What can you do with a pink flying elephant?
For Young Learners in an EFL Context
Contents
Part 1: What are AI image generators and how do you use them?
Part 2: How can English language teachers and young learners harness this technology? 5 Example Activities
Part 3: Tips
Part 1: What are AI Generators and how do you use them?
For this presentation we are using YouImagine, found at you.com
4 types of generator software, each gives a different image
4 types of generator software, each gives a different image
4 types of generator software, each gives a different image
4 types of generator software, each gives a different image
Part 2
How can English language teachers and young learners harness this technology?
5 Example Activities
From Mini Activities to Full-on Lessons?
Light-touch mini activities, such as 1-2 minute lesson warmer or cooler activities, can be used to focus in on lesson topics in a fun, engaging way.
In essence, the teacher is using the fun interactivity of AI image generation as a hook, a focal point for the class, while drawing out introductory or summary material for classes.
Supplementary activities, such as extending out writing and speaking activities with additional tasks. Great for the whole class, groups, pairs or even individual activities…and great to be used for additional tasks for fast-finishers.
Full on Lessons, such as sentence and paragraph writing based around AI image generation. In depth writing tasks which also involve a lot of speaking/discussion create opportunities for students to use both productive skills; writing and speaking.
5 Examples
(P3 Self & Peer-Correction)
2. Cooler: Make a picture with today’s topic
(Possible with any topic and any year level, this example for Grade 6)
Teacher: “Today we have been reading and talking about the environment and fossil fuels. Can anyone give me an example sentence using some of the new vocabulary we learnt today? We can run it through the AI image generator and see what it creates.”
Student: “We need to use more renewable energy to save the Earth. We can’t keep using fossil fuels.”
Teacher: “Ok, let’s generate 4 pictures for that sentence using the 4 software models. Let’s decide which one is the best and why…but first, tell me what you see.”
3. Supplementary: Sentence-Picture Builder (P2 Top 300 HFW)
Any vocabulary driven activity can harness the power of AI image generation. In this example, P2 students studying High-frequency Words can showcase what they have learned by
b) Convert those sentences into AI generated images.
“Hey students! Do you think she is very funny?”
4. Full Lesson: Perfect Sentences, Imperfect Pictures (P3 Self & Peer-Correction)
Step 1: Show the whole-class a picture.
As a whole class elicit sentences describing the picture.
Step 2: In small groups or pairs, ask ss to write a description of the picture.
(Teacher can set limitations or expectations of the writing based on student ability, for example, 3-5 short, clear sentences)
Step 3: Groups swap their writing and peer-correct for grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes.
Then hand back to the group.
Original Picture Student-text Generated Picture
Step 4: As all groups were looking at the same picture, their peer-corrected writing should be quite similar. Randomly pick one and input the sentences into the image generator. Ask groups to discuss the similarities and differences between the original picture and the image generated by their text.
5. Supplementary: 4-Picture Story Endings
Supplementing or extending writing tasks can be fun.
The following example taken from P4 NET lessons at PBPS.
Stage 1, WS1. Having discussed the process of writing 4 sentences (or 4 short paragraphs), work through Picture 4 write-up together as a whole class.
Stage 2, WS2. Get students to write up a UFO ending for Picture 4 in pairs, after a whole-class discussion on possible sentences for the picture.
Stage 3, WS3. In pairs or solo, students now invent a completely new ending scenario for Picture 4. They write it up on the WS and hand in. Teacher takes one example randomly and inputs the student text into the image generator…
A real student example typed into image generator:
Teacher: “Does this picture match the sentences?
If yes, why do you think so. If not, why not? Discuss in your groups.”
Part 3:
Tips
Tip #1:
When using an AI Generator with young learners in any activity, it is probably a good idea to keep the activity teacher-led. With the teacher in control of the iPad screen (or other device) being shown in the classroom, there is little room for students to misbehave with the technology.
Tip #2: We have throughout this demonstration slide deck shown examples using YouImagine which is housed inside You.com. There are, of course, other AI image generators. Go and check them out if you feel so inclined.
Tip #3:
Don’t over-use image generator activities. They are appropriate and fun for many activity types, from warmers and coolers to something more, as we have seen. That doesn’t mean you should be using it all the time, in every lesson.
Use it when you think AI picture generation is a perfect way to more easily reach learning objectives with your students, or give a new angle on an old activity.
Tip #4:
Be imaginative. We have covered just a few possible examples in this slide deck. No doubt there are so many possibilities for English-language lesson activities.
Think about some of your own lesson activities. Could you supplement some of them with your own AI image generator fun? No doubt!
Anything else?
Guess what?
Students look at a generated picture only.
They must guess the prompt for the picture and write it down in full English sentences. Closest writing to original post wins.
For example, if students have been reading the Little Red Riding Hood story:
Students will practice skimming and scanning techniques to quickly locate information, as well as close reading of individual sentences.
So, how will you use AI image generation to supplement your lessons?
Note:
This is a fast-changing space and obsolete information on AI generators will be an issue. What is good and free today may not be tomorrow. With this in mind, below is a link to a nice article describing 6 currently *Free to use AI text to image generators.
*None of them are completely unlimited in their ‘free’ness. You get a certain number of free images with each platform or app. So, if you want to use AI picture generation in your lessons, arm yourself with a number of generators so you have enough free images to generate in your lesson activities. Or sign up to one you like and pay the subscription fee.
FREE as of May 2023
Real Lesson Examples
P3 students create their own alternative prompts for their Little Red Riding Hood endings and then discuss the gap between what they wrote and expected to see, and what the AI image generator actually created. Using https://app.runwayml.com/ for this one.
P3 LRRH Alternative Ending Lessons:
Students create their own, alternative Little Red Riding Hood endings as part of their LRRH lessons.
Use Dream by Wombo as another option to the other options of Draw & Tell and ChatterPix Kids apps.
P1-P2: Hybrid Animals
In this canva deck students go through a number of drilling activities to learn about some common wild animals. Can they say, read and spell the 8 target words? AI image generator helped to create a fun and silly hybrid animal name-making game to concentrate students on the animal spelling.