How Generative AI Is Reshaping Education

 
How Generative AI Is Reshaping Education

Generative AI, like ChatGPT, is changing how we teach and learn. Some educators are excited and trying new things with AI, while others are more cautious. If you're unsure about using AI in your classroom, it's okay. You might not have had time to explore it or may not know how to integrate it effectively. However, not using AI can make your teaching methods seem outdated. Here's how you can start using AI without completely changing your teaching style.

Practical Ways to Use AI in the Classroom

1. Critique AI's Output

• Exercise: Ask students to use AI to write an essay on a chosen topic.
• Task: Students critique the AI-generated essay, improve it by checking facts, adding new information, clarifying points, and adding their analysis.
• Outcome: Students submit the improved essay along with a reflection on the AI's strengths and weaknesses.

Benefits: This helps students think critically and articulate their ideas. AI simplifies complex topics, and students can provide deeper analysis.

Further Reading: For more tips, read Ethan Mollick and Lilach Mollick’s article, “Why All Our Classes Suddenly Became AI Classes.”

2. Compare Different AI Tools

• Exercise: Students use and compare different generative AI tools like CleverX, AlphaSense, ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, or Adobe Firefly.
• Task: Document the search process, explain the choice of tools, and why certain tools were not chosen.
• Outcome: Students learn which tools are best for different problems, encouraging curiosity and exploration.

Framework: This exercise is part of the PAIR framework by Oguz A. Acar.

Further Reading: For more on PAIR, read Acar’s article, “Are Your Students Ready for AI?”

3. Use AI as a Study Buddy

• Exercise: Students use AI to create self-testing and self-study questions.
• Task: Students prompt AI to generate questions on specific topics, answer them, and receive hints instead of direct answers when they struggle.
• Outcome: Students assess their understanding of course concepts.

Benefits: This method helps students prepare for discussions and assessments.

Further Resources: Watch Mitchell Weiss’s webinar, “How ChatGPT and Other AI Tools Can Maximize the Learning Potential of Your Case-Based Classes.”

4. Create Low-Stakes Quizzes with AI

• Exercise: Use AI to generate practice tests and study questions.
• Task: Prompt AI to create multiple-choice questions and provide an answer key with explanations.
• Example Prompt: “Create a quiz on [topic] for [audience]. Make sure questions are relevant and include competitive alternate responses.”

Benefits: AI helps streamline quiz creation and grading.

Start Small but Start Somewhere

Begin by incorporating AI in small, impactful ways. Provide clear guidelines to students on how to use AI tools correctly. This approach will reduce confusion and address issues like AI-generated errors and privacy concerns.

Generative AI tools are advancing quickly, offering new opportunities for education. By embracing AI for tasks like quiz creation and comparative analysis, educators can create a more dynamic and forward-thinking learning environment. It's time to start integrating AI into your teaching.

Source: Adapted from Harvard Business School Publishing.