CIC: Semester 2, Week 4: Generative AI in education
There have been massive advances in Generative AI in the last couple of years, and it is profoundly changing education. In this course, we encourage students to experiment with AI tools and make informed choices about which tools are useful. If you use AI for the assignment, you must acknowledge which tools you have used, and why you think they have made your work better. This week we will explore some viewpoints about GenAI in Education and you will try out making some materials.
- Read our picture book on Exploring the AI Jungle which is aimed at upper primary school learners. Scan read the Teachers' Guide too. There is a video version if you prefer.
- Pick an important GenAI concept which is not in the book. Write the text and choose a jungle animal to match. Share it on the discussion board. OR
- Pick one of the concepts which is in the book and rewrite it for another ecosystem such as an ocean. Which animal would you use to replace the jungle animal? Share your new version on the discussion board.
- Read this article about the use of AI in children's education. In this course, I have chosen to take the approach of using AI to support the creative learning process using the guiding principles similar to those written at the end of the article. On the EdStem discussion board, write about: What is your view of this approach? Do you think it is suitable for use in school classrooms? Why?
Prompt an AI tool of your choice to explain how a computer works to children aged a) 5 years old b) 8 years old c) 14 years old. Post the results on your blog, along with a critique of the quality of the output. Is it accurate? Think back to the week when you learned about explaining concepts. How does the AI compare to your explanation?
- (Optional) If you would like to get better at using GenAI to help you learn, read this comic book. The uni library doesn't have an online copy yet, so you'll need to borrow an actual book from a physical library. I hear the lemon muffins are good in the main library though...