April 22, 2024 – The Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) recently hosted a momentous event that delved into the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. From April 22nd to 25th, the CITL organized AI Week Spring 2024, a gathering that brought together educators, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the intersection of AI and learning.
The inaugural day of AI Week Spring 2024 commenced with an atmosphere of anticipation and scholarly enthusiasm. Dr. James Griffin, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Affairs and Instruction at AUS, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing AI’s pivotal role in reshaping educational paradigms. This was followed by the launching of the AI HUB, an exclusive knowledge base for everything AI managed by CITL. Dr. David Santandreu Calonge, Acting Director at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), delivered a thought-provoking keynote speech titled “GenAI: Ignore it or Embrace it?”. Dr. Calonge’s address sparked insightful discussions on the ethical and pedagogical implications of Generative AI in higher education. The day concluded with a panel discussion titled “Confronting the Future: Challenges of Generative AI in Higher Ed”, moderated by AUS CAS Professor and Endowed Chair in Education Across Disciplines, Dr. Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics and the Endoweed Chair in Education Across Disciplines at AUS, exploring the opportunities and challenges of integrating Generative AI in educational contexts. Among the panelists were Dr. Michel Pasquier, Professor of Practice, Department of Computer Science and Engineering at AUS, Dr. Abrar Abdulnabi, Head of AI at Saal.ai, Ms. Dima Yousef, Learning Designer at MBZUAI, and Mr. Robert Studholme, Lecturer at Amity University, Dubai (AMUD).
Day two of AI Week Spring 2024 immersed participants in practical workshops designed to deepen their understanding and skills in AI integration. Highlights included “Gen AI for Researchers” led by Ms. Fiona Glasgow, Scholarly Communications Librarian at AUS, providing researchers with insights into leveraging AI for scholarly pursuits. Additionally, the workshop “Beyond ChatGPT: Interacting with an AI Professor” led by Mr. Ilya Breyman, Co-founder and CEO of Alma Learning and Ms. Sana Sayed, Senior Instructor, Department of English at AUS offered attendees a glimpse into the future of AI-driven pedagogy. The day concluded with a workshop led by Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ali, Professor of Computer Engineering at AUS, titled “AI as a Catalyst in Education – The Practical Impact of ChatGPT and Gemini in the Academic World”, focusing on tangible applications of AI technologies in educational settings.
The third day of AI Week Spring 2024 explored diverse applications of AI across various domains. Participants engaged in workshops such as “Exploring AI through the Lens of the Casio fx-CG50 Calculator” conducted by Mr. Hamza Aoun, Assistant Manager at Casio, showcasing innovative ways to integrate AI into mathematics education. Mr. Erik Bolinder, Founder of WOKworld Foundation and KlickData, led a workshop on “Accelerated Learning with AI”, highlighting AI-driven strategies to enhance learning outcomes. Additionally, Ms. Nahla ElBanhawy, MEA Business Development Manager at Urbi, hosted a workshop on “How Urbi Empowers AI to Create City Digital Twin & Smart Cities Analytics”, shedding light on the intersection of AI and urban planning.
The final day of AI Week Spring 2024 featured a keynote speech by Mr. Erik Bolinder, Founder of WOKworld Foundation and KlickData, focusing on “Leveraging Interactive AI for Teaching and Learning”. This was followed by a panel discussion titled “Shaping Tomorrow: Strategies & Solutions for Integrating Gen. AI in HE”, moderated by Dr. Jeff Baker, Professor of Information Systems and Business Analytics at AUS. Panelists explored actionable strategies for integrating AI into higher education, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach that prioritizes ethics, accessibility, and innovation. The panelists included Mr. Camilo Cerro, Associate Professor, College of Architecture, Art and Design at AUS, Dr. Jihene Mrabet, Assistant Professor, School of Humanities, Arts and Applied Sciences at AMUD, Ms. Fatima Rihane, Education Business Division Manager at CASIO Middle East and Africa FZE, Mr. Ilya Breman and Dr. Jihan Zahran, Apple Practice Education Specialist at MDS.
Throughout AI Week Spring 2024, attendees had the opportunity to engage with leading industry exhibitors, including Casio, Al Hathboor Bikal.ai, Saal.ai, Klickdata, +twe, Urbi and almalearning.ai. These exhibitors showcased cutting-edge AI technologies and solutions, further highlighting the convergence of academia and industry in driving AI innovation forward.
As AI Week Spring 2024 drew to a close, participants departed with a new commitment to harnessing AI’s transformative potential in education. The event stood as a testament to AUS’s dedication to fostering innovation and excellence in teaching and learning, paving the way for a future where AI and education converge to create boundless opportunities.
