The AI Chalkboard Issue #12:Beyond the Hype: Teaching with AI, Not Just About AI

Hello Educators,

If you know of any colleagues or friends who might benefit from subscribing to this newsletter, please pass it on! The more minds and voices we bring into this community of educators focused on understanding AI and figuring out how education needs to adapt to its advancements, the better! There is strength in numbers, and the more of a ‘shared understanding’ that we can establish in this space, the better off we will be.

In this week’s newsletter, I wanted to share some interesting new features that have been added to some legacy EdTech platforms, as well as a few newer platforms that might not yet have crossed your desk. 

Then, I’ll share my take on Critical AI Literacy, which bleeds into every interaction we have with AI – even when we are selecting platforms and tools to incorporate into our personal and professional life.

Last, I’ll share some materials from OpenAI’s new quietly-released ChatGPT for K-12 offering and some kind words from the organizers of the Instructional Technology Annual Conference.

As always, if you are looking to bring Critical AI Literacy to your school – whether it be for policy-setting, course development and design, faculty development, or evaluation of student thinking – please do not hesitate to reach out. Our community is growing, and I can’t wait to continue to explore this space with all of you!

AI- Innovations in Education

1. Duolingo- If you are a language teacher (or learner), you are likely already very familiar with Duolingo. However, the company has recently added AI features such as Role Play, which simulates real conversations with a native speaker, and Explain My Answer, which provides explanations of grammar rules when learners make mistakes or encounter new concepts. 

As always, I highly recommend zeroing in on student-AI interactions as a form of assessment, even here. In language learning, these simulated experiences can act as a formative assessment, for example, prior to a summative assessment wherein students chat with each other out loud or with a teacher. But, it is important to set a benchmark first, and then subsequently monitor and evaluate the interaction for efficacy.

Providing students with a specific goal within the simulated conversation forces students to engage meaningfully. Those meaningful interactions (or not), become a playground for practice, teacher evaluation, and feedback. This is the crux of the ‘grade the chats’ and ‘comparative transcript analysis’ methodology, which I have written about and will continue to write about extensively.

But, it is important to keep in mind, these tools do not replace the all-important content delivery that comes from experienced language teachers. Instead, they can be viewed as a supplemental activity that provides increased repetitions and opportunities for feedback. Center the human experience in every AI use case, and you will move closer to utilizing these tools in effective ways that do not place an overemphasis of value on sometimes-flawed tools.

2. Osmo- (K-5 Specific) If you are a fan of gamified learning experiences, Osmo could be a useful tool to consider for young children. The company provides iPad-based gaming experiences for teaching young children critical thinking, communication, and collaboration through gamified learning experiences. Osmo uses reflective AI technology which turns objects and elements into digital game elements.

Now, I have heard elementary school and middle school teachers complain about iPads in the past, and excessive screen time for young children is certainly a concern. Weighing the potential benefits of game-based learning experiences against the addiction to screens that plagues younger and older children in current society should be a priority. Furthermore, if you are considering bringing tech-powered gamified learning experiences into the classroom, I suggest you play these games “as a student” first, and then backwards-match or plan to align these experiences with your learning goals.

In a similar vein to my comments about Duolingo, I would view these types of experiences as a potential complement to the traditional in-classroom gamified learning experiences that are more hands-on – and human-centered – rather than a full-on replacement for the learning experience. That said, I think it is helpful to know that these platforms exist, and to consider whether there is a complement to your existing methodologies that can be used periodically to support your goals.

3. Coursera – Personal Note: I started my AI journey on Coursera. I took Jules White’s Introduction to Prompt Engineering course, and it changed everything for me. I went from looking at AI as a scary tool to viewing it as something that I – as a Writer and English Teacher – was actually uniquely equipped to use well. I encourage all AI users to study prompt engineering, at least on a basic level, to better understand the nature of an AI interaction.

Furthermore, Coursera is leveraging AI to better help users find the courses they seek. An initial questionnaire then leads to an AI-based CourseMatch tool, which proposes relevant materials. Another interesting thing within CourseMatch is that it allows users to match academic courses offered by universities with the content of online courses offered in the Coursera catalog. In the section below on Century Tech, you will see my recommendations regarding how to navigate these types of “Course-Matching” tools. (Hint: Always maintain a level of skepticism.)

Coursera has also started offering certificates in artificial intelligence. On top of the course mentioned above, I also took Change Management for Generative AI, also with Jules White, and recommend it to any leaders in this space looking for help moving an organization forward.

4. Century Tech – A learning platform designed for schools and businesses, Century Tech has been recognized as a tech pioneer by the World Economic Forum. It incorporates AI features to attempt to deliver flexible, and adaptable learning paths for students. It utilizes machine learning and neuroscience to identify knowledge gaps and helps you customize content which can match with each student’s learning pace. 

However, it is important to always remember “adaptable learning paths for students” comes with a caveat. AI suggestions are just that – suggestions. Too often, I think, users of such platforms take AI suggestions as gospel. But imagine, if a friend recommended a course to you, would you automatically take it? Even if your friend were highly knowledgeable and accomplished in that field, you would still evaluate the course against your needs and make a thoughtful decision. 

Approach Century Tech’s suggested learning paths the same way, with some optimism but also a critical eye.

Critical AI Literacy: What is it and why do we need it?

Evaluating these tools for efficacy in your classroom stems directly from your own individual AI Literacy. If you understand how these tools work on a foundational level, it becomes easier not to be “wowed” into submission for a tool that may not deliver on your initial expectations.

That was the subject of my recent keynote for Massachusetts Bay Community College, which you can read here. The goal of the speech was to convince both educators and school staff that the way forward starts with building meaningful understandings of the tools and how to interact with them safely and effectively. From there, we can begin to better evaluate these brand new tools as supplements to our existing goals and practices.

Furthermore, companies are increasingly looking for employees who have “AI skills,” which is as yet undefined. We as educators need to dive in and research what it would mean to effectively use AI in a way that deepens our thinking, so that we can pass it on to students and help them thrive as humans in an AI-dominated world.

Here is the link again to my keynote. If you are interested in bringing this type of message to your school, please do not hesitate to reach out ([email protected])

OpenAI’s K-12 Offering

OpenAI quietly launched an offering for K-12 institutions several months ago. They have been engaged primarily in research for the time being and are focused first on providing teacher-facing tools, rather than student-facing, until better research comes in that shows how (and whether or not) AI may be useful in the K-12 space.

They graciously shared these slide decks with me and encouraged K-12 administrators and teachers to peruse them to better understand their vision and roadmap. I, for one, appreciate this more measured approach and believe they deserve some credit for taking it slow.

• OpenAI ChatGPT for Edu - K12

• Edu Pilot Training Deck

• ChatGPT for Education- Comparison Chart

Some Kind Words

Last, I wanted to share some kind words from a conference organizer at the International Technology Council. I have recently found a “home” of sorts with community colleges and city universities, and if you are a member of one of these institutions, I urge you to seize the opportunity that AI presents to your institution and your students. You have the opportunity to get “out front” and remake your policies and practices in a way that can make community colleges an increasingly attractive option for students looking to upskill in the age of AI.

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Thanks again, as always, for being a loyal subscriber. Your support allows me to continue focusing on this important work and find ways to help educators, schools, universities, and more build the all-important skill of AI Literacy in our world and in our culture.

-Mike