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Artificial intelligence in teaching and assessment

How can artificial intelligence be used in teaching and learning activities?

How can artificial intelligence be used in teaching and learning activities?

Artificial intelligence can enhance teaching and learning activities, but both teachers and students must critically reflect on their interactions with their "robots."

Artificial intelligence can enhance teaching and learning activities, but both teachers and students must critically reflect on their interactions with their "robots."

The use of generative artificial intelligence (gAI) such as ChatGPT and BARD in teaching and learning activities is controversial and can be problematic. This includes issues related to privacy (GDPR), copyright, and factual inaccuracies. Some argue that gAI takes away our ability for critical reflection, text and idea production, and undermines cognitive learning and many of our assessment methods. However, AI-based tools are not disappearing. It is important for both teachers and students to gain insights into how these tools can be effectively utilized in terms of efficiency, cognitive, and creative work. In this text, we will present some learning activities where generative artificial intelligence can be a resource, but at the same time, we challenge the usage through critical reflection questions.

What Artificial Intelligence Can Do for You

AI can translate text

AI can translate text into another language, making it easier for you to access the text.

For reflection:

  • What happens to the text you "input" into the robot? How is it used?
  • Are you violating copyright if you share a text with AI with the intention of getting it translated?

AI can improve text

AI can improve or provide feedback on how to enhance a text. You can input your text and receive a revised proposal in return. Your "request" determines how the text should be improved beyond correcting grammar and spelling errors. You must assess whether the text has improved and is more suitable for its intended purpose. This can be especially useful if you are writing in a language you do not fully master.

For reflection:

  • How can you evaluate if a text has improved?
  • What distinguishes between the text written by you or by AI?
  • What happens to the text you "input" into the robot? How is it used?
  • Can you delete your own data/text from AI?

AI can explain concepts and create summaries

AI can explain complex concepts in different words and create summaries of long texts. It can also provide examples and stories that illustrate theory. This can help you in reading and explaining/understanding text and concepts. It can also create keywords and bullet points for presentations, or generate questions you can use to test your own or students' understanding of the text. In some AI programs, you can even import questions directly into a Canvas quiz.

For reflection:

  • Can you be sure that AI explains the concepts correctly?
  • Is the explanation accurate?
  • Why does AI choose these specific points as important from a text?
  • What determines which questions AI generates from a text?
  • Do you learn more if you have to work less to understand a concept?

AI can initiate writing processes and provide ideas on a topic

AI can initiate writing processes and provide you with ideas on a topic. Perhaps it can help you overcome writer's block? The ideas presented may not be highly creative, as they are based on an average of what has previously been written (and fed into AI) on the topic.

For reflection:

  • What ideas are not mentioned by AI?
  • Can the ideas steer you in a specific direction?
  • Is the text influenced by a specific context and bias, or is it seemingly value-neutral?
  • Can a simple start to the writing process reduce learning, for example, in academic writing?
  • How much of the text and ideas do you have to come up with yourself to call it your own?

AI can critique text and arguments

AI can critique text and arguments and challenge your text and formulations to become even better. It can be your "personal" guide, and it is more accessible than a teacher's feedback.

For reflection:

  • How does your question/task to AI affect the answer you received?
  • In which direction does AI's critique lead your text?

AI can create visual representations

AI can create visual representations such as flowcharts, diagrams, and mind maps that explain connections and data in a simple way.

For reflection:

  • Are the visual connections/explanations correct?
  • Why does AI choose these specific points/data as important in the representation?

Feel free to share what AI has done for you here (Nettskjema)

This text has been translated from Norwegian usng ChatGPT-3.5

What does "Prompts" mean for conversations with generative artificial intelligence?

In the context of gAI, "Prompts" can be translated as prompts or commands you use in your communication with gAI. Prompts are used both to define how gAI should respond and what response you get. The more specific your prompts are, the better answers you will receive. A gAI instructed to respond as a college instructor in health sciences will provide a different answer than gAI instructed to respond as a 10-year-old.

It may be wise to divide a task or question into smaller parts and sequences. AI cannot read your thoughts, and you must have a conversation with it (ref. the name chatbot). Therefore, you must include details and specific references in your questions and commands. If you find the answer too long, you can request a shorter response. If the answer is too simple, you can request more advanced answers.

In "A teachers prompt guide to ChatGPT," you can see examples of different tasks/questions given to AI. It can help you get started in exploring the possibilities with Artificial Intelligence. But do not forget to be critically reflective.