Following two days of outstanding presentations and engaging discussions, we finally arrived at the last day of MoodleMoot Global 2023. With over 700 participants joining from 56 countries and more than 100 speakers from 24 countries, the event has truly become a global gathering of educators, innovators, and Moodle enthusiasts!
Rediscovering the potential of AI in eLearning
The morning of Day 3 at MoodleMoot Global 2023 began with a panel discussion exploring the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education and workplace learning. The session, titled ‘How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Education and the Workplace’, was hosted by Brett Dalto, the Head of Education Solutions at Moodle HQ.
The discussion featured a lineup of experts, including Heikki Wilenius from the University of Helsinki, Elizabeth Dalton from IntelliBoard, Rajnish Kumar from Verificient, Tim Hunt from The Open University UK, and Meghan Mencer of Harnessing Your Potential.
Brett posed three questions to the panel: Are our educational institutions equipped or prepared to address potential AI? How will regulating AI impact the Education industry? How will AI have the greatest positive impact on education?
The panellists offered intriguing opinions, and some provided contradicting views that provided new perspectives on the topic. Discussing bias in AI, Elizabeth Dalton from IntelliBoard suggested that to make AI unbiased, we need to broaden our data sources to be inclusive of all demographics. Conversely, Rajnish Kumar from Verificient argued that rather than focusing on whether AI is biased, we should consider the intention behind building an AI system.
The panellists also raised thought-provoking questions. For instance, Tim Hunt from The Open University UK questioned whether we understand the implications of AI well enough to draft effective legislation. The discussion also touched on how current and future generations will adapt to the growing impact of AI in society. Heikki Wilenius from the University of Helsinki proposed that to adapt to new technology, we must commit to understanding and accepting how it functions.
After a refreshing coffee break, the morning sessions continued with diverse topics, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of Moodle and educational technology.
One notable presentation was ‘In Fair Models We Trust: Introducing a Plugin for Auditing Moodle Learning Analytics Models’ by Linda Fernsel from the University of Applied Sciences (HTW), Berlin. She addressed the issue of fairness in machine learning models and introduced a Moodle plugin designed to audit the fairness of learning analytics models. This innovative approach enhanced trust in AI-integrated systems, ultimately benefiting learners.
Another captivating session was ‘Implementing the Moodle Roadmap Plug-in to Support Blended and Flipped Learning’ by Yan Shen and Stephen Bader from NC State University. They showcased a roadmap plugin designed to facilitate blended and flipped learning, offering instructors a visual structure for course organisation and students a clear path to track their progress.
Tore Høgås and Audun Jørstad Lillekjendlie from the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training, presented the topic of ‘AI-assisted QA of Moodle Translations’. They addressed the challenge of translation quality assurance. They presented a proof of concept for an AI-assisted translation QA tool, highlighting its potential to improve the quality of Moodle translations and streamline the revision process.
The exploration of lifelong learning continued during the day
During the latter half of Day 3, the conference continued to be an enriching experience, with presentations that further exemplified the event’s focus on innovation and lifelong learning.
Two standout presentations from this part of the conference were ‘Moodle Workplace: Promoting Lifelong Learning for Government Employees’ by Michael Maloney of IBM and ‘An Introduction to AI Opportunities for Moodlers’ by Michelle Lomman from mylearningspace.
Michael Maloney’s talk shed light on the transformative power of Moodle Workplace, particularly in the context of government organisations embracing lifelong learning. His presentation emphasised the importance of leveraging technology to keep pace with advancements in information technologies and training methodologies.
Michelle Lomman’s session explored the intricate world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its relevance to Moodle users. She challenged attendees to critically examine their beliefs and biases surrounding AI, providing valuable insights on separating AI hype from reality. Her presentation offered a roadmap for educators and learners to navigate the AI landscape effectively and integrate it meaningfully into their Moodle-based educational experiences.
And that’s a wrap!
MoodleMoot Global 2023 came to an end, after three days packed with engaging presentations, networking opportunities, a music jam night, and the Moodle party! During the closing session, we announced the winner of the best ‘80s outfit and the award went to Yasuko Aoki and Chie Tsukamoto from e.learning, for their interpretation of the iconic characters, Mario and Luigi.
Reflecting on the event, we not only gained invaluable knowledge but our community also had a fantastic time forging new connections, and were deeply engaged throughout. We are also super excited to announce that MoodleMoot Global will return next year, and it will be held in Mexico!