The Learning Design team from the Comprehensive Online Education Services (COES) recently engaged in an insightful workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) and its evolving role in higher education. Hosted by Prof Linda van Ryneveld, Director of COES, the workshop held on 14 March 2025 at Makhato 84, Sondela, Bela-Bela in Limpopo, featured Prof Helen Crompton from Old Dominion University, Virginia in the USA. Prof Crompton is a globally recognised educational technology expert and ranked among the top 2% of most-cited researchers worldwide, according to Stanford University.

Prof Crompton's visit to the University of Pretoria (UP) marked a significant milestone for COES, providing deep insights into AI's current and future impact on higher education. During the workshop, she delved into how AI transforms teaching, learning, and assessment, introducing Learning Designers from COES's Online Education department to a wide range of cutting-edge AI productivity tools.

From AI-driven video, graphics, and infographic design to emotionally intelligent AI capable of recognising and responding to human emotions, the workshop was an eye-opener for the team, which plays a pivotal role in the development of UPOnline programmes, supporting UP academic staff in curriculum design for fully online delivery and building modules in Blackboard (clickUP). The team also explored AI-generated music, ready-to-use serious educational games, and perhaps most critically, best practices for safeguarding personal data in AI tools.

Reflecting on the experience, Dr Mari van Wyk, Senior Learning Designer at COES, says the workshop was a game-changer. "The AI tools we explored will revolutionise how we design and deliver our own UPOnline learning experiences. It's exciting to be at the forefront of this transformation."

Beyond the academic enrichment, the setting at Sondela added an unforgettable dimension, with close-up wildlife encounters complementing the high-energy discussions. With COES committed to innovation, this workshop marks an exciting step forward in leveraging AI to enhance online learning and student engagement at the University of Pretoria.