Introduction Background: Steven is from the Chicago area with a rich background in education, including roles as a kindergarten teacher, director of technology, and work with Discovery Education. He returned to teaching just before the pandemic and has recently become the director of digital innovation and teaches middle school computer science. Steven has also served as an adjunct professor and a local school board member for 11 years.
Connection: The interviewer has been following Steven's blog for about 15-16 years, initially recommended by Will Richardson, a thought leader in education.
Main Topics Discussed Steven's Professional Journey Transition from Education to Discovery Education: Worked for about 10 years in Discovery Education's online community. Return to Teaching: Returned to teaching at Quest Academy, a private school for gifted students, three weeks before the pandemic.
Current Role: Director of Digital Innovation at District 101 Western Springs, still teaching middle school computer science.
Research on AI in Education Background: Quest Academy had already integrated AI into their curriculum before the ChatGPT boom, focusing on AI across all subjects and grade levels.
Methodology: Conducted a study with students across 6th to 8th grades, dividing them into four groups based on their use of ChatGPT in the essay writing process.
Group 1: Authored essays traditionally.
Group 2: Used ChatGPT for pre-writing.
Group 3: Used ChatGPT for post-writing editing.
Group 4: Used ChatGPT for the entire writing process.
Findings: Essays written traditionally or with pre-writing assistance from ChatGPT were rated higher in quality by peers. Essays fully written by ChatGPT were identified as the worst, often lacking depth and personal insight. Students were able to identify essays written by ChatGPT, noting a specific "accent" or pattern in writing.
Ethical Use Policy for AI Outcome: Following the research, students developed an ethical use policy for AI, which was incorporated into the student handbook.
Impact: This initiative built upon the school's existing familiarity and comfort with AI, fostering a healthier relationship with technology among students and staff.
Action Items for Educators: Consider incorporating AI into the curriculum thoughtfully, recognizing its potential to assist in the learning process while being mindful of its limitations.
For Students: Engage with AI technologies critically, understanding both their capabilities and the importance of personal input and creativity in academic work.
Follow-up Points Sharing Research Findings: Steven plans to share insights from AI research and the development of the ethical use policy with a broader educational audience.
Continued Dialogue on AI in Education: The conversation around the integration of AI in educational settings is ongoing, with plans to further explore its implications and best practices.
Conclusion: The discussion with Steven highlighted the evolving role of AI in education, from enhancing the learning experience to necessitating new ethical considerations. By actively engaging with these technologies, educators and students can navigate the challenges and opportunities they present.
2 comments:
It is intriguing that when the entire essay writing process was done using AI it was deemed as worse than when traditional writing was used. I also wonder specifically how did the chatgpt assist with pre-writing in what ways was that utilized? To come up with topic ideas? Or website with information?
I found the findings interesting and would love to know what the students developed as the ethical use policy for AI
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