Vista Higher Learning has a limited number of activities that utilize AI. This functionality is contained in some of our VHL products, but not all. The use of Artificial Intelligence is controllable by the instructor. There are an abundance of non-AI powered functionality in the VHL supersite should the instructor choose not to use AI in their course. VHL always utilizes the enterprise version of large language models (LLM). We do not pass user data or PII to the model under any circumstance, nor do we train the model with user input or data of any kind. We use human, VHL subject matter experts to develop and improve prompts. All of our activities are closed loop, meaning that the AI will not respond to student queries beyond the objective of the activity the student is completing. We do not use AI for grading. We do not deploy activities that utilize AI in products intended for use by students in Grade 8 or below.
Vista Higher Learning is a member of the Edsafe AI Alliance and follows the practices recommended by the organization https://www.edsafeai.org/about, which is a coalition of organizations focused on fostering the safe and equitable use of AI in education.
AI functionality in Vista Higher Learning program courses on vhlcentral.com:
Student-facing AI Activities
Speech Recognition – These are assignable practice activities that allow students to practice words or phrases in the target language. We utilize machine learning powered speech recognition capabilities to interpret the student response. Based on the quality of the student response the machine learning engine displays a thumbs up or thumbs down. The student has the option to try again or move on to the next activity. Generative AI is not part of this activity type.
AI Virtual Chat – These assignable short oral practice activities have students interact with an AI chatbot to practice a short conversation in the target language. Each activity has an objective, to which the AI response is bound. The student/chatbot interaction in each AI Virtual Chat activity is limited to 4-5 interactions and can be completed by spoken or written response, depending on an educator's settings for the AI Virtual Chat activities.
MyConversationTrainer – This is an oral conversation practice supplement that is purchased separately from the Supersite at vhlcentral. It is also activity based and works similarly to AI Virtual Chat. In addition to pre-set activities that can be assigned to students, educators can create their own AI-powered chat activities that can be assigned for practice to students. MyConversationTrainer does not issue grades, and is bound by the activity objective in terms of student responses.
Instructor-facing AI Features
AI Instructor Commenting – Two of our activity types require students to provide the answer in the form of a short answer essay in the target language. If an educator turns on AI Instructor Commenting, the LLM will generate comments based on the student response, which are designed to improve the student’s written response. These comments are presented to the educator for review, who can then choose which comments to pass on to the student, edit then pass on to the student, or delete.