The acceleration of digital learning is producing new opportunities to understand learning processes. For researchers, two challenges exist. First, the data collected reflects typical class-based approaches to learning, overlooking innovative approaches in distributed and networked learning. Second, the infrastructure for data storage, access, and analysis is often underdeveloped, overlooking new opportunities for cloud based platforms, such as Azure and AWS, to support advanced analytics, including the use of machine learning and AI models. Bridging new models of learning with AI-supported technologies offers a promising opportunity for researchers. This webinar will explore the infrastructure needed for active adoption of AI in education, as well as the potential impact on existing approaches to teaching when real time feedback and engagement with learners is a reality.

Moderator:

George Siemens, Professor University of Texas at Arlington, University of South Australia

Panelists:

Djazia Ladjal, Senior Data Scientist Practera

Dr Ladjal has a PhD in Astrophysics with 10+ years of experience in research and data modelling. She has also worked in Media and Marketing, developing machine learning algorithms for various commercial enterprises before pivoting to the EdTech space and Learning Analytics. For the past 2 years she has been leading the data science research at the EdTech company Practera, including leading the ’Trusted Analytics’ CRC Project.

This exposure to academia and industry provides her with a unique perspective on the intersection between fundamental research and applied technological solutions. She is passionate about data and how to apply complex models to solve everyday problems.

Hassan Khosravi, Associate Professor University of Queensland

Hassan Khosravi is an Associate Professor at The University of Queensland. As a computer scientist by training, Hassan is passionate about the role of artificial intelligence in the future of education. In his research, he draws on theoretical insights from the learning sciences and exemplary techniques from the fields of human-computer interaction to design, implement, validate and deliver technological solutions that contribute to the delivery of learner-centred, data-informed learning at scale. His past research and publications have addressed a number of diverse topics such as learning graphical models, statistical-relational learning, social network analysis, cybersecurity and game theory.

Srecko Joksimovic, Senior Lecturer University of South Australia

Srecko Joksimovic is a Senior Lecturer in Data Science at the Education Futures, University of South Australia. His research is centered around using AI to augment abilities of individuals and teams to solve complex problems. Srecko is particularly interested in evaluating the influence of contextual, social, cognitive, and affective factors on groups and individuals as they solve real-world problems.

Ryan Baker, Associate Professor University of Pennsylvania

Ryan Baker is Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and Director of the Penn Center for Learning Analytics.His lab conducts research on engagement and robust learning within online and blended learning, seeking to find actionable indicators

that can be used today but which predict future student outcomes.Baker has developed models that can automatically detect student engagement in over a dozen online learning environments, and has led the development of an observational protocol and app for field

observation of student engagement that has been used by over 150 researchers in 7 countries. Predictive analytics models he helped develop have been used to benefit over a million students, over a hundred thousand people have taken MOOCs he ran, and he has

coordinated longitudinal studies that spanned over a decade. He was the founding president of the International Educational Data Mining Society, is currently serving as Editor of the journal Computer-Based Learning in Context, is Associate Editor of the Journal of Educational Data Mining, was the first technical director of the Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center DataShop, and currently serves as Co-Director of the MOOC Replication Framework (MORF). Baker has co-authored published papers with over 400 colleagues.