EP313 What students need to know about artificial intelligence (and how to help them learn it)

Oct 27, 2024

Discover how students can benefit from using artificial intelligence to enhance creativity and learning. Educators are encouraged to teach critical thinking about AI's impact while providing guidelines for responsible use. Key strategies for integrating AI into classrooms are discussed, making these complex concepts accessible and engaging. This exploration emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and fostering tech-savvy learners from a young age, especially as AI technologies become more prevalent in daily activities.

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INSIGHT

Unique Moment to Guide AI Use

Teachers have a unique chance to guide students in using AI responsibly while understanding its limits and impact.
This moment in history requires critical thinking to harness AI's potential and avoid misuse.

ADVICE

Demystify AI Technology

Demystify AI by teaching it learns from data like humans learn from experience.
Use relatable analogies like Spotify or Netflix recommendations to explain AI pattern recognition.

ADVICE

Set Purpose With Real Impact

Set a clear purpose by showing real-world AI impacts in healthcare, shopping, transportation, and education.
Engage students with questions about trust, safety, and AI’s influence on daily life and future careers.

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Many teachers are already seeing incredible results when their students use artificial intelligence to brainstorm creative project ideas, get instant feedback on their writing, and even generate unique artwork.

The potential is there for a lot of good…but also, a lot of bad. As educators in this particular moment in time, we have a unique opportunity to guide students in harnessing AI’s potential while teaching them to think critically about its limitations and impacts.

In this episode, I’ll explain exactly what to say and do to help students to be thoughtful, tech-savvy learners in an AI-driven world. This kind of instruction could begin as soon as kids are using devices–after all, even an elementary-aged child who’s watching videos on YouTube or playing games from the app store is already being impacted by AI-driven algorithms, images, and text.

Obviously, you don’t need to go into a ton of detail with kids who aren’t using AI, but we’re seeing kids as young as fourth graders discovering ChatGPT and using it for assignments, so I think that an awareness of AI is important for teachers of any age group. And of course, we need to understand it for ourselves as adults, so we’re prepared to be thoughtful and intentional about how we use AI ourselves in our personal lives, and how we allow it to shift the way schools operate.

Listen in for a detailed guide to introducing AI in the classroom, breaking down complex concepts in a way that’s engaging and accessible for students: Step 1: De-mystify the technology. Step 2: Set a purpose: why should we care? Step 3: Spark curiosity and explore possibilities. Step 4: Build awareness of limitations and potential problems. Step 5: Generate guidelines for responsible AI use. Step 6: Communicate clearly about when it is and isn’t okay to use AI for assignments in your class.

By giving kids an in-depth understanding of AI, you’re going to really increase their buy-in. You’re not just saying “AI is cheating; don’t use it” and trying to police violations and punish students. You’re helping them understand and use it responsibly. This episode offers a clear roadmap for empowering your students to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

Access the written step-by-step guide on the blog. Get a done-for-you mini unit on introducing students to ethical AI use: https://shop.truthforteachers.com/products/ethical-student-ai-use-guidelines-teach-students-to-use-artificial-intelligence