Our discussion on AI was very interesting this week. The first two videos that were shown were crazy, although I did guess that both videos were AI, it still blew my mind that they could be created with a single line of text. The use of AI has always been a complicated topic for me because while I see the benefits, I am also wary of the drawbacks that come with AI use as well. One issue that I find quite important is the inherent bias that exists in AI. I think we have to be really careful to be aware and make accommodations for this bias when AI is trained using only white faces or western culture.

I never really thought about how things like Google Maps uses predictive AI. I had always thought of myself as someone who didn’t really use AI but I never considered all the forms of predictive AI with which I had interacted. This, along with our discussion about how AI actually works including trying out the Google Doodle AI training, makes me more open and interested in trying out AI. While I consider myself pretty “tech-forward”, AI has been the one thing I have definitely avoided.

I really enjoyed trying to recreate the one picture of a flower using computer-assisted art programs (Canva) and AI art programs (Craiyon). It was interesting to me that many people found the AI quicker while I felt like it was easier to use Canva as I could directly choose what I wanted instead of trying to input the right line of text. However, I have quite a bit of practice with Canva, as well as an account already, so that helped make it a quicker process for me.

Image provided on slide deck from Week 6 (Image by Freepik)
Image created by Emma Scholten on Canva
Image created by AI (prompt from Emma Scholten) on Craiyon

Although I wrote most of this myself, I did want to try out the challenge posed to us to use AI in the creation of our blog post so I asked Chat GPT to “write a paragraph on the pros and cons of using AI in schools” (which might I say felt very meta). Exact prompts are in quotation marks.

Here is what it gave me initially:
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in schools presents both advantages and challenges. On the positive side, AI technologies can enhance personalized learning experiences, tailoring educational content to individual student needs and pace. Automated grading systems can alleviate the burden on teachers, allowing them to focus more on interactive and creative aspects of education. AI-driven tools can also identify learning gaps, providing timely interventions to support struggling students. Moreover, AI can facilitate the development of critical skills such as problem-solving and collaboration through interactive simulations and educational games. However, the use of AI in schools raises concerns about data privacy, as these systems collect and analyze vast amounts of student information. Additionally, there is a risk of over-reliance on technology, potentially diminishing the role of human educators and the personal touch they bring to the learning environment. Striking a balance between harnessing the benefits of AI and maintaining the human element in education remains a crucial consideration for the successful implementation of these technologies in schools.

I then asked it to “condense to 3-5 sentences” and got this:
The use of AI in schools offers personalized learning and efficient grading systems, fostering critical skills. However, concerns include data privacy issues and the risk of diminishing the role of human educators. Balancing the benefits of AI with the preservation of the human touch in education is crucial for successful implementation.

Overall, I am quite impressed with generative AI, and am looking forward to exploring it more, but will likely keep writing most of my own blog posts etc. (I also made sure to use “please” and “thank you”…. because you never know right).

Separate from AI, I thought Miro was an interesting resource that I could use in a classroom. In my Link2Practice I was exposed to Jamboard and was disappointed when I learned it was being discontinued. I think giving the students the ability to write in real time on a digital whiteboard is a useful way to increase participation especially for students who might not feel comfortable speaking up in class.