The Vice-Chancellor of Miva Open University, Abuja, Professor Tayo Oladiran Arulogun has underscored the importance of artificial intelligence and data to apprise policy interventions that would promote sustainable development in open distance learning education.
He stated this at the 3rd pre-Colloquium Workshop organized by the Distance Learning Institute, University of Lagos on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall, UNILAG.
The workshop which served as the curtain raiser to the institute’s 3rd International Colloquium provided a platform for leading scholars and practitioners in open distance learning (ODL) to discuss critical issues of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria’s education sector.
With the theme:Artificial Intelligence in Open Flexible & Distance Learning: Navigating Ethical and Legal Frontiers, Professor Arulogun provided insights into the use of technology to enhance planning, support teaching, and improve assessment.
While identifying the immense potential benefits of AI to support students’ learning experiences and teachers’ practices, the Professor of Computer Engineering also stressed the ethical and legal implications of ethical considerations in AI-driven education.
According to Prof. Arulogun, the 5C’s of data ethics which are consent, clarity, consistency, control and consequence could serve as a framework for navigating the complex landscape of AI in Nigeria.
His words, “teachers can use assistive technology to aid the grading of students work. However, these programs do not currently apply to higher-level thinking and analysis skills. The ethical implications of allowing a computer to grade an assignment in which critical thinking is necessary are much greater, given the subjectivity of most written responses, particularly as teachers are responsible for ensuring fair and equal treatment of all learners”.
Participants at the workshop engaged in lively discussions as well as shared insights and experiences on ways to enhance capacities and to protect human rights for effective human-machine collaboration in life, learning and work for sustainable development.
The workshop which also featured a question and answer session concluded with a call to action, encouraging stakeholders to work together to implement the recommendations and strategies discussed during the event.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Ayo Oloyede
