AI in Teaching on Canvas

The detailed process of our project can be found here: https://sites.google.com/nyu.edu/aiinteaching/overview?authuser=2 

1. Research

We surveyed pre-service teachers and conducted interviews with subject matter experts, faculty of education programs, and leaders at public schools. A literature review on AI and education was also conducted.

Here are our research findings:

• Gaps:

  • Misunderstanding of AI in Teaching

  • Lack of skills to harness AI tools

• Existing Solutions:

  • Guidance Regarding AI Usage in Education

  • Classroom Tools for Integrating AI into Education Effectively

• Subject Matter Experts' Opinions:

  • Harnessing the Full Potential of AI

  • Skepticism and Misunderstanding 

  • Embrace Changes and Encourage Exploration

2. Design Process, Learning Objectives and Outline

Our final design is an online course designed to equip pre-service teachers with essential knowledge and skills in utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching. 

Learning Goals & Objectives

• Goal: 

  • Pre-service teachers need to be knowledgeable about the basic uses of AI in instruction. 

• Objectives:  

  • Learners should be able to explain different types of AI. 

  • Learners should be able to identify ethical use of AI. 

  • Learners should be able to state safety concerns around AI.

  • Learners should be able to analyze a lesson on AI. 

  • Learners should be able to create a lesson about AI. 

Learning Outline

Module 1: Understanding the different types of AI

• What is AI 

  • Activity: Short Video [Curation of existing content instead of developing new content to reduce overhead for perishable content] 

• Basic concept of AI -machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), neural networks, and popular algorithms like linear regression, decision trees, convolutional neural networks

  • Activity: Readings and [Optional] forum

•  Types of AI in education

  • Activity: Short exploratory activities and optional forum discussion

Deliverables 

• Mindmap describing the different types of AIs and their use in education

Module 2: Ethical use of AI and safety concerns around AI

• Fairness and danger in using AI - 

  • Activity: Readings and online discussions

• Copyright and Deepfake concerns - 

  • Activity: Readings and activities to identify wrongful use of AI

• Ethical guidelines for AI use

  • Activity: Video

Deliverables

• Create an ethical guideline for AI use in the classroom

• Passing an online Quiz about the harm and cons of using AI in education

Module 3: Analyze a lesson on AI

• Critiquing AI-designed lesson -Assignment to critique and identify areas to improve for AI generated lessons

• Reflection about the use - Online Discussion

Deliverables

• Critique about AI generated lesson plan

• Reflection and design your own tips to help refine AI-generated content 

Module 4: Create a lesson about AI

• Direct instruction

• Develop a lesson plan about AI through the use of an AI tool - Peer review and instructor feedback

• [Optional] Peer review of each other lesson plan

• [Optional] Refine lesson plans based on peer and instructor feedback

Deliverables

• Lesson Plan

• Reflection 

• Design your own tips on how to use AI for lesson creation

3. Development

Project Management

Our team utilizes Asana for task management:

Evaluation Plan

• Usability Test 

  • We conducted a usability test with 3-5 learners. 

  • This test involved observing participants as they interacted with the course prototype, prompting them to verbalize their thoughts (think aloud) while navigating through the course materials.

• Learner Validation: 

  • A one-to-one evaluation was conducted with testers to assess their recall or performance-based understanding of course content. 

• Design Review

  • A design review was conducted by the team to evaluate the course design and content. 

Recommendations from the Evaluation Report

• We can provide a video demonstration of how to use Padlet to create the image.

• We will create a  “content” page for each topic so the learners know what to expect and shorten some of the content and make it more consistent. We will also have a “why does this matter to me as an educator” section to deliver the take-home message.

• We will do more prototype testing to sort out the kinks in Canvas.