Usage of Generative AI in the Classroom
Using tools such as Chat GPT and Synthesia are becoming more mainstream in today’s digital society. These are most commonly referred to as “Generative Artificial Intelligence” or “Generative AI”, but what do these programs do and how can we adopt them into our classroom curriculum?
Generative AI systems produce computer-manufactured media that are made to act as humans would. These programs use computer algorithms that simulate what and how people would respond to answer any prompts, questions, or inquiries a user might enter into the program.
What are the benefits and downfalls of using AI in the classroom? AI uses sources from all across the world wide web to generate their responses for their users. This means that it draws from both credible and undependable origins. The big issue with this is that there are also a large number of deceiving and biased places that artificial intelligence can take information from and relay back to the user as if it is a proven fact. If the user understands and acknowledges how these factors may influence the AI’s output then there is room for reasonable usage of these programs.
AI can be used to create images and open the eyes of the user to multiple perspectives and sources that can be helpful when seeking imaginative assistance like ideas for a project, writing a story, or creating an image of a koala riding on the back of a humpback whale. The use of AI is virtually limitless and the ways that it can be used are broad.
A few ways a teacher can implement generative AI into their classroom is by asking ChatGPT to propose ideas on how to integrate physical activity into their history lesson or creating a writing prompt for their students to write an essay about. This is helpful for those who are at a block and cannot come up with any ideas of their own and need some assistance within their school’s ethical standards.
Students can also use Generative AI in assignments such as projects at their teacher’s discretion. Maybe their teacher asks the students to use photo-generative AI such as DALL-E 2 to create images for their assignments.
As long as educators and students are honest and use programs such as generative AI within academically honest means, AI can be used as a modern tool for assisting humans rather than being used as a crutch for humans.
