Welcome Judges

AI with an informed eye

Nomination Description

This project constitutes an experimentation with AI for both the teacher and learners alike. The group of learners involved in this project is the advanced class of third-grade junior high school students.
The aim and end product of the project is a digital presentation of Guy Fawkes as a historical figure. There are several objectives related to this aim.
– learners will practice listening for gist and specific information.
– learners will practice speaking, note-taking and presenting group findings.
– students will be able to make a digital presentation of a historical figure.
– learners will practice new literacy skills and will be introduced to the critical use of AI.
– collaboration and creativity will be promoted.
The project begins with the teacher assigning the creation of the lesson plan to ChatGPT based on the methodology on how to create lesson plan mega prompts she learned via a seminar organized by the Tipping Point in Education (https://www.genaiskills.org/). The teacher kept refining and asking ChatGPT to make improvements until she was satisfied. Finally, she added a photo of Guy Fawkes, a suitable video to spark interest and tailored a rubric for the presentation making use of the Magic School AI platform (https://www.magicschool.ai)
The process is implemented in about 2 months and is carried out in a hybrid form. Students work in groups in the classroom to complete the activities included in the worksheets which are projected on the interactive board, they continue activities at home, they upload work, they collaborate in the computer laboratory and polish their work at home. All necessary material is also uploaded on the eclass asynchronous platform.
The whole focus of the project is for learners to use AI with an informed and critical eye. Thus, they first engage in research about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. They complete the assignment by creating digital presentations of Guy Fawkes as a historical figure. Then, they enter into a discussion with ChatGPT on why Guy Fawkes constitutes a controversial historical figure. The issues discussed touch upon human rights, the relation of the citizen to the state, the right to protest, what constitutes terrorism, peaceful resolution of conflict and so on. A critical evaluation of the exchange with ChatGPT reveals that it fares remarkably well in keeping a balance concerning controversial issues and admits to making errors occasionally. Finally, the class has a little fun with AI by creating photos of Guy Fawkes with AI software and even creating a trap song written by ChatGPT!
The impact of the project is manifold as it involves the teaching and learning process as a whole. Both teacher and learners try their hand at using AI in a project that is carefully designed to reap the benefits of AI but not follow AI blindly. Teachers can use AI to enhance their material and teaching practices and students can use AI as a learning assistant. Neither should expect AI to do their work for them. If we learn to master AI, we need not fear that AI will become our master.