Upcoming Events
Best Practices in Teaching & Learning II: How to Teach Skills in an Uncertain World: Preparing Students for the Future
Date and Time: Tuesday, April 15th, at 12:30 p.m. via Zoom
We invite you to the forthcoming “Best Practices in Teaching & Learning II: How to Teach Skills in an Uncertain World: Preparing Students for the Future” seminar. It will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, April 15th, at 12:30 p.m. Dr. Yiğit Acar, Bilkent Distinguished Teaching Award Winner of 2024 will be our speaker.
Abstract:
Teaching tacit knowledge, particularly in contexts that require divergent thinking skills—such as design thinking—is especially challenging. Beyond the inherent difficulty of teaching a skill that is difficult to codify, the ever-evolving professional and technological landscape continues to add new layers of complexity. With the shifting conditions of the global job market and the rise of emerging technologies that challenge all forms of intellectual work, it is essential to reflect on our teaching practices—both in terms of content and delivery methods. Through examples and shared experiences from design studios, this talk will explore methods and strategies for teaching skills in an increasingly uncertain world.
About the speaker:
Dr. Yiğit Acar, a Ph.D. graduate from Middle East Technical University, is a scholar specializing in digital humanities, architecture, and urbanism. His research interests encompass urban design, theory, data mining, artificial intelligence, and visualization. He has a number of entries and prizes in architectural and urban design competitions. Currently a Lecturer at Bilkent University, he teaches architectural design studios, digital media, drawing, presentation techniques, and history courses. In 2024, he was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award at Bilkent University in recognition of his contributions to education.
Zoom information:
https://zoom.us/j/96475184541?pwd=TJFSebzaqtUWVxEHt5bcM2KhMkSF8E.1
Meeting ID: 964 7518 4541
Passcode: 334780
AI in Education: From Stochastic Parrots to Synergistic Partners
Date and Time: Friday, April 18th, from 11:00-12:30 at C Block Amphitheatre
We invite you to the forthcoming “AI in Education: From Stochastic Parrots to Synergistic Partners” seminar by Prof. Dr. Mutlu Çukurova. The seminar is scheduled for the 18th of April, from 11:00-12:30 at C Block Amphitheatre. We recommend bringing a laptop or tablet for the last part of the seminar.
Abstract: This talk explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on its multifaceted conceptualisations as tools, cognitive models, and agents of human-AI hybrid intelligence. Highlighting recent advancements in generative AI, the talk critically examines its promise and limitations in supporting both student learning and teacher practices. While AI presents some opportunities for task automation and learning-enhancement, it also raises critical concerns regarding human agency, ethical considerations, and systemic inequalities in education. Drawing on decades of research in AI and education, the talk emphasises the need to move beyond narrow applications of AI for productivity gains. Instead, it advocates for AI systems that augment human competence, foster lifelong learning skills, and align with broader societal values. Using examples from his own work on multimodal learning analytics and human-centred AI, Prof. Cukurova underscores the importance of designing educational systems that embed AI within intentional, evidence-informed, and human-centred pedagogical frameworks.
Speaker: Mutlu Cukurova is a Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence at University College London. Prof. Cukurova investigates human-AI complementarity in education, aiming to address the pressing socio-educational challenge of preparing people for a future with AI systems that will require a great deal more than the routine cognitive skills currently prized by many education systems and traditional approaches to automation with AI. He directs the UCLAIT team and leads the Design and Use of AI in Education course at UCL. In addition, he is engaged in policy-making activities as an external expert (including UNESCO, IAEA, and EU external expert groups and co-authored the UNESCO AI Competency Framework for Teachers). He was the programme co-chair of the International Conference of AI in Education in 2020 and CSEDU in 2022, is part of UCL’s Grand Challenges on Transformative Technologies group, named in Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists List, Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Educational Technology and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction
BTLSC Fall Semester Events for Faculty (scheduled)
8 May: Mindfulness