The Department of Information Science Presents

 Dr. Julita Vassileva

Professor at the University of Saskatchewan 

Wednesday, October 23^th

1:00-2:00pm

UMC 247

1669 Euclid Avenue, Boulder, Colorado

Title: On the Ethics of Data-Powered Instruction, Recommendation, Persuasion, and Behavior Change

Abstract: Advances in information technology and miniaturization, along with falling prices, allow affordable and powerful computing devices and sensors to become ubiquitous. These devices, equipped with advanced software and learning technologies resulting from 40 years of research in the areas of AI in education and cognitive modeling, can transform the way people learn and truly democratize education. This keynote talk focuses on the potential of persuasive technologies for supporting human learning.  Many researchers in the AIED and EDM communities may not be aware of this potential. Persuasive technologies can make a bigger difference than gaining a fraction of percentage point on the RMSE of predicting the success rate over the next recommended item (a common debate on the value of accuracy of student skills modeling). Similarly, persuasive visualizations of individual or group student models facilitates processes of reflection, social learning, social comparison and competition, which have been shown to motivate learners and engage them in learning activities.  The keynote talk will address some of these issues and how persuasive technology, interactive visualization, and distributed ledgers can be used to provide solutions. It will also touch on research that isn’t yet happening, but is needed, for example, enhancing learners' awareness of the dangers of personalization technology through personalized persuasive technology. 

Biography: Dr. Julita Vassileva is a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a leading researcher in user modelling, personalization and social computing, as well as AI in Education. She is a native of Bulgaria and obtained her Ph.D. in Mathematics (Cybernetics and Control Theory) from the University of Sofia / Bulgarian Academy of Science. She has authored over 250 research papers in the areas of intelligent tutoring and recommender systems, user modeling and personalization, trust and reputation, persuasion and behavior change. She has advised 40+ graduate students and has received the two main awards of the University of Saskatchewan for graduate supervision: the University’s Distinguished Graduate Supervisor Award (2014), and the Advising Excellence Award by the Graduate Student Association (2013).

Dr. Vassileva is a member of the editorial boards of several reputed journals, including UMUAI, IEEE TLT, ACM TSC, IJAIED, and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in AI section on AI Supporting Human Learning and Behaviour Change.  She serves on the Board of CS-Can |Info-Can (the Canadian CRA) as a Chair of the Research Committee. She also serves on the Executive of the International AI in Education Society, and the Advisory Board of UM Inc, and was the ACM-W Ambassador for Canada (2008-2011). 

Dr. Vassileva held the  NSERC/Cameco Chair for  Women in Science and Engineering for the Prairies region (2005 – 2011) and started a science outreach program for aboriginal youth in the North, called “Science Ambassadors”, which has now completed 12 years of impactful activity in over 25 communities and has engaged over 25,000 indigenous youth in science. For her leadership and mentorship, she got the Saskatoon’s YWCA “Women of Distinction Award (Science and Research)” in 2015.