Bright Spots: Responsible and Effective Use of AI

Dear Educator,

If your inbox looks like mine, everyone seems to be exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) will, won’t, or already is revolutionizing teaching and learning. Some are approaching it with caution, citing ethical concerns such as privacy and bias. Some are experimenting with the many ways AI can support adapting to individual student needs. Some are ignoring AI altogether.

Overall, I think great ideas and questions are coming from every angle. Some that have caught my attention from educators in our Learner-Centered AI online course, include:

• “I am excited about the use of AI especially as it connects to Special Education students. I believe that AI can be an instrumental tool to assist students that require the scaffolding as a base for their learning.”
• “An idea I am excited about is AI writing firsthand and secondhand accounts for my students to analyze.”
• “Who decides what is appropriate? Who's voices would be missing and would AI further marginalize specific groups?”
• “As opposed to banning AI applications outright, the way forward is to educate users about how to use data/ tools in acceptable ways.”

I appreciate how these educators are holding space for both the opportunities and challenges AI offers, and aren’t defaulting to banning AI in the name of “preventing cheating.”

My Bright Spot this week is an educator who is working alongside her students to explore the pros and cons of AI, specifically ChatGPT. It’s such a great example of leaning into AI in a way that is aligned to the desired learning goals—enhancing learner agency, critical thinking, and effective use of the tools.

With Gratitude,

Katie Martin , CIO, Learner-Centered Collaborative

BRIGHT SPOT OF THE WEEK

Responsible and Effective Use of AI

Carissa Solomon , teacher at Embark Education , a learner-centered school in Denver, wanted to explore how to use AI with students and what responsible use might look like in a middle school classroom. She specifically wanted to orient her exploration to the school’s foundational belief that “learners’ capabilities are practically limitless when given the proper instruction, support, and guidance.”

In this blog post, she describes introducing what AI or machine learning is and that we have been using it in many ways already (hello, Google). Then she introduced ChatGPT and had them prompt it to write an essay. Next came the critique and fact check.

Overall, students found the output was fast, but that it was pretty generic and didn’t cite sources. In this simple lesson, many standards and critical skills students NEED to be proficient in were present—critical thinking, communication, and adaptability to name a few. When used openly, we can help students understand the benefits and limitations of AI and develop the skills they need to use it effectively and responsibly.

Carissa explains:

Because learners were given permission, trust, and time to explore the capabilities of ChatGPT, they uncovered a wealth of limitations to the technology. This experience also opened lines of communication about AI. Rather than viewing the technology as cheating and using it in secret, learners developed an understanding of how to use the technology appropriately. Hazel wrote that AI, “could be useful…when making an essay because it can make an outline.” While Maddie wrote that, “AI can be helpful if you are trying to improve an essay…. It can help you find better words, and shorten run-on sentences.”

AI is evolving each day and is showing promise and acceptance in nearly every career field. If we ignore it, we will contribute to a new technological divide where some students will be “in the know” and ready to excel in their future professions while others will enter those same careers wholly unprepared. Let’s give ourselves and our students permission to explore, have open and trusting conversations, and learn together.

Are you using AI with your students? Reply to this newsletter to share examples or tag me @katiemartinedu and #LCBrightSpots on social.

RESOURCE ROUNDUP

We've curated these resources below that feature more examples of how AI can be utilized in your learning community.

1. AI and Agency at Embark. Read more about Carissa's exploration with AI at Embark in her follow-up blog post. Read here.

2. Optimize the Balance of AI and Human Interaction. Explore frameworks and examples for how we can use AI effectively when efficiency and human interaction are in tension. Read here.

3. Creating Meaningful Learning Experiences in the Age of AI. In the latest episode of The Learner-Centered Collaborative Podcast, I caught up with AJ Juliani who shares his insights and experiences on creating meaningful and relevant learning experiences for young people. And, how doing so is evolving in the age of AI. Listen here.

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