Abstract:

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to elevate the teaching and learning experience. This study explores the integration of AI in education by introducing ChatGPT on Discord channel into one of the courses in the Data Literacy Programme offered to our Executive and Administrative workforce, to enhance learning.

Our Data Literacy Programme caters to adult learners from diverse ages and discipline backgrounds. The programme utilises an innovative blended learning model, where learners first watch a series of bite-size e-learning videos before attending each face-to-face workshop session. Following these workshops, learners complete assignments designed to reinforce their understanding and application of the content materials covered. To help learners overcome challenges in understanding these materials, we introduced a dedicated Discord channel integrated with ChatGPT. Discord is a digital platform designed for instant messaging and creating communities. By integrating ChatGPT within accessible and user-friendly platforms like Discord, learners can engage in real-time interactions not only with the chatbot but also with instructors and peers. This setup enables learners to seek clarifications during learning and hands-on exercises and engage in interactive discussions, thereby enriching the learning experience. This not only facilitated timely assistance, but learners were also able to view previous chats and share comments, fostering a sense of community and mutual support. Additionally, instructors can monitor the types of queries asked and provide feedback on the Discord channel in a timely manner, further enhancing the learning environment.

In this paper, we examine the significant advantages of having ChatGPT in the course’s Discord channel from both instructors' and learners' perspectives. We also discuss further implementations and the challenges encountered during the implementation of this AI tool in our course to enhance learning.

In summary, our preliminary findings have indicated that integrating ChatGPT into our Data Literacy course on Discord has led to promising results in promoting collaborative learning and meeting individual learning needs. As we refine this AI-assisted approach, we anticipate not only further improvements in the learning experience but also the exploration of innovative strategies to meet our learners' evolving needs.

Keywords:

Generative chatbots, education technology, community of learning, ChatGPT, Discord.