Key points:
The Rise of AI in Education
Maybe it’s just me, but it feels as though AI is starting to take over the world. To be clear, I don’t mean this in an "evil robots" sort of way. Rather, in a short amount of time, AI has become widely integrated into almost every area of our lives. Programs like ChatGPT and Dall-E are becoming mainstays in office environments. Companies are racing to see how AI can give them an edge in the competitive marketplace. Then there is the world of education, where teachers like me are watching AI completely change the way students learn.
The Risks and Benefits of AI in Education
I won’t minimize the risks. Already we’re seeing students use AI to plagiarize or cheat on their assignments. Learning how to prevent abuse of AI will be an issue of serious concern moving forward. However, as an educator, I also believe that when AI is used correctly, it can be a positive force for good in our classrooms. For schools to effectively engage with this new technology, teachers must first learn how to implement these tools into our classrooms in ways that foster student growth and show them that AI is meant to complement their learning journey.
Strategies for Unleashing Student Curiosity, Creativity, and Critical Thinking
Here are just a few simple strategies teachers can implement to unleash student curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking using the power of AI.
Creativity
- Novel Name Tags: Use an image generator to create customized name tags for each student. Hang them around the room and challenge students to guess which name picture belongs to which student.
- Tandem Tales: Have students begin writing a story, then use a program like ChatGPT to fill in the next paragraph. Repeat this back-and-forth until the story is over.
- Choose Your Own AI-dventure: Use AI to create a story that is left on a cliffhanger. Students can navigate through the narrative, applying the information they have gathered while also reacting to the AI’s response.
Curiosity
- Curiosity Prompts: Ask an AI program like ChatGPT to give you learning prompts designed for your grade level and focused on common classroom topics. Use these curiosity prompts as a kind of, "question of the day."
- Digital BreAIkout Rooms: Use AI to brainstorm ideas for the breakout room and aggregate options depending on what you want your students to learn and accomplish.
- Scavenger Hunt and Curiosity Quest: Use AI to create a scavenger hunt that is math-based. Hide clues in places that relate to the day’s lesson or to a certain principle that students need to learn.
Critical Thinking
- Alternative Perspectives: Use AI to provide a different opinion on a topic, then challenge students to engage with its arguments.
- Beat ChatGPT: Have ChatGPT do the work that students will be doing, then see if your class can produce something even better.
- RAInk the Writing: Use AI to give voice to inanimate objects or scientific processes. Not only does this encourage students to be curious, but it also pushes them to consider common information and ideas for a different angle.
Conclusion
Teachers must accept that there’s no putting the AI genie back in the bottle. We need to prepare ourselves and our students for a future where AI is the norm. Still, I believe there is reason to be hopeful. The invention of the calculator didn’t stop humans from becoming mathematicians. AI won’t stop students from learning.
FAQs
Q: What are the risks of AI in education?
A: The risks include students using AI to plagiarize or cheat on their assignments. Learning how to prevent abuse of AI will be an issue of serious concern moving forward.
Q: How can teachers implement AI in their classrooms?
A: Teachers can implement AI in their classrooms by using it to create customized name tags, generate curiosity prompts, and provide alternative perspectives on topics.
Q: How can AI be used to promote critical thinking?
A: AI can be used to promote critical thinking by providing different opinions on topics, challenging students to engage with its arguments, and encouraging them to consider common information and ideas for a different angle.
Q: What are the benefits of AI in education?
A: The benefits of AI in education include the ability to create customized learning experiences, provide alternative perspectives on topics, and encourage students to be curious and creative.
