1.5 Practical Task: Applying AI in Education

Introduction to Practical Task: Applying AI in Education

As AI becomes more accessible in educational settings, it’s crucial for educators to explore and practice using AI tools. This practical task aims to familiarize participants with different AI tools, allowing them to assess how these tools can be integrated into lesson plans to create interactive and dynamic learning activities. By applying an AI tool in a real educational scenario, educators will gain insights into the potential benefits, possible challenges, and overall effectiveness of AI in enhancing student engagement and learning.

Task Instructions

Overview: Participants will select an AI tool and create a brief educational activity around it. This exercise is meant to showcase the tool’s potential in real classroom settings, as well as to encourage reflection on its functionality and areas for improvement. After developing the activity, each participant will present it to the group and engage in a discussion on the tool’s practical value and limitations.

Step 1: Selecting an AI Tool

Educators can choose from various AI tools, each offering different functionalities that can support teaching and learning. Here are some popular options:

1. ChatGPT or Other Chatbot Tools

   • Functionality: Interactive chatbots can simulate conversations, answer questions, and assist in language practice. They’re ideal for quizzes, interactive stories, or problem-solving activities.
   • Possible Activity: Design a Q&A session where ChatGPT answers students’ questions on a specific topic, such as history, science, or math, encouraging inquiry-based learning.

2. Google Translate

   • Functionality: Useful for language learning, Google Translate supports vocabulary building, sentence construction, and cultural exchange through multilingual support.
   • Possible Activity: Conduct a translation exercise where students translate a story or passage and discuss the nuances of language, cultural context, or idiomatic expressions.

3. Quizlet or Kahoot

   • Functionality: AI-powered platforms like Quizlet or Kahoot allow teachers to create interactive quizzes and flashcards, providing real-time feedback on student responses.
   • Possible Activity: Create a subject-specific quiz (e.g., vocabulary in language arts or historical events in social studies) that promotes memorization and comprehension.

4. Speech Recognition Software (e.g., Google Speech-to-Text)

   • Functionality: Speech recognition tools convert spoken language into text, beneficial for language practice, presentations, and pronunciation improvement.
   • Possible Activity: Design a pronunciation exercise where students speak sentences aloud, and the tool converts their speech to text for accuracy checking.

5. AI-Powered Video Creation Tools (e.g., Synthesia)

   • Functionality: Video generation tools allow educators to create customized video lessons or tutorials, using AI-generated avatars that can narrate educational content.
   • Possible Activity: Prepare a short video lesson on a new topic, which can be replayed by students at their convenience, allowing for asynchronous learning support.

Step 2: Creating an Educational Activity

Once a tool is selected, participants will develop an educational activity that leverages the tool’s unique capabilities. Here’s a guide to structuring the activity:

1. Define the Learning Objective

   • Establish clear goals for the activity, ensuring that it aligns with curriculum standards and learning outcomes. For example, if using Google Translate, the objective might be to enhance students’ vocabulary and understanding of context in foreign language learning.

2. Outline the Activity Steps

   • Design the steps for using the AI tool in the activity. Specify the tasks for students, such as entering responses, generating content, or interacting with the AI. For example, in a Quizlet activity, students might complete a flashcard review, followed by a timed quiz for reinforcement.

3. Include Clear Instructions for Students

   • Provide a step-by-step guide so students understand how to interact with the tool. For instance, if using ChatGPT for a Q&A, instructions might include “Type your question and read ChatGPT’s response, then note any additional follow-up questions or thoughts based on the response.”

4. Consider the Assessment Criteria

   • Establish metrics for evaluating student engagement and learning. For example, if creating an activity with a speech recognition tool, assessment could be based on the accuracy of pronunciation and fluency of speech.

Step 3: Presenting the Activity

After designing the activity, each participant will present their activity to the group. This presentation should cover the following elements:

1. Description of the Activity

   • Briefly explain the chosen AI tool, its core functionality, and how it is used in the activity. Highlight the purpose of the activity and the specific skills or knowledge it aims to reinforce.

2. Demonstration of the Tool in Action

   • Show how the tool works in the context of the activity. For example, present a sample question and demonstrate how ChatGPT or Quizlet responds. Alternatively, if using a translation tool, provide an example passage and translate it in real time.

3. Discussion of Expected Outcomes

   • Explain the anticipated learning outcomes for students. Describe how the activity will help meet curriculum standards or improve student understanding and engagement with the content.

Step 4: Group Discussion on Tool’s Capabilities and Limitations

Following the presentation, participants will engage in a group discussion, reflecting on the capabilities and limitations of the AI tool in an educational context. This reflection is crucial for understanding the practicality and feasibility of using AI in diverse classroom environments.

1. Strengths of the Tool

   • Consider how the tool enhances teaching and learning. For example, chatbots like ChatGPT can provide immediate feedback and personalized interaction, while translation tools can help bridge language barriers in multilingual classrooms.

2. Limitations and Challenges

   • Discuss any observed limitations. For instance, while Google Translate is helpful for translation, it may struggle with complex idiomatic expressions. Educators might also discuss challenges like student access to devices, varying levels of digital literacy, or the need for additional training on tool usage.

3. Ethical and Privacy Considerations

   • Reflect on any ethical considerations, such as data privacy or the impact of AI-generated feedback on student motivation. For example, automated assessments may lack the nuanced understanding of a human teacher, and reliance on AI could affect student autonomy and critical thinking.

4. Suggestions for Improvement or Further Use

   • Educators can share ideas for enhancing the tool’s use or adapting it for different learning levels and needs. They may also discuss potential integrations of the tool with other classroom technologies, such as using AI-driven translation alongside language apps for comprehensive language instruction.

Outcome of the Practical Task

By the end of this practical task, educators will have:

• Developed an activity that integrates AI into the educational process.
• Gained firsthand experience in assessing the practical applications and limitations of an AI tool.
• Identified ways to adapt AI tools to different classroom contexts, catering to various learning needs.
• Built awareness of the ethical and practical implications of AI in education.

This exercise will not only deepen participants’ understanding of AI’s capabilities but also encourage critical thinking about when and how to leverage AI tools most effectively, ensuring a balanced approach to technology-enhanced education.

This section equips educators with the skills needed to integrate AI tools into their teaching, fostering a hands-on, collaborative learning experience that allows participants to explore AI’s role in modern classrooms actively.