Section outline

  • Course Overview

    This course gives you an understanding of what artificial intelligence is and how it is used and applied in society and research methods. It explores the ethical issues surrounding artificial intelligence, and the uses of machine learning.

    Learning Outcomes

    This course will help you to:

    1. Describe the origins and development of AI
    2. Evaluate the pervasiveness of AI in our society
    3. Recognize how AI tools can be applied to research methods, including generative AI
    4. Understand the ethical dimensions of AI  
    5. Identify what machine learning is and how it’s used
    6. Compare the different machine learning methods and some of their challenges  
    7. Summarize the potential use cases and risks of using tools like ChatGPT

    • Course Instructor: Dr. Eleni Papadonikolaki

      • Dr. Eleni Papadonikolaki

        Dr. Eleni Papadonikolaki is a Management Consultant and Associate Professor in Digital Innovation and Management at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction (BSSC) at University College London (UCL). Eleni is teaching at postgraduate and executive levels and leads the newly launched MSc in Digital Engineering Management (DEM), and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Her research interests lie at the intersection of management, projects, social science, and digital economy. Prior to joining academia, Eleni worked as an architect-engineer and design manager on a number of complex, international and varying-scale projects in Greece, the Netherlands, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. She is an alumna of TU Delft, Netherlands, and NTUA, Greece.

        View Bio for Dr. Eleni Papadonikolaki

      • Video Transcripts

        You can access all video transcripts here. 

      • Pre-Course Self Assessment

        Before you dive into this course, spend a few moments reflecting on your familiarity with the topic and your current level of skills confidence. 

        You will then re-visit the same questions in our Post-Course Self Assessment and reflect on how the course has helped you develop in confidence and grow your skills. 

        • Module One: Myths and Realities of Artificial Intelligence

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Describe the origins of AI   
          2. Define what AI means in a modern context    
          3. Explain its importance in research methods   
          4. Analyze the impact AI has had on our lives to date   
          5. Summarize the potential use cases and risks of using tools like ChatGPT

        • Module Two: AI in Research Methods

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Recap the common activities researchers carry out    
          2. Identify the applicability of AI to research methods 
          3. Summarize AI’s benefits to researchers 
          4. Describe the main types of data analysis   
          5. Explain the process of data mining 

        • Module Three: Ethical Challenges in AI

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Demonstrate an awareness of ethics in relation to AI  
          2. Make a case for and against AI, from an ethical perspective   
          3. Reflect on your own position on the potential for ethical AI     

        • Module Four: Machine Learning

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Describe the concept of machine learning   
          2. Explain how machine learning works, and its methodology    
          3. Analyze the applications of machine learning in the real world   
          4. Identify the social challenges posed by machine learning 

        • References and Glossary of Key Terms

          In addition to the glossary you’ll find woven throughout the course, you can find the full glossary collated in one place here.  

        • Post-Course Self Assessment

          Now you’ve completed the course, spend a few moments reflecting on where your familiarity with the topics and your confidence skills levels are at now.  

          Has the course helped you develop new skills and grow your confidence? 

          You'll need to complete the Post-Course Self Assessment in order to download your certificate. If you didn't do the Pre-Course Self Assessment before starting the course, please go to the top of the page and reflect on your familiarity with the topic and your level of skills confidence before you started the course.

          • Completion: Certificate

            Completing all modules (plus the pre and post-course assessments) will unlock the course certificate, which you can then download here. Your course certificate will only be made available once you have completed all these sections.

            If you have difficulty accessing your certificate, please contact the Sage support team at: onlinesupport@sagepub.co.uk. You can also check out this FAQ page which may be helpful.

            • Give Feedback About This Course

              Did you enjoy the course? Please take two minutes to share your feedback. We use learner feedback in future course updates and developments to provide an excellent learning experience. 

            • Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

              We have high standards of accessibility on Sage Campus and as of May/June 2024 all activities within this course are keyboard and screen reader compatible. For more details on accessibility standards, please see the Sage Campus Accessibility Guide.

              For those using assistive technology, please note that within this course:

              • Tab components: JAWS and NVDA behave slightly differently. For NVDA to keep reading, it is best to exit focus mode and go back to browse mode. 
              • Matching: JAWS does not read out question label on dropdown focus. 

              Additionally, please refer to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement which outlines our commitment to high standards of DEI on Sage Campus.