Innovative Educator Series - The One Where AI supports Learning
This session explores how AI tools in Blackboard — including the AI Design Assistant, Anthology Virtual Assistant (AVA), and conversational AI are shaping course design, student support, and assessment.
Speakers
Ciska Snyman, Senior Instructional Designer, University of Pretoria
Lucinda Kok - Lecturer in Private Law, University of Pretoria
Avinash Singh - Lecturer in Computer Science, University of Pretoria
Student–AI Conversations Through a Critical Thinking Lens
Critical thinking is a core skill in higher education, yet it often remains hidden in students’ thought processes rather than visible in their work. This session explores how student–AI conversations in clickUP Ultra (Blackboard Ultra) can make these processes observable and provide educators with new ways to support learning. Drawing on evidence from a second-year law module, we analyse anonymised student interactions with an AI persona (“Lexi”) to trace markers of critical thinking such as clarifying concepts, probing for justification, and evaluating responses. The findings reveal both deep engagement and surface-level use, highlighting opportunities and risks when integrating AI into teaching and assessment.
Key Takeaways
- Discover how AI-mediated conversations can act as formative artefacts of critical thinking.
- Learn practical strategies to design AI-supported tasks that promote questioning, evaluation, and reflection.
- Gain insights into how digital tools can be used intentionally to strengthen higher-order thinking in diverse learning contexts.