You’re Not Alone Anymore: The Rise of AI and Technology to Support Educators

Dr. Cecil R. Short

April 2024

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CC BY SA 4.0

Slides at:

bit.ly/aibuzz2024

Introduction and Welcome

Dr. Cecil R. Short

Assistant Professor & Director

of Secondary Education

The Teachers College

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Background:

Blended and Personalized Learning, Teacher Preparation,

Open Education

https://bit.ly/aibuzz2024

Artificial Intelligence

What is Artificial Intelligence?

• Let’s demystify AI

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• AI, in simple terms, is an innovative technology that emulates human intelligence, paving the way for groundbreaking advancement in various domains.

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• AI systems can learn, reason, problem-solve, and interact with humans in the way we’d expect other humans to be capable of.

What is Generative Artificial Intelligence?

• Generative AI refers to AI systems that can generate content such as text, images, audio, or video.

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• Such systems use deep learning techniques, often based on neural networks, to create contextually relevant and coherent content.

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• Generative is the “G” in ChatGPT.

What About the “PT”

• ChatGPT stands for Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer.

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• Pre-Trained: Before the model is fine-tuned for a specific task or application, it undergoes “training.” This training exposes the model to a vast amount of text data from the Internet. The system then learns human language.

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• Transformer: This is a deep learning architecture that can capture long-range dependencies in data. They are the foundation for Natural Language Processing models of AI.

Characteristics of AI

• Learning – Can adapt and change based on inputs
• Reasoning – Can create logical assumptions and analysis
• Problem-Solving – Can use logic models to solve problems
• Interaction – Can interact with humans to share and create

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• Non-Education Examples: Self-driving Cars,

Virtual Assistants, and Recommendation Systems

Types of AI in Education

• Machine Learning: Algorithms analyze data and make predictions (Learning Engineering)

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• Natural Language Processing (NLP): Machines understand and generate human language

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• Computer Vision: Machines interpret visual data

Should We Fear AI

(in education)

Man vs. Machine

Did Technology Win?

“And in 1997, I was still the world champion when chess computers finally came of age. I was Mt. Everest, and Deep Blue reached the summit. I should say of course, not that Deep Blue did it, but its human creators -- Anantharaman, Campbell, Hoane, Hsu. Hats off to them. As always, machine's triumph was a human triumph, something we tend to forget when humans are surpassed by our own creations.”

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Human Effort WITH Technological Effort

Use and Practice of AI in Education

Benefits of AI in Education

• Improved Engagement
• Personalized content can keep students engaged

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• Accessibility for All Learners
• Can allow students to learn at their own pace on their own time, by accommodating learners’ diversities

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• Efficiency for Teachers
• Automation of administrative tasks and data analysis can free up teachers for more teaching

Challenges in Implementing AI in Education

• Privacy
• Data security and protection of minors/students will be important when using AI for data analysis.

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• Digital Divide
• Access to technology is necessary for access to AI. We will see similar disparity as we see in blended/online learning.

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• Teacher Training
• Much like the acceptance and implementation of blended/online learning, teachers will need to understand effect practices.

Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS)

• ITS are AI-driven platforms that provide personalized instruction.

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• They differ from former personalized learning apps and software in that they are much more dynamic and “intelligent”

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• They can adapt content, pacing, review questions, format, etc. to individual learner needs.

AI Automation of Administrative Tasks

• AI can handle scheduling tasks to free up educators to focus on instructional tasks.
• Course Scheduling, Teacher/Staff/Student Meeting Scheduling, Resource/Space Allocation, Exam Scheduling
• AI can handle communication tasks to free up the educator to focus on instructional tasks.
• Email management, Automated notifications, Language translation, Speech recognition, Automated surveys and feedback for data

Curriculum Generation

• AI tools can automatically create entire curriculum units based on educational standards and learning objectives.

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• AI can generate lesson plans for a month, complete with assignments, activities, and resources.

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• AI can create content such as presentations, documents, worksheets, quizzes, and activities tailored to the abilities of individual students. No more One-Size-Fits-All!

Tools for Creating Curriculum Resources

• Chatbots can handle lesson planning aligned to learning outcomes quite well, providing a range of backward design optimization.

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• State/National Standards
• Content Objectives
• Individual Goals

Image Generation via AI

• AI can create images to be used for writing prompts, to assist with reading, or for assessment of learning.

• Stable Diffusion (DreamStudio)
• DALLE-3
• Midjourney
• Firefly (Photoshop)
• Craiyon
• Generative AI by Getty Images
• Bing’s Image Creator
• Canva’s AI Image Generating Tool
• Recraft

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Video Generation via AI

• AI can create videos to be used for delivering content, interactions, or as assessments of learning.

• Wondershare
• Colossyan
• Synthesia
• Pictory
• Elai.io
• HeyGen
• Lumen 5
• FlexClip

Presentation Generation via AI

• AI can create presentations (slides, documents, websites) to be used for delivering content.

• Gamma
• Beautiful.ai
• Simplified
• Slidebean
• Designs.ai
• Pitch
• Presentations.ai
• Kroma.ai
• Tome
• DeckRobot (PowerPoint plug-in)

Assessment Generation via AI

• AI can create assessments (slides, documents, websites) to be used for delivering content.

• Quizziz
• Quillionz
• Photomath
• Hello History
• Meta AI Animated Drawings

Next Steps

The Journey Ahead

• Be Excited, and Welcome the Challenge
• Remember the profound impact YOU as an educator will have in shaping the future of our students and society as a whole
• Embrace the AI revolution with open minds and compassionate hearts, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive in a world powered by knowledge and innovation.
• A world that will need to accept the benefits of what is artificial, without losing site of what it means to be human.

Seek to inspire and empower the next, next generation of educators with �passion, dedication, curiosity, and humanity.

Dr. Cecil R. Short��Assistant Professor & Director�of Secondary Education,�The Teachers College

www.cecilrshort.com

cshort5@emporia.edu

bit.ly/aibuzz2024

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