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AI Guidelines for Educational Settings, Based on a Seasoned Teacher's Perspective

Overlooking artificial intelligence, despite any feelings of fear or intimidation, is not the recommended course for you or your students. Instead, consider adopting this piece of counsel.

Guidelines for Implementing Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms, from a Seasoned Teacher's...
Guidelines for Implementing Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms, from a Seasoned Teacher's Perspective

AI Guidelines for Educational Settings, Based on a Seasoned Teacher's Perspective

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, a seasoned English teacher from Pennsylvania named Brett Vogelsinger is leading the charge in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into writing instruction in a way that prioritises human assets, skills, and needs.

With 23 years of experience under his belt, Vogelsinger has penned a new book, "Artful AI in Writing Instruction: A Human-Centered Approach to Using Artificial Intelligence in Grades 6-12". The book offers four guiding principles for educators and students navigating the AI-infused classroom:

  1. Transparency: Clearly communicating AI's role and functioning is key to ensuring everyone understands its capabilities and limitations.
  2. Critical Thinking: Encouraging students to question AI outputs and think critically about the information they receive is essential for fostering independent learners.
  3. Human Creativity: Supporting students' creativity and authorship remains paramount, with AI serving as a tool to aid, not replace, the writing process.
  4. Ethical Responsibility: Promoting the responsible and ethical use of AI in writing education is crucial for maintaining academic integrity and nurturing a culture of honesty and authenticity.

As AI becomes more prevalent in classrooms, it is essential for educators to adapt and cultivate adaptability to change. Teachers should be ruthlessly reflective, pausing to consider the impact of AI on their work and the learning experience of their students. Reflecting on its use devotes brainpower to an important academic and life skill.

AI can serve as a valuable tool in the writing process, helping to point out gaps or weaknesses in thinking, pushing students to come up with fresh material. However, it should not replace valuable learning experiences or critical thinking. Teachers and students should be mindful of when AI helps or hinders the creative and thoughtful process.

The interdisciplinary exploration of AI offers a wealth of opportunities for schools. Abundant issues surrounding AI, such as environmental impact, intellectual property rights, and biased outputs, invite the whole school to explore these topics in real time.

Teachers should value student voice more than ever, investing in learning how each student sounds when expressing themselves early in the academic term. Honesty with students is also crucial, as teachers should be transparent about the use of AI and emphasise the importance of their unique voice.

Deciding on a few key principles to guide AI usage can relieve some of the paralysis in making the best decisions for classrooms, schools, and students. Teachers should communicate their reasoning and boundaries regarding AI usage in assignments, fostering open dialogue and mutual understanding.

In the end, AI should be seen as a tool that can speed up aspects of the writing process but never replace a full writing experience. Writers have compared generative artificial intelligence to a power tool that can make the job easier but never replace the craftsmanship of a skilled artisan.

As we move forward in this AI-infused era, we invite readers to contribute questions for future posts, specifying whether they prefer using their real name or a pseudonym. Let's continue the conversation and navigate this exciting frontier together.

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