The VAIA webinar on evaluation and learning in the AI era is now available to watch back

On 30 September, our CEO and Co-founder Pascal Mariany gave a webinar for VAIA, the Flemish AI Academy. Together with Marieke van Osch from EduAI and EduApp, he spoke about assessment and learning in the AI era. The recordings and slides are now available online, so you can watch everything back at your leisure.

The webinar is part of the series Between Prompt and Practice, a collaboration between VAIA and the Flemish Department of Education & Training. Lisa Hilte from VAIA moderated the session.

Critical Thinking in an Age of AI

Pupils are already using AI, both at home and in the classroom. The question is therefore no longer whether AI will enter education, but who will have control over the learning process. In his presentation, Pascal shows how you can train critical thinking with AI, and what this means for assessment and testing in primary and secondary education.

No hunt for AI detection, but rather forms of assessment in which pupils learn to justify their choices and their thought process remains visible. Pascal explains this using the HEAR model from his book The Art of Living Together with AI, with a framework for the teacher and one for the pupil.

In the demos, you see EduGPT in action. First, the standard companion EduGPT Pupil, which does not do the work for a lazy question but first encourages the pupil to think for themselves. Then, two companions that a teacher without technical knowledge can design themselves. A thinking companion for reading in year 4, and a geography practice companion for year 6 secondary, which asks questions about the pupil’s own learning material and provides feedback with source references.

The Sense and Nonsense of AI Detection Tools

Marieke van Osch is an educationalist and founder of EduApp, a steward-owned collective of schools that shares knowledge about the use of AI in education. She zooms in on the pros and cons of AI detection tools, and shows which other ways there are to make tests and assignments more resilient to AI.

Think of good agreements in advance and assignments that do not automatically invite AI use. Finally, Marieke demonstrates the AI-check, a tool from EduApp that helps teachers work on the AI-resilience of their tests and assignments.

Two Perspectives, One Direction

What struck us is how well the two presentations complement each other. Detection alone will not get you far. It is about the design of education and assessment, in which the teacher remains in control and the pupil’s thought process becomes visible.

Especially in an age of AI, that is the core. AI can support learning, but the teacher’s judgement remains paramount.

Slides and Full Recording

• Slides Critical Thinking in an Age of AI, Pascal Mariany (PDF)

• Slides The Sense and Nonsense of AI Detection Tools in Education, Marieke van Osch (PDF)

• Full recording with moderation and questions from the audience

• Webinar page on vaia.be

Get Started Yourself

Would you like to design a companion with your team that asks questions instead of giving answers? Or would you like to explore together what assessment and testing could look like for you in an age of AI? Visit edugpt.nl or contact us. We are happy to think along with you.

Thanks to Lisa Hilte and the VAIA team for the invitation and excellent organisation, and to Marieke for a presentation that fitted so well. And thanks to all the teachers and education professionals who watched and asked questions.

Image from the VAIA webinar recording, Flemish AI Academy