Preparing for a new academic skills landscape, with Mike O’Dea and Paulina Melichova

What do academic skills do students need in higher education today? Does ‘embracing’ AI come at the cost of developing higher order thinking skills? I’m joined by Computer Science Lecturer Mike O’Dea and Associate Lecturer in Academic Skills Paulina Melichova to get their take on this. We reflect on Mike’s recent AI training session, and talk about how much curriculum time should be given to AI literacies, whether authentic assessments come at the cost of validity, the merits of the traffic light system, and how to make digital skills training accessible to all students and staff.

Michael O’Dea is a Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of York and a Senior Fellow of the HEA.. He holds an Ed.D. from the University of Leeds, which was a  technology Enhanced Learning study looking at Serious Games. His current research interests are focussed on AI literacy, Technology Acceptance and Computer Science Education. He is particularly interested in the application and integration of AI into learning and teaching.

His recent publications include articles for Policy Futures in Education, The Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, The Times Higher Education Campus, Wonkhe and Emerald Publishing. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice. He has delivered a number of workshops and invited talks on AI literacy and on the impact of GenAI in education, including for the Chartered Association of Business Schools, QAA, SRHE and the Open Access Publishing Association. Currently he is the Principle Investigator on a QAA Collaborative Enhancement Project looking at the impact of disruptive technologies on Graduate Attributes.

Paulina Melichova is an Associate Lecturer in Skills Development at the University of York, and a Fellow of the HEA. Currently completing her MSc in Applied Social and Educational Research, her research focuses on wellbeing in academia as well as diary and other creative research methods, with a particular emphasis on emotional labour among academics. As a coach, Paulina integrates coaching and mentoring techniques into her teaching of academic and communication skills, empowering students to take ownership of their personal and professional development. 

In addition to her academic work, Paulina is also a professional mindset and communication coach, drawing on her expertise to equip ambitious individuals with the tools to create the career they aspire to. 

Further reading

HEPI (2014). Student Academic Experience Survey 2024. [Online]. HEPI, UK. Available at: https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2024/06/13/student-academic-experience-survey-2024/  

O'Dea, M. (2025). AI: an introduction to the basics. Available at : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1egvD8Y-MSyWctEQID_3_WN1ZXPBSd2Sj/view 

Perkins, M. and Roe, J. (2024). Rather than restrict the use of AI, let’s embrace the challenge it offers [Online]. Times Higher Education. Available at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/rather-restrict-use-ai-lets-embrace-challenge-it-offers