Teaching with AI

Integrating AI in Education: Best Practices

While AI tools offer exciting possibilities for education, it's important to implement them thoughtfully and effectively. This section outlines best practices for introducing AI into classroom activities, managing student expectations, and striking a balance between AI-enhanced and traditional teaching methods.

1. Start Small:
   • Begin with simple AI tools for specific tasks (e.g., using Grammarly for writing assignments)
   • Gradually introduce more complex AI applications as comfort levels increase
2. Ensure Equity and Accessibility:
   • Choose AI tools that are accessible to all students, considering factors like internet access and device compatibility
   • Provide alternatives for students who may not have access to certain AI tools
3. Maintain Transparency:
   • Clearly communicate to students when and how AI tools are being used in the course
   • Discuss the benefits and limitations of AI in education to set realistic expectations
4. Foster Critical Thinking:
   • Encourage students to critically evaluate AI-generated content
   • Teach students how to effectively use AI tools as aids rather than replacements for their own thinking
5. Personalize Learning:
   • Use AI-powered adaptive learning platforms to tailor content to individual student needs
   • Leverage AI analytics to identify areas where students may need additional support
6. Uphold Academic Integrity:
   • Develop clear guidelines for appropriate use of AI tools in assignments and assessments
   • Consider updating academic integrity policies to address AI usage
7. Continuous Learning:
   • Stay informed about the latest developments in AI for education
   • Participate in professional development opportunities focused on AI in teaching

Efficiency with AI

Basic Uses:

• Break down complex topics into simpler explanations for your teaching.
• Generate discussion questions about readings or lecture topics.
• Create quick outlines for lessons or presentations.
• Get suggestions for real-world examples that illustrate course concepts.

Time Savers:

• Use descriptive titles for saved chats (e.g., rename "New Chat" to "Physics_Lab_Safety_Guidelines_Sept").
• Create template prompts for repeated tasks (e.g., "Write a weekly announcement for [TOPIC] including: 1) what we covered 2) what's due 3) upcoming assignments").
• When starting a new chat about a previous topic, briefly summarize what you've already covered (e.g., "Previously we developed a midterm study guide. Now I'd like to create practice questions based on it").

Best Practices:

• Always review and edit all AI-generated content before using it. Do not use it verbatim. This is crucial for accuracy, avoiding plagiarism, and maintaining academic integrity.
• Be specific about your needs, including course level, subject area, and any particular requirements.
• If you don't get the desired results, try rephrasing your request, breaking it into smaller parts, or experimenting with different prompt engineering techniques (see section below).

Where are the tutorials?

AI tools such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Gemini are advancing at lighting speed, which is part of what makes them so exciting to use! It's hard to keep up and that is why we don't include tool-specific tutorials here—they quickly become outdated. Instead, we focus on helping you explore creative ways to use these tools in your teaching and learning.

(image: Canva AI tools)

Resources

How ChatGPT Works: A Non-Technical Primer (MIT)