for HE staffs to share knowledge, engage in discussions, and support each other’s professional growth.

The goal is to empower HE staff with the tools and knowledge they need to enhance their teaching practices through the effective use of digital and AI-based resources. The upcoming alpha and beta testing phases are crucial steps in refining the platform to meet the needs of our users.The platform’s specific objectives are designed to address the evolving challenges in higher education by:

• Equipping HE staff with a collection of hands-on digital teaching and learning materials accessible anytime, anywhere.
• Demonstrating the usage of AI-based and analytics tools for personalized teaching and learning purposes.
• Building HE staff’s pedagogical and digital competences, enabling them to personalize their courses using selected AI-based and analytics tools.
• Allowing HE staff to participate in a virtual community for knowledge sharing, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.

The LEADER-AI Project: The development of the LeaderAI MOOC platform is progressing well! – June 2024

The LeaderAI MOOC platform is growing day by day, once that new interactive and attractive resources are addedd! Soon, the platform will be finalised and access will be given to all interested users!

The LeaderAI platform represents an eLearning environment that will host relevant educational rersources, to be accessed by the target groups and interested stakeholders. The platform will also act as a “live demonstration” of selected AI-based and analytics tools identified and verified by the consortium members and used by the partnership in the LeaderAI Toolkit and Scenario-based training;

The LEADER AI Toolkit will be turned into a digital and interactive format, as an “on-the-go” learning tool, that will be provided through the MOOC platform.

The LeaderAI MOOC will be a 2-week self-paced course, tailored to support HE faculty to learn how to personalise their courses using AI-based and analytics tools.

Interested individuals will can freely register without specific entrance prerequisites. They will can begin whenever they want and follow at their own pace and learning needs. This way, the platform will support “learning on the go” while being a means of disseminating the project. The authenticity of the material, namely the interactive scenarios, the in-action demonstration of tools, the tutorial will benefit both teachers and subsequently students’ experiences. The primary goal is to create an open and participatory space. This is one of the first eLearning spaces and MOOCs that will have a clear focus on educational applications of AI tools and analytics in HE. Successful use of the MOOC will allow HE providers and their staff to acquire the skills and competences they need for improving their teaching.

Stay tuned for the launching of the LeaderAI MOOC platform that will come soon!

Are you interested to learn more about our project’s pogress?

If so, check out our 3rd LEADERAI Newsletter with updates about the latest developments, including our progress for the eLearning Platform and MOOC!

A brief overview of our latest meeting is also included, with a dive into our upcoming actions and activities.

The LEADER-AI Project: Designing educational resources for the LeaderAI MOOC platform – May 2024

The LeaderAI consortium progresses with the implementation of the project activities and currently works on developing relevant and impactful digital educational resources for HE, staffs, that will be included in its interactive eLearning platform. The MOOC platform is meant to HE teachers and it is designed to provide digital resources as a one-stop-shop and live demonstration of digital tools. Through the LeaderAI platform but also through the other project results (the LeaderAI Toolkit and the scenario-based course), the end-users will be able to have a greater understanding of the uses of data-driven and AI-based approaches for personalised learning. Faculty and learning designers will have improved competencies towards the integration of data visualisation and AI-based tools for personalised instruction and an improved capacity to personalise teaching, assessment, and support through evidence-based decisions. This way, it will be possible to improve the quality and relevance of teaching and learning in HE through personalisation and flexibility, increase the understanding of the ethical usage of data-driven approaches in HE and increase the competitiveness of the EU HE sector.

The eLearning platform will provide full suite of teaching and learning material, gamified and scenario-based, with tutorials, in-action demos and job aids for HE faculty and staff to use anytime and access from anywhere.

The educational digital resources for the MOOC platform are grouped under 6 training modules:

• M1: Introduction to digital personalisation
• M2: Using AI-based tools for personalised teaching and learning 
• M3: Using learning analytics and data visualisation tools for personalised teaching and learning
• M4: Ethical issues when using AI-based tools and LA 
• M5: Personalised assessment with AI-based 
• M6: Design and implementation of personalised instruction

Each module will contain three lessons, and for each lesson an introductory video, a PPT and an assessment quiz will be included.

The LEADER-AI Project: LEAarning analytics and AI for personaliseD lEaRning – April 2024

Implementation of the LeaderAI training course for HE teachers

After nine different real-case scenarios have been developed for diverse fields/disciplines in HEIs, regarding hands-on opportunities for HE teaching staff to learn how to personalise their instruction through open source/freeware AI-based and data visualisation tools that do not require highly specialised computer skills such as programming,  and after the Train-the-Trainer activity was implemented in March with two different trainers from each partner university, in April 2024 the LeaderAI consortium started implementing a 16-hour training course addressed to HE teachers. The trainers in this course were the persons who previously completed the Train-the-Trainer activity. They taught peer teachers from their universities on how to efficiently use the AI-based tools to personalise the learning of their students, by using the nine LeaderAI real-case scenarios. This training course envisaged the following specific objectives:

• develop HE teaching staffs’ pedagogic and digital skills on how to use selected AI-based and data visualisation tools for personalised teaching and support
• prepare educators to adopt and adapt the project resources in their course practices
• raise awareness on the ethical implications of using AI-based and analytics tools for teaching and learning

The course was implemented in a blended learning approach, with duration of 3-4 days, according to participants availability. Over 120 HE teachers have completed the course in the partner countries: Cyprus, Greece, Estonia, Romania and Portugal. The combination of face-to-face and online activities, and the instructor-led delivery method complemented with self-learning activities, proved to be successful, as the feedback from participants was highly positive. Pre/post-tests have been administered to participants, based on which how their perception and confidence on using AI-based tools to personalise learning has changed, could be measured and analysed. Currently, the universities members of the LeaderAI consortium are preparing training reports, which will provide more in-depth image on the training itself and on its acquired results.

The LEADER-AI Project: Piloting of the scenario-based training – March 2024

All the training session materials are based on a real-life scenario in the HE context, including the use of learning analytics, science-of-learning strategies, the engagement of learners, supervising research, and so on.  The training session materials can be studied online and in blended mode, with an average of 12 hours of training about the use of generative AI and AI-supported tools to enhance personalization of learning.

All the training session materials are based on a real-life scenario in the HE context, including the use of learning analytics, science-of-learning strategies, the engagement of learners, supervising research, and so on.  The training session materials can be studied online and in blended mode, with an average of 16 hours of training about the use of generative AI and AI-supported tools to enhance personalization of learning. 

The LEADER-AI Project: Scenario-based training materials – February 2024

The partners have been busy developing eight different training materials on the topic of AI-use for personalization. The English training materials are being translated into all partner languages – Portuguese, Greek, Romanian, and Estonian—enabling their dissemination and use at local universities. The English version will be used at the online Train the Trainer workshop, where two staff members of each participating university will receive training that will prepare them for dissemination of the project outputs. All participants are expected to carry out training sessions at their institutions and train around 20 members of staff on the topics of ethical use of data-driven decision-making and artificial intelligence supported teaching practices.  

All the training session materials are based on a real-life scenario in the HE context, including the use of learning analytics, science-of-learning strategies, the engagement of learners, supervising research, and so on.  The training session materials can be studied online and in blended mode, with an average of 12 hours of training about the use of generative AI and AI-supported tools to enhance personalization of learning.

The LEADER-AI Project: LEAarning analytics and AI for personaliseD lEaRning – January 2024

We are excited to announce the release of our Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Toolkit. The toolkit has been published in five languages – English, Portuguese, Greek, Romanian and Estonian, enabling institutions around the world to harness the power of data-driven insights and artificial intelligence to enhance the educational experience. The toolkit is open access to all higher education institutions interested in understanding the experiences of the partner countries in learning analytics and AI implementation to provide personalised learning solutions.  

                                                          Access toolkit 

Toolkit is equipped with definitions of online/blended learning, personalised learning, learning analytics, educational data mining, and artificial intelligence, along with the role of these advanced technologies in education, their challenges, and their benefits. Having the definitions outlined early on sets a common ground for the Toolkit use; it allows all readers and users to be on the same page and catch up regardless of their current knowledge level. In addition, the Toolkit outlines the ethical issues concerning the use of these emerging technologies (e.g., accountability and responsibility). 

Toolkit includes examples of AI and learning analytics use in teaching and learning practices, quick tips to integrate emerging technologies and also feedback and reflection materials to enable more meaningful integration of the different tools. Find more information about the toolkit on the link above and about the project below.

A new set of promotional materials has been launched!

Our LEADER AI brochure, leaflet and poster are informative guides for those interested in grasping the key aspects of the project.

You can download them in English directly from here.

• LEADERAI_Brochure
• LEADERAI_Poster
• LEADERAI_Leaflet

Are you interested to learn more about our project’s pogress?

If so, check out our 2nd LEADERAI Newsletter with updates about the latest developments, including the first major deliverable: the Toolkit!

A brief overview of our latest meetings is also included, with a dive into our upcoming actions and activities.