Unleashing the Power of AI in Education: A Path to Uncharted Territory and Unforeseen Rewards

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has presented us with a multitude of opportunities to revolutionize teaching and learning. As we delve deeper into the realm of AI, the question arises: are we truly harnessing its full potential to drive meaningful change in education? or is... holding us in place?

"The need to know the capital of Florida died when my phone learned the answer. Rather, the students of tomorrow need to be able to think creatively. They will need to learn on their own, adapt to new challenges and innovate on-the-fly." - Anthony Chivetta. This statement sums up a shift in education that I believe is recognized but slow to come to fruition.

I utilize AI already in my teaching practices. Tools like EdPuzzle and Nearpod empower me to generate tailored questions based on my teaching materials, create video lessons, and provide additional support through generated transcripts. Further platforms such as Newsela and Diffit allow me to adjust the complexity of reading materials, while Google Read and Write allows students to engage with materials in another mode. Leveraging these resources helps me cater to diverse learning needs within the classroom ensuring that all students are met at their individual learning needs. However, I'm not always the best at knowing when to use these or what content best suits them.

Something that I have been exploring this week is the power of the prompt! AI is only as good as you ask it to be, so making sure that you are clear and detailed in what you want it to do helps ensure you get what you are looking for. AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT or Claude can serve as personalized instructional coaches and curriculum designers through the use of prompts that ask the platform to "act like" or "think like" these roles. It made me think about my PLN and how I can harness the PLN of the AI platform. My PLN (see image below) is limited in reach but platforms like ChatGPT or Claude have much farther-reaching networks, why shouldn't I tap in.

While I have found ways to use technology to improve my efficiency, learning how to build a comment creator that uses ChatGPT to write personalized report card comments, for example, and hopefully build engaging lessons, I feel that we are also missing an opportunity to aid students with a look at what their future holds. The integration of AI in education should benefit students in this technological revolution. Helping students to understand the power of the resources available to them to foster critical thinking, creativity, and self-directed learning will have far-reaching effects. Just like I had to work on building clear and detailed structured prompts students do to, something that takes practice.

We already know, through Henderson et al.'s work (2017), What works and why? Students' perception of "useful" digital technology in university teaching and learning, is that there is value in the use of technology in many forms. I am lucky enough to be at a one-to-one school where access is not a concern. We also see that technology aids in a shift in paradigms where factual information can be shared but that students are also able to construct their own knowledge, as suggested by Jonassen (1991).

However, as teachers, we need to be mindful of the issues that might permeate in. One of these issues that I noticed is privacy. I have been wary of using AI like Claude or ChatGPT to create student feedback, as I don't know how students feel about having their work fed into a constantly learning machine. Many platforms require information for logins, and my current school blocks many platforms due to this. For teachers, I think this can feel like one more blockade in implementing technology.

Despite the myriad advantages that AI brings to the table, the adoption of such technologies can be daunting for those unfamiliar with them. However, this presents an opportunity for educators to expand their Professional Learning Network, embrace new tools, and embark on a journey toward enhanced pedagogy and student engagement.

As an advocate for technology in education, the journey towards unlocking the full potential of these tools has been both enlightening and rewarding. By leveraging AI to augment teaching practices, educators can not only enhance student learning experiences but also cultivate a culture of continuous growth and innovation within their classrooms.

*This post was outlined using the Ai feature on Wix

References:

Chivetta & Sabramowicz quotes from: http://edtechreview.in/news/2112-technology-in-education-quotes

Image 1: made on Canva by myself

My PLN © 2024 by Elicia Bullock is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Henderson, M., Selwyn, N., & Aston, R. (2017). What works and why? Student perceptions of 'useful' digital technology in university teaching and learning. Studies in Higher Education, 42(8). 1567-1579. 

Jonassen, D. (1991). Objectivism versus constructivism: Do we need a new philosophical paradigm?. Educational Technology Research and Development, 39(3), 5-14.