AI in Education Insights for the New School Year

Hello Colleagues,

I am based on Canada and that means that our education system is in full swing back at school. That is not the case for all countries as you may have been in school for a month already. With that said, I wanted to share some insights/thoughts/ideas about AI in Education for your first few weeks back.

I had my first class back last night and I was going over the typical house keeping for the new term. One aspect was AI Use Expectations and Guidelines that I needed to explain and detail for my class. That new reality is one where I know that students will use AI and I know that I can not stop them - I accept that but I still struggle with navigating this new reality when there are less facts and process that are dependable and enforceable.

Below are some Insights to help, guide and hopefully ease any concerns you have about your individual experience with AI in Education.

Mentality

1. AI is Not a Mind Reader: Despite its advanced capabilities, ChatGPT needs clear, well-thought-out prompts to produce valuable content. Vague instructions lead to vague outputs.

2. Quality Over Quantity: It’s tempting to let AI generate large volumes of content. However, without proper guidance and validation, the bulk of this content might be unusable. Focus on crafting precise prompts that align with your objectives.

3. Fact-Check is a Must: AI can generate convincing narratives, but these aren't always factually correct. Always verify the information and data provided by AI against reliable sources.

4. Customization is Key: Generic prompts yield generic responses. Customize your prompts to get tailored and specific outputs that serve your case study’s needs.

Academic Integrity

• Academic Dishonesty: Students might use ChatGPT to complete essays, assignments, or even answer exam questions, undermining the value of education and violating academic integrity policies.

• Plagiarism: Even if students don't directly copy from ChatGPT, they might use it to paraphrase or get ideas without proper citation, leading to intellectual theft.

• Dependence: Over-reliance on AI for quick answers might hinder students' critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and genuine understanding of topics.

• Impersonation: Students might use AI-generated content to impersonate peers or professors in online discussions or forums.

Learning outcomes for the student of today with regards to AI

• Basic AI Literacy:

  • Define AI and understand its core principles and methodologies.

• Ethical Implications and Responsibility:

  • Understand the ethical challenges and potential biases associated with AI.

• AI in Professional Fields:

  • Recognize the impact and applications of AI in one's specific field of study. Be aware of how AI might shape the future landscape of their chosen profession.

• Critical Evaluation:

  • Analyze the potentials and limitations of AI applications in real-world scenarios.

  • Critically assess media and public discourse surrounding AI advancements and controversies.

• Collaborative Skills with AI:

  • Work effectively with AI-enhanced tools and platforms.

  • Understand how to leverage AI to enhance collaborative projects and team dynamics.

While not every student needs to be an AI expert, these foundational outcomes ensure that graduates are informed, responsible, and prepared as they navigate an increasingly AI-integrated world. 

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Wrapping it all Up!

You are not alone in this time of unrest and unknown in Education. We are all impact by the uncertainty and confusion/excitement/fear of how our Education systems might change.

I want to be clear, I am a supporter for somethings AI and against other elements with AI in Education. I mainly look at AI use as a tool in my workflow vs “the solution” or “the main problem”.

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Warm regards,

Matthew