Potential Benefits of Generative AI Use
Discussions about AI in education often focus on plagiarism and academic dishonesty, which certainly are valid concerns; however, generative AI can also impact education in positive ways by increasing productivity for instructors and enabling different methods of engagement and learning support for students. We've listed below just some of the ways that generative AI can augment the teaching and learning environment for instructors and students.
Productivity Tool for Instructors
Assignment transparency
Greater transparency Links to an external site. surrounding the purpose of an assignment and an instructor's expectations leads to a greater likelihood that more students will be successful on the assignment. To increase the transparency of an assignment, try putting your assignment into an AI tool and asking for help with writing the purpose, tasks, and grading criteria in a way that all students can understand, or if you've already developed those elements, ask the AI to critique what you've written.
Low-stakes assessments or quizzes
Retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and feedback Links to an external site. are powerful strategies for learning, and well-constructed quizzes can provide opportunities for each of those strategies. Try asking AI to create quizzes for you. The following webpage suggests some prompting language that will help generate output that's appropriate for your audience and your content: Using AI to make teaching easier & more impactful (oneusefulthing.org) Links to an external site.
Authentic assessment
Authentic assessment can benefit students in several ways including promoting critical thinking, collaboration, and application of knowledge and skills that they'll use beyond college; however, sometimes coming up with great authentic assessments can be a challenge. Experiment with the AI prompt ideas on the following website to help you develop authentic assessments that are appropriate for your course: Authentic Assessments — AI for Education Links to an external site.
Case studies, metaphors, and examples
These are a powerful teaching tools, offering a practical approach to learning that can enhance student engagement and comprehension. Presenting students with real-world scenarios, comparisons, and examples encourages them to apply theoretical knowledge to complex, situational problems, fostering critical thinking. Developing new case study scenarios, metaphors, and examples is not easy, but generative AI can help. Try asking the AI tool to generate a case study, metaphor, or examples for some of the more challenging content that you teach. If the tool doesn't give you exactly what you want don't be discouraged! You might need to iterate on your prompt to refine the output and do some final tweaking on your own to get it where you want.
Reflection: Going Further With Instructor Prompts
These are just a few of the ways that you can use AI to your benefit. How else have you used AI to improve your productivity, or what are others doing that sounds useful?
Note: For other ideas and for specific prompt language, check out these additional prompts that have been designed specifically for educational use. Links to an external site.
Learning and Engagement Tool for Students
Personal tutor
Generative AI can significantly demystify complex subjects for students Links to an external site.. In generating tailored explanations, AI can break down complex concepts into digestible parts, making learning more accessible. Additionally, AI can explain concepts in several different ways using examples and metaphors and provide instant feedback as well as additional resources, allowing students to explore topics in as much depth as desired.
Brainstorming and planning
Generative AI can serve as a collaborator in the brainstorming and planning process Links to an external site. as well as spark creativity Links to an external site. for students, suggesting ideas and concepts that a student might not have considered. It can also offer organizational help and feedback to assist students with structuring their thoughts and refining their ideas into coherent and focused plans.
Language learning
Generative AI can be a game-changer for students learning foreign languages. It can simulate natural conversations and provide instant feedback on grammar and vocabulary. Accordingly, students can practice new language skills in a constructive, low-pressure environment. The following website contains different perspectives and ways that AI can benefit language learning: Generative AI in World Languages — UVA Teaching Hub (virginia.edu) Links to an external site.
Workforce preparation
Using AI in the classroom can be a significant advantage in preparing students for the workforce Links to an external site. by familiarizing them with technology that is increasingly prevalent in various industries, helping them to practice and hone skills that are directly transferable to their future careers, encouraging them to approach problems with an innovative mindset, and, importantly, teaching them how to critically evaluate information.
Reflection: Going Further With Student Prompts
These are just a few of the ways that students might be using AI to support their learning. In what ways are your students using AI to help them learn?
Note: Check out these example prompts designed specifically for student use Links to an external site.. For a more detailed explanation of those prompts: Assigning AI: Seven Approaches for Students, with Prompts by Ethan R. Mollick, Lilach Mollick. Links to an external site.
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