HSG, PHSG and OST aim to strengthen the use of AI in teaching

Over 1,600 lecturers teach at HSG – ranging from lecturers running individual courses to full professors. The use of AI in teaching varies accordingly. “Some lecturers at the HSG are already making targeted use of relevant tools, whilst others are still in the exploratory phase,” says Sebastian Meisel, who is involved in the “AI Literacy” project at HSG. “With this project, we want to highlight how AI is being tested in practice in teaching – and what other teachers can learn from this.”

Platform with teaching content launched

The University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland (OST) and the University of Teacher Education St. Gallen (PHSG) are also project partners. On the joint ‘AI Literacy Ostschweiz’ platform, teachers document their approaches and exchange ideas in workshops. Initial examples show how AI is being used, for instance, in the drafting and analysis of academic texts or to support teachers in developing assessment grids. 

The community currently comprises over 50 teachers and is set to grow further in the coming months. The aim is to gradually make these experiences usable for teaching. “AI has the potential to relieve teachers of administrative tasks, thereby creating more space for interaction with learners and for innovative teaching approaches,” says Meisel. Furthermore, AI can also create new learning experiences with new tools.

AI Festival as the highlight

A key event of the project is the AI Festival Ostschweiz on 4 June at SQUARE at HSG. There, teachers will present the applications they have developed so far in practical sessions. In addition, ‘Lab Sessions’ will offer the opportunity to try out selected tools first-hand. Among the items on display will be the learning app Brian, developed at HSG, which automatically generates course materials, and the tool Rflect, which generates individual learning activities for students and is designed to support reflection processes. 

In addition to these insights, the festival will also feature keynote speeches by Bettina Surber, Director of Education for the Canton of St. Gallen, and Beat Döbeli Honegger, Head of the Research Professorship in Digitalisation and Education at the University of Teacher Education Schwyz, as well as cultural contributions and networking opportunities. 

Attendance at the AI Festival Ostschweiz is open to the public and free of charge – interested parties can register here.