The 8th Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference was held at CUT under the theme, ‘SoTL and transformation: Responding to changes in educational policies, curricula, and pedagogies in Higher Education’.

The Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) hosted their 8th Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference under the theme, ‘SoTL and transformation: Responding to changes in educational policies, curricula, and pedagogies in Higher Education’.

The conference is an engaging platform offering the opportunity to exchange innovative ideas and practices in teaching and learning. The conference represents an opportunity to engage with like-minded academics, researchers, and practitioners in merging existing learning challenges within the Higher Education sector. 

CUT Acting Deputy-Vice Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Prof. Sam Mashele, expressed that higher education is facing a disorienting dilemma. “When we look at higher education today, we face several challenges. We are aware of artificial intelligence and so many other things, so when you stand in front of the class, a student can fact-check you right then. They have that resource in their hands, and the question then becomes what the role of the professor and the lecturer is in higher education. Things have changed, and we’ve got to interrogate and investigate teaching and learning.  

Dr Trudy Sutherland from the Vaal University of Technology delivered a keynote address titled: ‘Unleashing the Power of AI: Transforming Education for Quality Learning, Assessment and Sustainability’. She said AI can potentially enhance teaching, learning, and assessment while promoting sustainability. “Responsible AI integration can lead to more effective and equitable educational systems that prepare students for a sustainable future. The Integration of AI in education holds great promise. It enables personalised learning, adapts teaching methods, and provides timely student support, promoting inclusivity and catering to diverse learning needs. Ethical considerations and equity must guide AI Integration in education. Ensuring fair access and addressing biases are essential. Professional development for educators is crucial to leverage Al effectively,” said Dr Sutherland.

Prof. Micheal van Wyk from the University of South Africa deliberated on ‘Generative-AI in Education: From a critical perspective lens, how are we addressing ethically “ChatGPT” as the robot in the cloud’.  She  said that academics should embrace today's educational Al systems judiciously and use them to learn as much as possible about Al. “Remember that today's Al is merely the start. The future is using Al to build the intelligence infrastructure to reform how we value our own human intelligence radically. But with the hype of ChatGPT over the past 12 months, three major issues about the "chatbot in the cloud" must be addressed. Firstly, Scientific integrity and empirically sound evidence ChatGPT and other LIMs are in infancy; secondly, ethical considerations such as privacy and data security and the lack of transparency; and lastly, quality assurance of the product being used,” she said.

Prof. Elizabeth Ivy Smit from the North-West University focused on ‘SoTL and Transformation: Responding to changes in Educational Policies, Curricula and Pedagogies in Higher Education’, which recommended focusing on motivation for both students and lecturers, support for academics regarding time and resources, recognition, and the mandatory aspects (DHET, Faculties, Schools, Programme through KPA/KPI, incentives, accelerated technological support, social justice, and ethical issues). 

The two-day conference saw academics come together to explore the latest research findings, best practices, and transformative approaches in pedagogy for student learning to inspire and build communities of practice in response to student learning needs.