Higher Education Teaching and Learning Series 24/25
IMA, RSS & LMS Higher Education Teaching and Learning Workshop Series 2025
Rethinking Teaching and Learning in The Mathematical Sciences in Times of Generative AI
We are waiting for you to join us this summer in Edinburgh!
Overview
After having the storm of Generative AI (Gen-AI), like ChatGPT, higher education (HE) system started to discuss possibilities and challenges since 2023. Whilst these tools provide transformative results, we must ensure that students are using them critically for their teaching and learning process. As mentioned in various reports and projections, as higher education institutions, we should help them to be prepared for work life after their study, but it is vital that those tools are used as help rather than bypassing the learning process. There is an ongoing debate on using such tools for teaching or not, with various strategies or plans applied so far. The course level/content sensitivity is varying with such tools, ie., proof-based mathematics vs. programming modules. Mainly, it is urgent to reconsider the teaching and learning under the huge pressure of Gen-AI-based tools and their high-speed development.
As Gen-AI becomes widespread, it is crucial to provide an enriched platform to share best practices and thought-provoking panel discussions among the HE institutions. The proposed workshop aims to address this critical challenge by bringing together a collection of educators and teaching practitioners from related fields of study, especially Mathematical Sciences / STEM.
We aim to stimulate discussions among teaching practitioners relying on their experiences. The University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with The University of Glasgow, will host this follow-up workshop to last year’s Glasgow event on rethinking assessment in times of Gen-AI, keeping momentum going on interesting discussions.
We want…
… to foster the discussion alongside the recent Gen-AI related improvements for the teaching and learning on mathematics education. Possible themes are below but not limited to
- Integrating AI Tools in Mathematical Education
- Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Learning
- Personalized Learning Pathways with AI
- AI and the Evolution of Mathematical Problem Solving
- Instructor Roles in an AI-Augmented Classroom
- Assessing the Learning Outcomes in the Age of Gen-AI
- How to develop Critical Thinking and AI Literacy
Workshop Details
Organisers
This event organized by,
- Ozan Evkaya (University of Edinburgh)
- Jennifer Gaskell (University of Glasgow)
- Skarleth Carrales Escobedo (University of Edinburgh)
- Steven O’Hagan (University of Edinburgh)
For more details about this workshop, including registering your interest, please contact: Ozan.Evkaya@ed.ac.uk.
Where and When?
This workshop will be hosted by the University of Edinburgh, School of Mathematics.
Event Venue Elm Lecture Theatre, Nucleus Building, The King’s Buildings campus, The University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FG. The Nucleus Building is a new shared learning, teaching and social hub at the heart of The King’s Buildings campus. See the location from the Google map
The event takes place on-site on July 18, Friday, between 10.00-16.00
About Car parking
If you need information or suggestion about car parking while you are visiting The King’s Buildings campus, it is better to check first this website:
Tentative Schedule
| Time | Session Details |
|---|---|
| 10:00 - 10:15 | Welcome and Introduction |
| 10:15 - 11:00 | Main Speaker 1: Michael Grove – From panic to pedagogy: it’s about time we moved the generative AI conversation on |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Lightning Talks Session 1 (Jenn Gaskell, Anum Khalid) |
| 12:00 - 12:45 | Main Speaker 2: Stuart King – Systemic Approaches to Generative AI in Mathematical Sciences Education |
| 12:45 - 13:30 | Lunch Break |
| 13:30 - 14:00 | Discussion Topic 1 (how to prepare students for an AI-enabled workplace, what skills to we need to prioritize) |
| 14:00 - 14:15 | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 14:15 - 14:45 | Lightning Talks Session 2 (Mark MacDonald, Sam Povall) |
| 14:45 - 15:15 | Discussion Topic 2 (how to use AI to engage the students in the teaching and learning process) |
| 15:15 - 16:00 | Main Speaker 3: Amanda Shaker – Generative AI and statistics anxiety: Are students using GenAI for learning statistics, and is this linked to student anxiety and confidence while studying statistics? |
| 16:00 | Closing Remarks |
KeyNote Speakers
Michael Grove
is Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education Policy and Academic Standards at the University of Birmingham, Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education, and a National Teaching Fellow.
Title: From panic to pedagogy: it’s about time we moved the generative AI conversation on
Abstract: The rise of generative AI has prompted waves of anxiety and experimentation across higher education. Within the mathematical sciences and STEM disciplines more broadly, the questions are sharp: How do we ensure students learn, not outsource? How do we adapt without compromising rigour? How do we design for long-term learning, not short-term workarounds? And how do we protect what matters, while still evolving how we teach it?
Here I will seek to argue that we must move beyond reactive policy and piecemeal practice, and instead embrace curriculum-level design as the most powerful tool we have. Drawing on the ideas behind a forthcoming institutional white paper, this talk will outline a series of practical principles to guide programme teams in embedding generative AI with intent, consistency, and care. These include designing with purpose, promoting programme-level coherence, embedding ethical and transparent AI use, respecting disciplinary contexts, and supporting both independent learning and digital literacy. The talk will explore how these ideas can translate into practical action across mathematics and related disciplines.
Rather than treating generative AI as a threat to be contained, it must be treated as a literacy to be developed - thoughtfully, ethically, and with students as partners in the process. The talk will share emerging examples, challenges, and approaches from across the sector, and invite critical discussion on how we design for, not around, the realities of a world with AI-enabled learning.
Stuart King
is a Reader in Applied Mathematics at the School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, starting there in 2015. He was Director of Teaching in Mathematics from 2019-2023 and is also currently lead for Generative AI in learning and teaching for the College of Science and Engineering.
Title: Systemic Approaches to Generative AI in Mathematical Sciences Education
Abstract: The explosion of use of Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, is prompting a critical evaluation of teaching and assessment practices within higher education, both by academic staff and by students. The Mathematical Sciences are also affected by these developments as these tools raise questions about how we robustly assess in mathematics, but also more widely about how we might use them to improve teaching and learning, and how we might establish new disciplinary norms for their use.
This presentation will aim to explore outwards from experiments and use of GenAI tools in courses, towards practically exploring systemic strategies for addressing GenAI at course, programme, and university levels. To that end drawing on empirical data from student surveys and focus groups, and work done on developing training materials in Edinburgh.
Amanda Shaker
is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and the Teaching and Learning Coordinator in the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at La Trobe University. She teaches statistics to students from a diverse range of disciplines and is passionate about making statistics fun and interesting for all students. Within the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching, Amanda’s research interests include statistics anxiety, assessment and feedback, and game-based learning.
Title: Generative AI and statistics anxiety: Are students using GenAI for learning statistics, and is this linked to student anxiety and confidence while studying statistics?
Abstract: In an international, multi-institutional study, a group of researchers are investigating Generative AI (GenAI) awareness, usage and perceptions amongst Higher Education students studying statistics. Given that an estimated 70-90% of students experience anxiety while studying statistics, we are also studying links between student anxiety and confidence, and student awareness, perceptions and usage of GenAI. Data were collected during 2024 and 2025 from students studying statistics at universities in Australia and the UK. To date, results indicate that overall, GenAI usage is modest, but more prevalent amongst postgraduate compared with undergraduate students. The results also indicate that in general, GenAI usage is associated with decreases in student anxiety and increases in student confidence, while studying statistics. Given the potential learning benefits of responsible GenAI usage, this study informs GenAI-equipped pedagogy within a statistics education context.
Higher Education Teaching and Learning Series 2025
Other events?
Please see the other events happening this year below;
| Date | Event Title | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Fostering Engagement and Learning in Mathematics in the Digital Age | University of Central Lancashire | |
| Rethinking feedback and assessment: what does this mean in traditionally exam-based mathematics? | Imperial College London | |
| Enhancing Student Community and Learning: Adapting Strategies for Changing Patterns of Student Engagement | The Open University | |
| 29 JULY | Automatic grading in mathematics and statistics: beyond the basics | University of Liverpool |
Speaker Slides
Please see the keynote speaker slides and participant contributions
KeyNote
- Michael Groove - From panic to pedagogy: it’s about time we moved the generative AI conversation on
- Stuart King - Systemic Approaches to Generative AI in Mathematical Sciences Education
- Amanda Shaker-1
- Amanda Shaker-2 - Generative AI and statistics anxiety: Are students using GenAI for learning statistics, and is this linked to student anxiety and confidence while studying statistics?
Lightning Talks
- Jenn Gaskell - AI in Statistics Education
- Mark MacDonald - Embedding low-stakes group work throughout the curriculum
- Sam Povall - Incorporating A.I. for continuous assessment.
Feedback and Further suggestions
Thank you for your participation! Please give us feedback regarding the workshop event and your further suggestions! Happy to hear your feedback and further stimulating ideas.
This workshop event is mainly funded by;
