S3 BONUS ‘Historians On’: AI in Teaching and Research
Dec 18, 2024
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The podcast features Katharina Matro, a high school history teacher with a PhD from Stanford, Jeff McClurken, a professor and chief of staff at the University of Mary Washington, and Kalani Craig, co-director at Indiana University. They dive into the role of AI in history education, exploring its potential and pitfalls, including the balance between tech and critical thinking. Discussions cover the importance of innovation in student writing, the challenges of digital archives, and the need for transparency in AI-generated data, highlighting a transformative shift in historical research and teaching.
Educators are adapting teaching methods to address plagiarism concerns while integrating AI to enhance creativity and student engagement in history education.
Historians are utilizing AI for innovative research methods, emphasizing the importance of teaching responsible AI use and addressing existing inequities in access to technology.
Deep dives
AI's Impact on Teaching History
AI tools like ChatGPT have sparked significant discussions among history educators regarding their implications for pedagogy. Concerns over plagiarism and cheating have led educators to adapt their teaching methods and policies, fostering open dialogues with students about academic integrity and the importance of original work. Some educators believe that rather than viewing AI as a threat, it can be integrated as a tool to enhance creativity and engagement in learning, prompting innovative assignments that involve collaborative writing and brainstorming with AI systems. Establishing trust and goodwill with students is seen as crucial for creating an environment where they feel supported in expressing their voices and improving their writing skills.
Integrating AI into Research Practices
Historians are exploring how AI can be applied in research settings, finding new methods to analyze data and interpret primary sources. For instance, using AI for text mining has simplified the process of extracting information from extensive historical records, allowing students to engage in data visualization and statistical analysis with primary documents. Educators encourage incorporating personal narratives and classroom discussions into assignments to enhance the learning experience and ensure that students develop critical thinking skills about the historical context of their research. There is a strong emphasis on teaching students how to use AI responsibly while understanding its limitations and the significance of thorough historical analysis.
The Evolving Role of Historians in the Age of AI
As AI technologies advance, historians are finding new opportunities to redefine their roles and adapt historical inquiry practices. Discussions highlight the responsibility of historians to interrogate AI-generated content critically and to identify biases in the data sets utilized by AI tools. By collaborating with others and leveraging AI's capabilities, historians can innovate their teaching and research methodologies, ensuring that the complexities of history are preserved and accurately represented. There is a shared belief that the integration of AI could push educators towards promoting more interactive and engaging learning environments that focus on the process of historical understanding rather than merely product-oriented assessments.
Addressing Inequities in AI Access and Usage
The rise of AI has heightened awareness of existing inequities in access to technology and resources among students and educators. The conversation emphasizes the need for collective efforts within academic institutions to ensure that all students can benefit from the advancements AI offers in historical research and education. Acknowledging the financial barriers that some students face regarding access to paid AI services, educators advocate for creating inclusive practices that promote fair use of these technologies without compromising academic integrity. Collaborative discussions among historians focusing on teaching methods and strategies can help address the varying needs of diverse classrooms and work towards minimizing the digital divide.
At the 2024 AHA Annual Meeting in San Francisco, historian David Trowbridge sat down with a handful of attendees to discuss topics of particular interest to historians in the present moment. In this episode of our new "Historians On" series, David speaks with Katharina Matro, Jeff McClurken, Kalani Craig, Jo Guldi, Johann Neem, Kevin Gannon, and Lauren Tilton on the topic of AI and its implications for history teaching and research.
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