Thank you for your insights, Tom. This week hit especially close to home as a history teacher of 20 years constantly trying to learn, improve, refine, get more creative, better meet students’ needs, and continually think of new ways to approach things. I have tried to come up with meaningful ways to have students use AI in the classroom, but I haven’t integrated any yet. My goal for the next school year is to first introduce students to how AI actually works and then how to use it responsibly - both in terms of sourcing information and as well as using it to augment learning and thinking, not replace it. I am, though, a huge over-thinker and type A personality, and I’m struggling with actually crafting the activities I eventually want to get to - ideas you mentioned like interacting with historical characters, creating unexpected conversations and situations, activities that do not simply recreate history as a script or video, but something that offers a new, meaningful experience. I just don’t know how to start.
Thank you for your comment, Christine! I sympathize with your situation. It's not easy to get started with AI with students. You have the right idea to begin by introducing students to how AI works and how to use it responsibly. As for curriculum use, I would suggest identifying a "target of difficulty," the intersection of topics that are challenging to teach, crucial for students to understand, and where technology can be beneficial. (One such target for me was New Deal legislation.) These targets are great starting points for using AI to address learning needs. I'd also recommend starting slowly (but thinking big) and encouraging students to help you during this experiment. (Students will practically trip over each other running up to help out a teacher!) Let me know how it goes!
Thank you for your insights, Tom. This week hit especially close to home as a history teacher of 20 years constantly trying to learn, improve, refine, get more creative, better meet students’ needs, and continually think of new ways to approach things. I have tried to come up with meaningful ways to have students use AI in the classroom, but I haven’t integrated any yet. My goal for the next school year is to first introduce students to how AI actually works and then how to use it responsibly - both in terms of sourcing information and as well as using it to augment learning and thinking, not replace it. I am, though, a huge over-thinker and type A personality, and I’m struggling with actually crafting the activities I eventually want to get to - ideas you mentioned like interacting with historical characters, creating unexpected conversations and situations, activities that do not simply recreate history as a script or video, but something that offers a new, meaningful experience. I just don’t know how to start.
Thank you for your comment, Christine! I sympathize with your situation. It's not easy to get started with AI with students. You have the right idea to begin by introducing students to how AI works and how to use it responsibly. As for curriculum use, I would suggest identifying a "target of difficulty," the intersection of topics that are challenging to teach, crucial for students to understand, and where technology can be beneficial. (One such target for me was New Deal legislation.) These targets are great starting points for using AI to address learning needs. I'd also recommend starting slowly (but thinking big) and encouraging students to help you during this experiment. (Students will practically trip over each other running up to help out a teacher!) Let me know how it goes!