THE LEARNWISE PILOT PROJECT AT WESTMINSTER

Generative AI is having a marked impact on universities in various ways. One of these is through the use of Chatbots to provide support 24 X 7-course support to students. Learning Innovation and Digital Engagement (LIDE) recently piloted a Chatbot within Blackboard. The Chatbot was trained to provide guidance on using the different tools within Blackboard and the broader range of online learning systems that the university supports. The interest in this Chatbot was significant, and feedback from students was positive in terms of wanting the university to use Generative AI to support them in various ways. The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) sponsored this initial pilot nationally.

The University of Westminster will now undertake an extended pilot of the system (Learnwise) used in the initial pilot for a 12-month period from 1st January 2025. Initially, the extended pilot will focus on module content Chatbots within Blackboard. The intention is to pilot the use of such Chatbots in several modules from all Schools in the university. LIDE will be working with the Directors of Learning and Teaching in each School to select modules for the pilot according to a set of principles for the pilot. 

A thorough evaluation will be conducted, and if KPIs are met in the first modules to pilot the Chatbots, the Chatbot technology can be extended to all modules taught in the university.