Embracing GenAI for Inclusive Education Success

Title: Embracing Generative AI for Inclusive Education: Innovations from University of Calgary
In a recent development, Professor Soroush Sabbaghen from the University of Calgary is pioneering the use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in post-secondary education through his tool SMARTIE — a Strategic Module Assistant for Rubrics, Tasks, and Inclusive Education. This suite of web-based applications is designed to help educators create inclusive learning environments by aiding in the design of course components that are accessible and adaptable for all students. Sabbaghen, leveraging the capabilities of GPT-4, has developed SMARTIE to also support multilingual students and those with dyslexia, visual, or auditory impairments, with further plans to accommodate neurodiversity.
Sabbaghen is set to present the impact of SMARTIE at the upcoming Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences 2024 in Montreal, signifying its importance in the academic community. By integrating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles into teaching practices with ease, SMARTIE is proving to be a game-changer, evidenced by its usage in different faculties at the University of Calgary to ensure diversity in reading lists and equitable experiential learning activities.
Beyond education, the article also touches on the broader implications of AI in healthcare, highlighting the global market’s rapid expansion and the need for inclusive AI development strategies. The Towards an Accessible and Inclusive A.I. (AI2) study, led by researchers including Christo El Morr and Rachel Gorman from York University, and Yahya El-Lahib from the University of Calgary, calls for a paradigm shift towards a more disability-focused AI design process. This approach emphasizes collaboration and input from people living with disabilities to avoid biases and stereotypes often embedded in current technologies.
The Congress 2024 will serve as a platform for discussing these innovative approaches and the broader application of AI in society, aiming to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable future. The event, sponsored by several major Canadian academic and research institutions, is expected to draw over 8,000 participants, highlighting the critical role of humanities and social sciences in shaping sustainable and just societies.