Bridges and Bytes – Introducing the Student Voice on AI and Assessment

University College Dublin’s College of Engineering and Architecture is launching a student-led podcast, Bridges and Bytes: The Student Voice on AI and Assessment. This six-episode series explores the impact of AI on academic assessments, offering student insights on evolving education practices. Each episode focuses on a different assessment type and features a diverse range of voices, including academics, librarians, students and industry professionals. The podcast aims to foster discussions on how AI influences education and is available now on major platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This new podcast series from the College of Engineering and Architecture at University College Dublin is launching its first season: “The Student Voice on AI and Assessment”. This student-driven podcast takes a deep dive into the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic assessments, providing a unique and much-needed student perspective on the future of education.

In a time when AI is reshaping industries, including education, this series offers listeners a fresh, candid, and thought-provoking look at how AI is influencing assessments in universities and schools. The season consists of a trailer followed by six episodes, each dedicated to a different type of assessment – lab reports, individual assignments, group projects, closed-book exams, reflective assignments, and online assessments. The season concludes with a special review episode that reflects on key themes and insights.

Why You Should Listen

This podcast is aimed at anyone interested in how AI is shaping the future of education – including educators, students, policymakers, and those responsible for designing assessments in both school and university settings.

Why is this podcast so important now? The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has led to heightened concerns about academic integrity, particularly in assessments. Many educators who had recently embraced more inclusive and equitable alternative assessments are now reverting to traditional in-person, invigilated exams due to fears of AI-fuelled cheating. However, as this podcast reveals, students are already adapting to AI in their academic lives, and their insights are crucial for shaping the future of fair and effective assessments.

Student-Led, Student-Driven

The podcast was created entirely by students. As part of a highly competitive process, student teams were selected to research, script, and host each episode. Throughout the project, participants had the exciting opportunity to develop and refine valuable podcasting skills, gaining hands-on experience in content creation and digital communication.

These students were not only tasked with exploring AI and assessment from a theoretical standpoint but were also encouraged to gather viewpoints from across the academic and professional spectrum. They interviewed a diverse range of voices – academics, librarians, industry experts, and fellow students – creating episodes rich with contrasting views, debates, and candid admissions. This means that each episode offers a well-rounded discussion on the future of assessment in the age of AI.

Candid Conversations and Fresh Perspectives

Throughout the episodes, listeners will hear frank discussions about how students are currently using AI, as well as their suggestions on how educators can adapt their teaching methods and assessment strategies in response. Whether it's the stress of closed-book exams in sweltering halls, or the lingering questions about online assessments during the pandemic, this series offers real, relatable experiences that will resonate with anyone who has been part of an academic environment.

Above all, the podcast highlights the importance of listening to the ‘student voice’. By giving students a platform to express their concerns, ideas, and innovations, the series aims to drive meaningful conversations about the future of education in an AI-driven world.

Tune In

The first season of Bridges and Bytes is available to stream now on all major podcast platforms. To stay updated with new episodes and insights, follow the podcast on (opens in a new window)Spotify, (opens in a new window)Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:

Jennifer Keenahan
Associate Professor in Civil Engineering
UCD
0879280808