How-to: Inclusive & Responsible AI Teaching for Today's Classrooms 

DALL-E 3: Watercolor painting depicting an African descent female teacher standing alone in a classroom setting, holding a conductor's baton. The room is filled with representations of AI and digital technologies such as floating tablets, AR glasses, VR headsets, and voice assistant holograms. 

Posted on October 15, 2023  | [Eduardo Oliveira]

My own reflections on ChatGPT #4
(perspectives and opinions are my own)

Hey there, fellow educators and tech enthusiasts! I'm back! :)


Since ChatGPT stormed onto the scene, it's like we've been riding a digital rollercoaster. While some have confidently hopped on board, others are like, "Woah, slow down! What's this all about?" :)

Can I say? Fair enough! There's really a lot happening at the moment!


The world of education is diverse. Some institutions are diving deep into the AI pool, while others are cautiously dipping their toes. IMHO, both are valid. The key isn't forcing everyone to adopt AI but ensuring everyone knows about its capabilities and consequences.


Personally, I don't think we all have to teach with AI. Same idea applies to the use of other digital technologies. Not every lesson needs Kahoot, MIRO, or the use of tablets. A great lesson often just requires a passionate teacher. Difference now, however (and in this case specifically), even if we don't teach with AI, I believe we must teach about it! Understanding AI is becoming non-negotiable. As educators, I believe it's time we guide our students through this AI-infused world.


As amazing as AI is (or can be?), it's not infallible. AI helping with initial student feedback, making use of research-informed rubric, and that is later reviewed by an educator? Cool. AI being the sole judge of student work? Not so cool. We've got to remember that technology is the tool, not the teacher. And as for us educators, we're like the orchestra conductors, making sure the use of digital technology plays in harmony. We should remain in control of assessment and feedback. At least for now.


Embracing AI is all about responsible integration. Instead of shying away, let's gear up and harness its potential responsibly. Here are two examples on how we can do just that (with the support of people with expertise in the field):


1. Interactive AI Workshops (or one-day hackathons) - Forget the "one-size-fits-all" approach. Let's focus on hands-on, customised training. Begin with baby steps, and soon, educators will be confidently using AI to enhance their teaching. Remember, we're in this journey together, and every teacher, no matter their tech-savviness, should feel empowered.


2. Consistent AI Evaluation Process - Let's brainstorm together! Whether you're a tech geek or a curious educator, everyone should join in. We need to establish a process to help teachers evaluate their use of AI tools.

How-to



1. Interactive AI Workshops


Think of hands on, contextualised, and interactive workshops. Interactive and incremental training. Start small. 


Once you deliver these to educators (for example), they can unlock the use of those AI use cases within their own classrooms. I feel that more than reading resources, it’s time to hold hands and leverage skills together, in a much more inclusive and practical way. Naturally, some people may be well prepare with those covered contents so this approach may also not fit all. Having open conversations with colleagues to design these together is essential (and not an easy task).


While some educators are at the forefront of this technological revolution, others may feel left behind or overwhelmed. It's essential to recognise this disparity and offer inclusive training solutions that cater to all skill levels. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, training should be incremental, interactive, and supportive, ensuring that every educator, regardless of their tech proficiency, is equipped to harness the power of AI in their classrooms. As we move forward, the goal is not just adoption but inclusive and responsible integration for the benefit of all students.

Schools (generic example)

Use of AI in the classroom [co-created with GPT-4]

Workshop 1: Demystifying AI: Principles and Ethics for the Classroom

Objective: Introduce educators to the basics of AI and establish a foundation in ethical considerations.

Duration: 90 minutes


Agenda:

1. Introduction to AI (10 minutes)

   - Brief overview of what AI is and its relevance in modern education.

2. Interactive Activity: AI Ethics Dilemma (20 minutes)

   - Present educators with classroom scenarios involving AI tools.

   - They must decide the most ethical course of action.

3. Group Discussion (20 minutes)

   - Reflect on the decisions made during the activity.

   - Discuss challenges and dilemmas of AI in education.

4. Presentation: Core Principles of Responsible AI (20 minutes)

   - Cover principles such as bias, transparency, fairness, privacy, and security.

5. Wrap-up and Q&A (20 minutes)


Workshop 2: AI Tools for the Classroom: Hands-on Exploration

Objective: Familiarise educators with practical AI tools relevant to classroom teaching and understand their benefits and limitations.

Duration: 90 minutes


Agenda:

1. Introduction to Classroom AI Tools (10 minutes)

   - Overview of AI tools that can aid in teaching, grading, student engagement, etc.

2. Interactive Demonstration (20 minutes)

   - Showcase an AI tool, such as ChatGPT.

   - Educators interact with the tool under guidance.

3. Group Activity: AI Tool Sandbox (30 minutes)

   - Educators are divided into groups and given access to a variety of AI tools.

   - Each group explores a tool, noting its advantages, potential risks, and ethical considerations.

4. Group Presentations (20 minutes)

   - Each group shares their findings with the larger group.

5. Wrap-up and Feedback Collection (10 minutes)




Workshop 3: Crafting an AI-Integrated Curriculum Responsibly

Objective: Equip educators with strategies to integrate AI tools into their curriculum while considering ethical implications.

Duration: 90 minutes


Agenda:

1. Recap of Previous Workshops (10 minutes)

   - Quick review of ethics and tools introduced in the prior sessions.

2. Interactive Lesson Plan Building (25 minutes)

   - Educators design a lesson plan or activity integrating an AI tool, focusing on responsible use.

3. Group Activity: Peer Review (25 minutes)

   - Educators exchange their lesson plans with another group for feedback, emphasising the ethical use of AI.

4. Group Discussion: Real-world Implementation (20 minutes)

   - Discuss challenges and best practices when bringing AI into the classroom.

   - Share insights on ensuring responsible AI integration.

5. Conclusion and Path Forward (10 minutes)

   - Discuss continuous learning and keeping updated with the evolving world of AI.

Nursing (domain-specific example)

Use of ChatGPT in Nursing education  [co-created GPT-4]

Workshop 1: Introducing ChatGPT: An AI Revolution in Nursing Education

Objective: Introduce educators to ChatGPT and its potential in the nursing education landscape.

Duration: 90 minutes


Agenda:

1. Introduction to ChatGPT (10 minutes)

   - Brief overview of ChatGPT, its capabilities, and its relevance to nursing education.

2. Interactive Activity: ChatGPT Scenarios (20 minutes)

   - Present educators with classroom scenarios where ChatGPT can assist.

   - They brainstorm how to best utilise the tool in each scenario.

3. Group Discussion (20 minutes)

   - Reflect on the potential benefits and challenges of ChatGPT in the classroom.

   - Discuss ethical considerations when using such AI tools.

4. Presentation: Responsible Use of ChatGPT (20 minutes)

   - Cover principles of bias, transparency, data privacy, and setting boundaries with AI.

5. Wrap-up and Q&A (20 minutes)


Workshop 2: ChatGPT in Practice: Hands-on Exploration for Nursing Educators

Objective: Provide educators with hands-on experience using ChatGPT and highlight its practical applications in nursing education.

Duration: 90 minutes


Agenda:

1. ChatGPT Demonstration (10 minutes)

   - Showcase how ChatGPT can assist in answering student queries, providing resources, or aiding in simulations.

2. Interactive Activity: ChatGPT Sandbox (30 minutes)

   - Educators interact with ChatGPT, posing questions or scenarios relevant to nursing.

   - Explore its capabilities and limits.

3. Group Activity: Lesson Integration (30 minutes)

   - Educators work in groups to draft a lesson plan or activity where ChatGPT plays a role.

   - Focus on ethical and responsible integration.

4. Group Presentations (10 minutes)

   - Each group shares their lesson plan and receives feedback.

5. Wrap-up and Reflection (10 minutes)


Workshop 3: Ensuring Ethical Engagement: Strategies for Integrating ChatGPT Responsibly

Objective: Equip educators with strategies and best practices to ensure ethical and effective use of ChatGPT in the nursing classroom.

Duration: 90 minutes


Agenda:

1. Recap of ChatGPT's Capabilities (10 minutes)

   - Review the potential of ChatGPT in nursing education.

2. Interactive Discussion: Addressing Concerns (20 minutes)

   - Educators share any concerns or reservations about using ChatGPT.

   - Discuss solutions and safeguards.

3. Group Activity: Ethical Guidelines Creation (30 minutes)

   - In groups, educators draft a set of guidelines for using ChatGPT ethically in their classrooms.

   - Emphasise bias, data privacy, data confidentiality, setting boundaries, and ensuring AI transparency.

4. Group Presentations and Consolidation (20 minutes)

   - Groups share their guidelines.

   - A consolidated list of best practices is created for all educators.

5. Conclusion and Path Forward (10 minutes)

   - Emphasise continuous learning and the importance of staying updated with AI developments.

2. Consistent AI Evaluation Process


Ideally, I'd invite everyone keen on the topic to participate in this activity (with or without IT background... in the end, anyone passionate about education should have a chair at this table). I'm all about inclusive spaces!


Now, this is just an informal blog post. I wouldn't be able to come up with an evaluation framework to address AI concerns discussed here. 😅 

In saying this, some questions like the ones I listed below might be great conversation starters:


   - Is the AI enhancing learning? If not, maybe re-think its usage.

   - Do we all understand how this AI tool works? If the answer's no, it's time for some training.

   - Is our AI tool safeguarding user data? If not, is there a way to use it without compromising privacy/confidentiality?

   - If the tool is for feedback or assessment, are we reviewing the AI-generated feedback? Are we in control of decisions?

   - Got an avenue for feedback on the AI tool? If not, we need one. Voices need to be heard.

   - Is there an ongoing training plan as AI evolves? Continuous learning is the name of the game!


Regardless of being an instructor (or even a curious student), always important to also consider these (even when we're using the technology for personal use) when sizing up AI-generated content:

- accuracy check - How spot-on is this AI-generated piece? Got any tricks up your sleeve to test its accuracy?

- seeking second opinions - Can any trustworthy, non-AI sources vouch for the information produced by the AI? Always good to double-check!

- influence audit - How's this AI-generated info shaping your thoughts on the topic? Remember, it's all about perspective.

- representation matters - Who gets a voice in the data? Does it give a holistic view, covering various perspectives and scopes?



The clock is ticking. 


Regardless of any approach, we should start to engage in AI discussions. The longer we delay conversations about the use of AI in our classrooms, the bigger the implications for our students. Let's get chatting, brainstorming, and innovating!


Happy teaching and learning, everyone.

DALL-E 3: Photo-realistic image of a diverse gathering around a wooden table. A female nurse with a stethoscope, a silver robot with blue LED eyes, a male teacher holding a pointer, a female coach with a whistle, a male farmer with dirt-streaked hands, and a young student with notebooks are all in animated conversation, emphasizing the unity of human and AI across various occupations.

References


Antoniak, M. (2023, June 22). Using large language models with care - AI2 blog. Medium. https://blog.allenai.org/using-large-language-models-with-care-eeb17b0aed27

De Vynck, G. (2023, June 28). ChatGPT maker OpenAI faces a lawsuit over how it used people’s data. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/06/28/openai-chatgpt-lawsuit-class-action/

European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Ethical guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data in teaching and learning for educators, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/153756

Frąckiewicz, M. (2023). OpenAI and the Risks of AI Bias: Addressing Stereotypes and Discrimination. TS2 SPACE. https://ts2.space/en/openai-and-the-risks-of-ai-bias-addressing-stereotypes-and-discrimination

Gašević, D., Siemens, G., & Sadiq, S. (2023). Empowering learners for the age of artificial intelligence. Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence, 4, 100130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100130


Guidance for generative AI in education and research: UNESCO (2023)

Teaching with AI: OpenAI (2023)


TextGenEd: Teaching with Text Generation Technologies: Edited by Annette Vee, Tim Laquintano & Carly Schnitzler. Published by the Writing Across the Curriculum Clearinghouse