Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor, University of Greenwich tells Studiosity Academic Advisory Board member, Professor Cliff Allan why the University, known as early adopters, signed a three year deal for all of their students to receive access to immediate academic writing feedback via Studiosity’s AI-for-learning technology.
Watch the full video here >> [22:55]
Increased access for a diverse student body
"Our students are broad in every sense. We have a lot of mature students, we have a lot of students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, we have a huge number of the first generation. Now nearly 65% of our students are commuter students, and so what comes with that is they often have caring commitments. They almost all have to work outside. We also have an increasing number of students who come from care leaver backgrounds as well and are estranged from their families. So for what Studiosity does for them, is it actually helps to level the field. So it helps them in terms of English language, grammar sentence construction, and then enables them to focus on what they should be focusing on, which subject knowledge and learning. I always had a frustration that students could be fantastic, but they just didn't have those some of those basic skills and therefore they were marked down constantly for that and you never saw their potential. So for me, this is about how do you actually free them up? and I think Studiosity is one of the tools that helps us with that. To frame, to actually optimise where they need to be".
Uses AI in an ethical way
"We've had a policy around AI for a while, which has been very explicitly about using it ethically, and so this is part of that. And I think over the next few years, we're all going to have to develop and adopt that because actually AI is here to stay, isn't it? So it's how we actually get up to get up to speed but also help them [students] to use it appropriately and understand that. And I think Studiosity can play a big role in it for us".
Increases students confidence
"Often our students lack confidence. And so actually, for them to have a human interaction is one step sometimes too far initially. They say that they're nervous that they'll be found out or someone will think they shouldn't be studying or they just lack that confidence. So I think the AI tool enables them to do something in what feels for them like a very safe space."
Enhances the student experience
"I am looking for something that offers a quality solution. I don't think Studiosity is a cheap service, but it does provide quality for actually that part of a student's life which they need to take into the workplace, which is the skill of writing to a high standard. And you know, they'll have to do that whatever job they have. And it's and as I said, we can do it internally, but we can't do it on the scale, we can't do the turnaround times and it just wouldn't be realistic. So for me it's about actually where it's worthwhile doing is where you've got the relationship that the students use Studiosity, their academic outcomes, and the quality of what they're getting, and that now with AI, that whole understanding of ethical AI, which I think is essential for them. It's those things that actually that's the value that bring the value of providing it. As we hit an environment that is much more challenging financially, I'm interested in what adds to our students' experience. So there's lots of things that we should stop doing, but actually what we can't stop doing is trying to actually ensure our students have the best possible experience, because I think the worst thing that could happen is you have a difficult financial environment and all the things we've done to improve access, to improve outcomes disappears. And that's what I'm absolutely determined won't happen".
Improves students’ work
"The main thing that staff do report is, that they've seen students' work improve. So of course when they see that, they feel much more confident about the tool. Also, I think the other thing is where you get [from tools generally] is some pushback where staff feel it conflicts with what they're trying to do, whereas they don't feel Studiosity does. They think the role of them as educators and Studiosity actually compliment, not conflict. I think the best example we've got, is where it's actually used as part of the curriculum. So it's not an add on, it's not something that's suggested you go and do, but it's actually part of your core curriculum. And where we've seen that work, without a doubt, that's having the biggest impact".
Supports retention initiatives
"We draw on quite a lot of data [via the Studiosity portal]. We certainly draw on it to actually try and highlight students that are at risk and that might be at risk of failing or at risk of dropping out. And we use this alongside some work that Student Union does with us to actually speak to those students and check-in. So it is part of that package."
Watch the full video here >> [22:55]
Thank you to Professor Jane Harrington.
You can read more about the University's positive student outcomes in the University of Greenwich case study.
