What an incredible finale to an amazing week at the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Forum! I was deeply honored to share the stage with a powerhouse panel for the closing keynote:
Our session, “Navigating Tomorrow: Exploring the Implications of AI in Higher Education,” grappled with the profound ways artificial intelligence is reshaping our institutions. Each panelist brought a unique lens to the conversation:
Dr. Kofi Nyarko shared insights on working with faculty and staff to allay fears and showcase the potential of AI in teaching and research. His research on the equitable development and use of AI was particularly illuminating. 🎓🔬
Orkun Toros discussed the transformative applications of AI in budgeting and financial workflows, highlighting how it can empower staff to focus on higher-level strategic tasks. 💰🧮
As the Institutional Research perspective, I emphasized a crucial point: as we navigate the AI landscape, we as humans are not on the outskirts – we’re at the center. I referred to the AIR Statement of Ethical Principles, which underscores this idea. 🫵📜
Throughout the conference, I heard the phrase “keeping a human in the loop.” But that implies a circle, with humans on the edge. Instead, I believe we should embrace AIR’s motto: “Working at the intersection of people and data.” The intersection – that’s where we belong. Not as an afterthought, but as the driving force, leveraging AI to amplify our impact. 🧑🤝🧑💻
Beyond our specific domains, we delved into critical ethical considerations, examining issues of bias, privacy, and equity. We explored the societal impacts, both the exciting potential for personalized learning and the challenging questions around workforce disruption. And we discussed how colleges and universities can proactively adapt, building the necessary skills, infrastructure, and policies. 🧠📚
Equally powerful was the engagement from the audience. The thoughtful questions, the shared experiences, the sense of both anticipation and apprehension – it’s clear this is a conversation that matters deeply to our entire community. 🗣️🤝
As I reflect on our panel and the conference as a whole, I’m struck by the spirit of collaboration and the commitment to leveraging technology in service of our students and missions. There’s much work ahead, but I’m energized by the collective wisdom and dedication of the IR community. 💡💪
Thank you, AIR Forum, for an unforgettable experience. And to all my fellow attendees, let’s keep the momentum going! Feel free to connect as we navigate this AI journey together, with humans firmly at the helm. 🚀🌟
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