Democratize access
A tool to explore, rather than to fear: it is the vision put forward in the guide prepared by the national consultation body on artificial intelligence in higher education, which had the mandate to suggest beacons for the use of these new technological tools. The academic world cannot escape the advances of AI, sometimes compared to the advent of the computer or the calculator.
But this tool also represents an opportunity. The guide also encourages establishments to democratize access so that he “benefits everyone”, and not only to “a limited group of technophile specialists”. According to the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, “we must continue to explore her potential and use it carefully as a lever to promote educational success”.
Photo Edouard Plante-Fréchette, the press archives
The Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry
This could however be difficult without additional funding, warns the president of the National Federation of Teachers and Teachers of Quebec, Benoit Lacoursière. Whether it is the implementation of ethics or training committees, “it takes time and resources,” he notes.
Several possible uses
The guide lists several possible uses of artificial intelligence. For teachers: develop exam matters or structure their course plan, for example. For establishment management: optimize administrative tasks or develop a psychosocial conversational agent for students. Its use is encouraged as long as it remains complementary; It cannot replace the staff.
For the National Federation of Quebec teachers, this is the most important aspect. “We believe that we have managed to assert the principles that are important to us, in particular that the human being must remain at the heart of higher education,” says Benoit Lacoursière, who participated in the discussions of the consultation body.
And the students?
For the past two years, teachers have reported a multiplication of plagiarism cases in connection with artificial intelligence. Difficult to prove, they promote a climate of suspicion in class. In this regard, the consultation body underlines that an awareness work on “the importance of respecting intellectual integrity in the AI era is essential, for all members of the community of [l’enseignement supérieur] ».
Should students be allowed to use artificial intelligence in their academic work, as recommended for faculty and establishments? According to the consultation body, the decision should return to each teacher. “A teacher could include the terms plan for the terms according to which the use of AI by students is allowed or not,” notes the guide.
Risks to monitor
The document warns the environment against certain drifts. He insists on the risks in terms of privacy and intellectual property posed by the tools of generative artificial intelligence and recalls that they can sometimes perpetuate stereotypes and biases. It also sensitizes the community of the environmental impact of AI.
A guide expected for months
The guide unveiled on Monday has around thirty pages, and its recommendations are divided according to five guiding principles. The national consultation body on artificial intelligence in higher education has looked into the question since its setting up a year ago. The document, which only makes recommendations, is sent to the entire higher education community, as much to those who teach as well as those who learn.
Teaching establishments are strongly encouraged to draw inspiration from it, even if they have the autonomy of adopting the framework of use that suits them. A second guide providing concrete examples of good practices has also been unveiled, in order to allow the network “to make more enlightened choices”, argued Minister Pascale Déry, in a press release relayed on Monday.