Connecting people from different disciplines and backgrounds — to create new communities and strengthen existing ones — is one of the foundational strengths of the Maple League.
While discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) have become increasingly commonplace within academia, seldomly are Indigenous perspectives included within these conversations apart from being gestured to as one of the many “equity issues” surrounding the use of AI.
Providing a dedicated space for Dalhousie community members to expand their understanding of the intersections of Indigenous knowledge systems and AI, this virtual reading group invites participants to question and consider how AI advancements compliment, challenge, resonate and/or contrast with various Indigenous worldviews, ethics, and epistemologies.
The chosen text for Fall 2024, the Indigenous Protocol (IP) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Position Paper (2020), is the result of collaborative work between Māori, First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Pacific Islanders, and Aboriginal Australians, that recognizes and affirms the diversity of Indigenous views and approaches to generative AI. As described by the authors, “rather than being a single unified statement this position paper is a collection of heterogeneous texts that range from design guidelines to scholarly essays to artworks to descriptions of technology prototypes to poetry.” (2020) Regardless of the discipline your work is situated within, this series aims to offer meaningful opportunities to engage with the complexities of AI and Indigenous knowledge systems. Through a series of facilitated discussions, participants will delve into the diverse perspectives presented in the position paper, critically examining how Indigenous protocols can inform ethical AI development, challenge existing paradigms, and propose alternative approaches.
| Tuesday November 5 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Online via Microsoft Teams |
Come to our virtual drop-in session to connect with a Senior Educational Developer! Ask questions on how to enhance your teaching practices, bounce new ideas off a sounding board, debrief on your teaching experiences, and receive resources to support you on your teaching journey. Some topics you may wish to discuss include, but are not limited to: course design, teaching approaches, active learning, assessment design, managing challenging student behaviour, how to use SLEQ feedback, and the emotional labour of teaching. Join online anytime during the listed times, and stay for as little or as much time as you would like.
To receive the links to the drop-in sessions, please complete the Expression of Interest Form.
Daniella Sieukaran, Senior Educational Developer (Curriculum), Centre for Learning and Teaching
Come join us to celebrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) implementation across Dal through the CLT's UDL Showcase held during Accessibility Week, November 25-29, 2024.
This event allows us to applaud the work instructors, staff, and faculty have done to make their course designs and teaching more inclusive, accessible, flexible, and empowering for students. It’ll be like a conference roundtable or poster session, but broader in scope and more fun!
In the spirit of flexibility, there are multiple ways to participate.
*The in person option has been cancelled.
Great, this is exciting! You can indicate your interest on the registration form or reach out to Les at lestjohnson@dal.ca.
Wednesday, November 27
2-3 p.m.
Link to register for the November Community of Practice
Join us for the November meeting of Dalhousie’s Generative A.I. in Teaching and Learning Community of Practice.
Technologies are not value neutral nor inert; they change us as much as we change them. Langdon Winner, one such philosopher, coined the term “reverse adaptation.” Here he posited that tools and technologies are created so that they can serve us; however, in many instances, it is we who serve even simple tools such as clocks or houses. Ivan Illich suggests there has been a watershed moment for Western cultures in which technology has ceased, in general, to improve human life and now rather detracts from it. He asks if there can be better ways to create and use tools to support human flourishing ("for conviviality"). In this presentation and discussion we will ask the question of whether AI can be a tool for conviviality, and if so, how this may be possible.
Dr. Scott Flemming, P.Eng.
Senior Instructor
Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Industrial Engineering
The aim of the GenA.I. in Teaching and Learning Community of Practice is to create a space for cautious, critical, and open discussion and sharing around using (or not using) generative artificial intelligence in the classroom or in teaching and learning work. We welcome presentations or other organized discussions that showcase use in classrooms; discuss ethical use; describe guiding students in its use/non-use; or brainstorm general implications or consequences for any aspect of teaching, learning or being part of the university.
Anyone is welcome to join the GenA.I. CoP, including instructors, graduate students, staff, and faculty. No expertise in generative A.I. is required. Reach out to eLearning@dal.ca with any questions. If not already a member of the CoP, register for the event to receive information on joining the Teams site. You can also search for “GenA.I. CoP” in Teams to join.
The Dalhousie community can now self-enrol in the Brightspace site. Learn how.
Dalhousie University Centre for Learning and Teaching
Killam Library, Suite G90
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2
(902) 494-1622
Fax: (902) 494-3767
Dalhousie University Centre for Learning and Teaching
Killam Library, Suite G90
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2
(902) 494-1622
Fax: (902) 494-3767
