Why AI?
Student access to new technologies, specifically natural language processing and machine learning now popularly available, is resulting in a massive change to our student’s learning environment and to the entire education system. Teachers are undergoing a paradigm shift in classrooms and are under increasing pressure to decide how to approach the changes taking place from student access to technology.
The rapid rate of AI-related skills into the workforce has not been matched with a critical exploration of the benefits and challenges provided by the tool, nor with frameworks, policies, or skill acquisition to guide students and educators at the high school secondary level. Classroom teachers are currently having to decide how to approach curriculum design and assessment, with the knowledge that students may use artificial intelligence (AI) and generative artificial intelligence (GAI) to complete their projects. We are at a pivotal point in education and must visit the integration of artificial intelligence with a critical lens, looking at both the advantages of the technology integration and the potential downfalls. What teeters on the edge of perceived cheating might also be the very tool that students are needing to acquire to maximize their efficiency and employability.
The demands by the workforce suggest it is increasingly likely that artificial intelligence will emerge as an integral skill for students to possess. Digital literacy, specifically knowledge around artificial intelligence, is becoming integral to address in education. Learning objectives, curriculum, courses, and assessment are all needing to be re-evaluated in the context of AI. Just as we ask our students to problem-solve and think creatively, educators must create a way forward and explore potential paths.
I created a course outline for integrating AI called, “Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals.” The intention was to facilitate a path forward for students and educators around both the challenges and potential opportunities of AI in the classroom. The course, and the subsequent resources provided on this webpage, offer educators opportunities to explore Artificial Intelligence with their classes in an ethical manner with a critical lens.
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