Department for Education Seeks Feedback on Generative AI.
Image produced by The MoSAIC using DALL-E 2, prompt: ‘the future of interdisciplinary learning digital art’
Reading age: 17-18 years
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Intended audience: Educators
Author: Gareth Campbell
As we steer our way through the 21st century, generative AI is making ripples in the educational sector, promising a transformative learning experience. Recently the Department for Education has sought feedback from educators and institutions about how generative artificial intelligence is already having an impact on education and what needs to be done to utilise this technology in education. This blog post is based on a report that I submitted to the Department for Education in this call based on my experiences, views and opinions about how I have been using generative AI, both in my role as a science teacher and for The MoSAIC. If you want to have your say in shaping the future of the use of generative AI in education you can still submit your thoughts here before 5pm on August 23rd 2023.
Here's is a snap shot of how I and many educators are embracing potential of generative AI:
1. Bringing Learning to Life
Using text-to-image generators like DALL-E and Craiyon, I have observed an innovative fusion of arts and technology in the classroom. Picture an art exhibition in your school corridor, each piece a visual representation of AI's boundless possibilities. Each image allowing students to feel the success of an exhibited artwork. Text-to-image is also a powerful tool for students with English as an additional language, DALL-E acts as a magical tool, translating sentences into vivid images. This immersion is not just about learning; it's about experiencing their language skills grow.
2. Tailored Learning Experiences
Every student is unique, and generative AI helps cater to that individuality. With tools like ChatGPT, I've managed to effortlessly differentiate resources, ensuring every student can access content tailored to their reading level. The result? More inclusive classrooms where information is democratised, no student feels left behind, and reduced workload for educators.
3. Educational Efficiency
Time, the one resource that educators perpetually crave. Thanks to generative AI, tasks like summarising complex news articles or generating lesson plans can be accomplished in mere minutes. While not perfect, with the right guidance, these tools can become a valuable asset in our teaching toolkit. Read more about my experiences using ChatGPT and DALL-E to create lesson resources here.
4. Empowering Workshops and Resources
The MoSAIC’s virtual exhibition, lesson resources and workshops have successfully enlightened students across the UK. By using visual arts as a medium, these sessions demystify AI's mechanics, highlighting both its brilliance, its biases and how quickly this technology is advancing. Explore our current offering using the links below.
— Free Lesson Resources — Virtual Exhibition — Workshops —
5. Critical Awareness is Key
While generative AI offers a plethora of benefits, it's essential for staff and students to recognise its limitations. Transparently teaching young people about AI has proven to be instrumental in fostering this critical awareness of this technology. From copyright infringement to the carbon footprint of training a language model, students and staff need to be aware of the darker side of AI. But this can also serve as a conversation starter about multi-faceted problems such as unconscious bias. We can learn more about our own biases by seeing what inequalities algorithms exacerbate.
6. A Level Playing Field
For individuals like me with dyslexia, generative AI has been a beacon. From simplifying form completion to refining texts, it showcases how technology can level the educational playing field. However, without sufficient education, we leave it up to didactic students to learn about this quickly advancing technology which could result in the opposite effect of widening the disadvantage gap.
7. Practical Applications in the Classroom
From crafting bespoke image prompts for creative writing tasks to aiding students in editing texts, generative AI's applications are vast. Its versatility extends across subjects, making it an invaluable tool in many different subject areas lessons but not all staff will have the same level of confidence in employing this tool. Staff training in generative AI is going to be pivotal to the safe and effective use of AI in all classrooms. Educators who are unfamiliar with generative AI can sign up to our free online STEAM learning training on Monday 4th September via Eventbrite.
Conclusion
Generative AI is not just another tech fad; it's a transformative tool shaping the future of education. By integrating it thoughtfully, educators can craft enriched, personalised, and efficient learning experiences for all students. So, as we stand on the brink of this educational revolution, the question isn't whether we should embrace generative AI, but how soon can we start? If you’re interested in introducing the ethics and benefits of generative AI to your students and staff check out our free online resources, subsidised student workshops or booking a staff training session.
About the author:
Gareth is MoSAIC’s founder. Gareth is a former science teacher and now works as an artist and science educator.
Gareth is currently reading: ‘Beyond Science’ by John Polkinghorne
The MoSAIC is currently offering a range of free resources and subsidised workshops on generative AI to teach students about its impact on creativity, the ethical issues and the benefits of this exciting new technology. Explore here.