Lately, just mentioning AI in schools is enough to make everyone gasp and back away like it’s a cursed object-thanks to its not-so-great reputation for cheating. There have been countless scandals of entire essays being written with ChatGPT and the tragic effects on the gradebook, but does it always have to be this way? What if AI could be used for the benefit of education? To explore this idea, we’ll take a look at two teachers who are paving the way for AI to be used for education, not against it.
The first teacher to integrate AI into their curriculum is Cresskill High School’s Italian teacher, Ms. Zoino. She first introduced AI as a learning tool when she had students try practicing typing out dialogues with an AI chatbot from a website called Mizou. From there, students were able to discuss a certain topic in Italian, practice their grammar, and enjoy a more dynamic learning experience compared to the standard language worksheets. A student of hers says, “I was fascinated [by the AI]. I found myself applying the concepts and vocabulary we learned in a socially applicable and appropriate setting. The bot was very amicable, and constantly generated prompts for me to answer, keeping my normally deviating attention on the bot.” Overall, it seems the bot offered a fresh angle for learning, helping students absorb the information better.
The next teacher to incorporate AI is history teacher Mr. Meier. He often incorporates readings from ChatGPT and MagicSchool AI into his lesson plans. He says, “I often use them to create short readings to deliver material to students as an alternative to my lecturing. I’ve also used it to take a reading with complex vocabulary to simplify it. Additionally, I’ve used it to make review activities such as matching and practice quizzes.” To ensure the AI provides accurate information, he inputs the content to be paraphrased and edits any errors he finds. Mr. Meier believes the AI is beneficial for both sides of the classroom. “In the past, I’ve had to search for secondary source articles that are the appropriate length, and now I can make them myself.” In addition, the simplified articles are easier for the students to digest, allowing for better comprehension.
In conclusion, AI can be a viable tool for learning. It allows for more transformative and innovative learning which can engage students better. AI’s negative stigma is as a result of students misusing it to complete assignments for them without learning the material. However, if used properly, it can be a very useful supplement.
