This webinar, organised by the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Online Engagement SIG and the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE), explored how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance online engagement in higher education. It featured a panel of experts including:

• Professor Michael Cowling – AI specialist and ASCILITE President
• Professor Kate Ames – Expert in online education and equity and ACODE President
• Professor Jason Lodge – Educational psychologist and AI practitioner, University of Queensland
• Facilitated by Ms Meredith Hinze (University of Melbourne) and Associate Professor Alice Brown (Chair of HERDSA’s Online Engagement in Higher Education SIG)

Key Themes & Insights

1. AI as a Tool for Personalised Learning

• AI can tailor learning experiences to individual student needs, especially for diverse and equity-focused cohorts.
• Tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can help students unpack complex tasks, manage time, and plan study schedules.

2. Supporting Self-Regulated Learning

• AI can scaffold students’ learning processes, helping them develop autonomy and decision-making skills.
• It’s not about AI replacing learning but enhancing students’ ability to manage their own learning journey.

3. Enhancing Engagement & Reducing Isolation

• AI chatbots can provide companionship and reduce feelings of loneliness in online environments.
• However, they may not fully replace the sense of belonging that comes from human interaction.

4. Balancing Efficiency with Cognitive Engagement

• While AI can make learning more efficient, educators must ensure it doesn’t undermine deep learning and critical thinking.
• Scaffolding and thoughtful integration are key to maintaining educational quality.

5. Human-AI Collaboration

• AI should be seen as a peer or assistant in the learning environment, not a replacement for educators.
• The future may involve co-teaching models where AI supports but doesn’t replace human instruction.

Poll Results

Participants identified the biggest opportunities for AI in online engagement as:

• Supporting learning (61%)
• Supporting diverse and inclusive education (30%)
• Building communities (0%)

Future Outlook (3–5 Years)

• AI could enable highly personalised, flexible, and responsive learning environments.
• Educators will need to evolve their roles to focus more on mentoring, scaffolding, and inspiring students.
• AI literacy may become a core graduate attribute, requiring integration into curricula.

Final Reflections

• The panel emphasised the importance of maintaining human connection in online learning.
• AI should be used to enhance—not replace—educational relationships and processes.
• Institutions must act thoughtfully, balancing innovation with pedagogical integrity.

You can check out the full webinar and panel discussion at https://youtu.be/Pg12N-x2okc