We are excited to share the news of the recent student edited open Pressbook, Learning with AI, published by the University of Leeds. It showcases how students are currently using GenAI in their learning.
Staff from different parts of the university came together to set-up the Learning with AI project with full ethical approval, to work with students as editors of this open book. Two students were recruited with the support of the University’s Digital Education Service and they worked with the team of staff to bring this project to fruition. It has been an enriching experience for all involved and demonstrates what is possible when we work in partnership.
The collection itself creates opportunities for further related scholarship and research and we are very much looking forward to outputs that could follow to enable these stories and practices to travel further.
The book is available via Leeds Open Books and we are grateful to all of the students who contributed and our student editors for 2024/25, Amani Ahsan and Olivia Davies. The book includes contributions from undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students. Their stories demonstrate how students engage with GenAI critically to support their learning in a range of ways. Through this process, we didn’t encounter stories that evidence the intention to bypass thinking and critical engagement.
“I wasn’t looking for answers, but to discuss my questions with somebody(?) who could help me to make sense of terminology.”
We hope the book provides valuable insights to university students and educators across the sector at a time of excitement, fear and confusion; whilst prompting discussions around our responsibility to design curricula including assessments that stimulate curiosity to learn, are imaginative and purposeful.
Interested in finding out more and reading it? Check it out. In the book you will also find details about the journey and there is a panel discussion planned on Wed 19 Nov 2025 organised by Pressbooks in collaboration with OEGlobal in which we discuss the book with student authors and our OER librarian. You are very welcome to join if this is of interest.
We would love to hear your thoughts and please note the invitation remains open to submit a story and contribute to this living open Pressbook.
Chrissi (Nerantzi)
On behalf of the Learning with AI team
PROJECT TEAM:
Student editors 2024/25:
Olivia Davies, MA student, Terrorism and Insurgency, a Digital Education Student Ambassador
Amani Ahsan, BSc student, Sustainability and Environmental Management, a Digital Education Student Ambassador
Project support team:
Dr Chrissi Nerantzi, Professor in Creative and Open Education, School of Education, University of Leeds (project lead)
Kirstine McDermid, Open Educational Resources Manager, University of Leeds Libraries
Thom Freeth, Producer and Relationship Manager, Knowledge Equity Network (KEN)
Dr Damian McDonald, Senior Learning Technologist, Digital Education Service (DES)
Dr Richard de Blacquière-Clarkson, AI Hub Lead, Organisational Development and Professional Learning (ODPL)
John Palfreyman, Associate Professor in Digital Strategy, Leeds University Business School (LUBS)
Image credit: Original artwork ‘AI is everywhere’ by Ariyana Ahmad & The Bigger Picture / Better Images of AI / Creative Commons Licence CC-BY has been used for this image without making any further alterations.