Michelle Miller, a Professor of Psychological Sciences, discusses the debate of familiar tools versus embracing innovative technology in education. She explores the use of AI tools in education, the potential uses of a design tool called Dali, and the benefits and limitations of using AI tools. She also discusses the shift towards ungrading techniques and emphasizes the importance of preparing students to use AI tools in assignments and research.
Embracing new technology in education requires reflection and experimentation, considering the potential of AI tools and incorporating them into teaching practices.
Understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI tools, promoting critical thinking, and guiding students to evaluate and verify their output are crucial when using AI tools in education.
Deep dives
The Importance of Adapting to New Technology in Education
The podcast explores the need to embrace new technology in educational settings and discusses when to stick with familiar tools and when to explore new possibilities. The guest, Michelle Miller, shares her experience teaching a research methods course and how her initial resistance to AI tools changed as she became familiar with their capabilities. The importance of reflecting on the potential of AI tools and experimenting with them is highlighted, along with the need for specific perspectives and clear instructions when using these tools. The discussion also emphasizes the role of faculty in preparing students for the future by considering how AI tools will be used in their discipline.
Harnessing AI Tools to Enhance Teaching and Learning
Michelle Miller discusses the benefits of using AI tools in the classroom and shares suggestions for incorporating them into teaching practices. Examples include using AI tools to generate content outlines, improve writing prompts, and create graphics. The importance of understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI tools, as well as engaging in reflective practices, is emphasized. The podcast also explores the potential of AI tools to enhance metacognitive skills, critical thinking, and collaboration among students.
Navigating the Challenges and Ethical Considerations of AI in Education
The episode delves into the challenges and ethical considerations of using AI tools in education. Michelle Miller acknowledges the mistakes and limitations of AI tools, such as fabrication and citation errors. The importance of guiding students to critically evaluate the output of AI tools and verify information is discussed. Suggestions are made for designing assignments that involve using AI tools while also developing students' critical thinking skills and promoting academic integrity. The concept of ungrading and shifting the focus toward learning rather than grading is also highlighted.
Future Directions for AI Integration in Education
The podcast concludes by discussing the future of AI integration in education. Michelle Miller shares her plans to incorporate AI activities in her online writing and teaching practicum courses, highlighting activities such as outlining, generating improvements, and creating dialogue using AI tools. The importance of faculty staying informed about the latest developments in AI, as well as providing opportunities for students to explore and discuss AI tools, is emphasized. The potential of AI tools in enhancing teaching, assessment, and student learning is seen as an exciting opportunity for further exploration.
New technology is often seen as a threat to learning when first introduced in an educational setting. In this episode, Michelle Miller joins us to examine the question of when to stick with tools and methods that are familiar and when to investigate the possibilities of the future.
Michelle is a Professor of Psychological Sciences and President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Northern Arizona University. She is the author of Minds Online: Teaching Effectively with Technology and Remembering and Forgetting in the Age of Technology: Teaching, Learning, and the Science of Memory in a Wired World. Michelle is also a frequent contributor of articles on teaching and learning in higher education to publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education.