We were both impressed and worried to witness the rapid escalation in the ability of tools like ChatGPT to conjure credible-seeming scholarly prose ex-nihilo. Rather than leaving the assessment strategy in MEEN3010 exposed to AI plagiarism, we decided to shift the focus towards a more authentic and interactive learning activity; a poster session.

This intervention brought numerous benefits. First, we successfully prevented students from thoughtlessly or dishonestly using Gen AI by implementing an oral presentation session, thus ensuring the authenticity of their learning. Secondly, many students found designing posters to be fun and creative, which encouraged them to explore the energy system in Ireland. By visualising their research findings, students were able to reinforce their understanding on related topics. Additionally, during the presentations, students had the valuable opportunity to learn from their peers. By showcasing their posters to one another, they could understand the research outcomes from others and get more inspiration. These are transferable skills with increasingly professional relevance.