AI-Assisted University Teacher Development beyond Disciplinary Boundaries: Using Question Bot for Reflective Practice in “Language Education” and “Mathematics for Engineering”

This project explores the use of an AI-assisted automatic question detection tool (QBot) by university lecturers who teach courses in languages and mathematics (for engineers) at MDU. QBot is an AI-powered bot that automatically identifies questions asked during teaching, which can then be used for reflective practice. The project will deploy a collaborative action research methodology, which involves a systematic research-development-evaluation process. The researchers/lecturers will together analyse classroom interaction practices with the help of the AI-assisted QB, develop new forms of classroom discourse, and evaluate results qualitatively. The qualitative explorations will be conducted using a thematic analysis and collaborative autoethnography, while change in teaching practices will be traced using Discursive Timeline Analysis. The project will have implications for classroom discourse and continuous professional development in higher education.

Project objective

This project aims to explore university teachers’ use of an AI-powered question detection tool designed to facilitate reflective practice. The following research questions will be addressed:

RQ1: What are the affordances and constraints of the QBot for reflective practice in university teacher development?
RQ2: In what ways does QBot create changes in classroom discourse to facilitate student engagement during university lectures?