Background
The rapid emergence of GenAI necessitated resources to guide students and researchers in its academic use. In response to growing demand from Charles Sturt academics, university librarians developed an Open Education Resource (OER) titled "Using AI tools at university." This project and the resultant OER aims to equip students and researchers with knowledge and skills to utilise AI tools, productively, ethically and responsibly, thus democratising AI literacy. Given the dispersed nature of our regional campuses and high percentage of online students, OER proved ideal, offering adaptability and accessibility to anyone with internet access at no cost (Banker & Manning, 2023).
Aims
The primary aim was to develop and implement an OER promoting AI literacy among university students and researchers. OER rethinks the way we provide learning resources, ensuring equitable, simultaneous and efficient access for all students, regardless of location (Adil et al., 2024), which is crucial for our regionally based university. Objectives:
*Providing comprehensive information and activities on AI tools, applications, and ethical considerations.
*Enhancing equitable access to educational resources.
*Supporting academics in integrating AI literacy into their curricula.
Methods
OER development involved:
*Assessing needs by collaborating with academics and conducting an environmental scan of existing resources.
*Using Pressbooks to host the OER, allowing for future integration with Brightspace.
*Developing modules covering AI tools, applications, and ethical considerations plus incorporating engagement through interactive media such as H5P.
Results
Published, February 2024, "Using AI tools at university" (https://opentext.csu.edu.au/usingai/) has earned 1074 visitors and 4077 page views this year. It was also adapted into OER modules for students, already successfully used within a subject and as a supporting resource for an information literacy class. Feedback from the class was positive, highlighting the usefulness of the AI tutorial and OER and showed student engagement.
Discussion
Research indicates that OER enhances student learning and provides equal access to educational resources (Adil et al., 2024). OER can be continuously updated, crucial given rapid AI advancements. This is particularly important for regional students who may face challenges with traditional publishing models, as OER offers valuable resources ensuring equitable access regardless of location or socioeconomic status.
Conclusion
"Using AI tools at university" empowers students, including those in regional areas, to engage with AI tools effectively. By covering critical topics such as algorithmic literacy, bias, and effective prompt engineering, the resource addresses potential digital divides in AI literacy. Our ongoing commitment to updating this OER fosters responsible AI use and prepares students for the evolving digital landscape, demonstrating the potential of OER in democratising access to cutting-edge educational content.
References
Adil, H. M., Ali, S., Sultan, M., Ashiq, M., & Rafiq, M. (2024). Open Education Resources’ benefits and challenges in the academic world: A systematic review. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 73(3), 274-291. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-02-2022-0049
Banker, D.A., & Manning, D.K. (2023). Open Educational Resources: The promise, practice, and Problems in tertiary and post-secondary education. In J. Olivier & A. Rambow (Eds.), Open Educational Resources in Higher Education. Future Education and Learning Spaces (pp.55-76). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8590-4_4
