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Watch out, trap! How to avoid getting stuck in AI generated ‘vicious circle of education’

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 I recently stumbled upon this quote above, and I could not agree more with the way it sums up the purpose of education these days- creating a culture of learning where independent critical thinking is encouraged, where skills and competences are valued over memorising data that is so easily available, where we appreciate the process over the product, where we invent ways to adapt/learn, relearn and adjust to the ever-changing world. 

How is this possible in the world of AI at our service, where the product- idea, solution, essay is ready for us in seconds?  The danger is that we might soon be operating in a world where teachers prepare an assignment using an ai-tool, students complete it with the use of ai as well, and then educators grade it with the use of an ai grading tool… If that isn’t a vicious paradox, an educational education game, I don’t know what is…

So, how to avoid getting stuck in such a pointless pursuit? There is only one way- make AI a thinking partner in the classroom, not just an idea or solution  generator, in other words focus on the process instead of the product, embark on a meaningful conversation with it. 

How can that be done? Here are some tips:

  • Introduce AI tools to your students and explain how they work, what they can and cannot do, and what are their limitations and biases.
  • Model how to use AI tools as thinking partners by showing your students how you interact with them, ask them questions, generate ideas, create content, and reflect on your learning. Reverse the typical pattern- ‘you ask AI a question, you get an answer’ and use the process- pattern instead, where it is the AI that asks you one question at a time, than after your answer asks you another, guiding you through your thinking journey where it is you who generates the final product rather than AI substituting your thinking with a ready solution. You might want to use the following generic prompt: I want to achieve [desired result]. Guide me step by step through a series of reflective questions that will help guide me to my goal. Generate only one question, idea, or suggestion at a time, then wait for my response before taking the next step
  • Design learning activities that encourage students to use AI tools as thinking partners, not as product-oriented ready-solution providers. For example, you can ask students to:
    • Use a chatbot to brainstorm ideas for a project or an essay, and then compare and critique their own and the chatbot’s ideas.
    • Use an image generator to create illustrations for a story or a presentation, and then explain and justify their choices and edits.
    • Use a speech synthesizer to practice their pronunciation or oral presentation skills, and then self-assess and peer-assess their performance.
    • Use a code editor to write or debug a program, and then test and improve their code.
    • Use a music composer to create a soundtrack for a video or a game, and then analyze and evaluate their composition.
  • Provide feedback and support to your students as they use AI tools as thinking partners. You can also ask students to give feedback and support to each other and to the AI tools. 

Hope you found this piece helpful! Happy teaching and learning:) 

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