CALL Newsletter - August 2023 (Plain Text Version)

Return to Graphical Version

In this issue:
LEADERSHIP UPDATES
•  LETTER FROM THE CO-CHAIRS
•  LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
•  THE ELECTRONIC VILLAGE ONLINE (EVO)
ARTICLES
•  CHATGPT EMBRACE DON'T FEAR: PRACTICAL USES OF CHATGPT IN LANGUAGE LEARNING CLASSROOMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
•  UNLOCK THE POWER OF AI IN TEACHING: ENHANCE YOUR PEDAGOGY AND PRACTICE
•  TEACHER EFFICIENCIES WITH CHATGPT & CHROME BROWSER EXTENSIONS
•  USING CHATGPT FOR MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT: GETTING THE PROMPT RIGHT
CONFERENCE REVIEW
•  PANSIG2023
ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY
•  CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

UNLOCK THE POWER OF AI IN TEACHING: ENHANCE YOUR PEDAGOGY AND PRACTICE

Kareen Sharawy, Hanson College, Toronto, Canada

The Impact of AI in Education: Revolutionizing Teaching and Learning

In recent years, the integration of AI-powered technologies in education has unlocked new possibilities for personalized learning experiences, interactive content creation, and intelligent assessment and feedback. This article explores the practical applications of AI in teaching and learning, providing examples of how educators can leverage AI to tailor instruction, create engaging content, and provide targeted feedback. It also addresses the challenges and ethical considerations associated with AI integration in education, highlighting the need for responsible and effective use of these technologies.

I. AI-Powered Personalization in Teaching: 

Tailoring Instruction to Meet Individual Student Needs

One area where AI can have a profound impact is personalization in teaching. It can assist educators to analyze learners' work and provide personalized guidance and support fast.

Practical Example: Collecting Samples and Adding Rubrics for Analysis

A language teacher can use ChatGpt to analyze students' work. The AI system can provide specific feedback on grammar, vocabulary, and structure based on each student’s individual performance. This personalized feedback helps identify areas for improvement and facilitates the creation of targeted support. It’s like having a personal tutor who can help students improve their skills (Kim & Lin, 2019). When it comes to teaching, personalization is key to helping each student thrive. The following is a step-by-step sample process on how to leverage AI-powered techniques for tailoring your ESL instruction and meeting the individual needs of your learners(Cambridge English, 2020).

Collecting Samples and Adding Rubrics for Analysis

• Start by gathering written work samples from your ESL students..
• ChatGPT can adjust evaluation, strictness, and language based on group and individual needs, using prompts and rubrics to enhance personalized learning experiences.
• Encourage students to review the feedback to identify areas for improvement and to receive targeted support.

Generating Feedback and Sharing with Students

• Feed the AI system with more samples of students' work.
• Request a report from the AI system, which should include a list of words and structures that students tend to struggle with.
• Utilize this information and get AI to create personalized vocabulary lists and content for each student, including targeted practice exercises and lessons.
• Allow ESL students to progress at their own pace and provide the necessary support for their language improvement.
• After assignments, summarize and share reports with ChatGPT. Prompted with different data, it shows students' progression for data-driven decisions.

AI-Driven Recommendations and Adaptive Learning

• Explore AI-powered recommendation systems that suggest appropriate learning resources based on individual student performance and preferences.
• Consider using tools like Quill.org, Microsoft Editor, or Grammarly to assist students in enhancing their grammar and writing skills.

II. Enhanced Content Creation and Curation:

Creating Engaging and Customized Learning Materials

AI also enhances content creation and curation in education. By analyzing learner data and behavior, AI algorithms can generate customized learning materials that cater to individual learner needs and preferences. This includes interactive content such as quizzes, simulations, and modules that align with diverse learning styles.

Practical Example: Using AI Chatbots for Language Practice

AI chatbots integrated in language learning platforms like Duolingo, Babel and others are equipped with natural language processing capabilities that can provide language practice opportunities for students. For instance, a language teacher can integrate an AI chatbot into their lessons to simulate conversations with students. The chatbot can engage in dialogue, ask questions, and provide instant feedback and corrections, enabling students to practice their speaking and listening skills in a supportive and interactive environment.

Incorporating AI-Powered Simulations for ESL Language Classes

• Identify AI-powered simulations relevant to your ESL language class, such as SmallTalk2Me, an example of AI-powered simulator to self-practice the IELTS speaking test, job interviews, and everyday conversational English.
• Introduce the chosen simulation to your students to enhance their spoken English skills.
• Ensure that the simulation offers a variety of scenarios, including language proficiency tests, job interviews, and everyday conversations.
• Encourage students to practice their speaking skills using the AI-powered simulation, receiving personalized feedback and suggestions from the AI to improve their pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
• Get AI to create reports to record achievements accomplished and areas that still require enhancement.

III. Intelligent Assessment and Feedback:

Enhancing Assessment and Feedback Processes

Another area where AI demonstrates its efficacy is in intelligent assessment and feedback. Adaptive assessments powered by AI adjust based on students' performance, offering personalized feedback that addresses individual strengths and weaknesses. Real-time data from formative assessments and AI-powered tools enable instant feedback and recommendations, empowering teachers to intervene promptly and provide timely guidance.

Automated Grading and Informative Feedback

The use of ChatGPT as an AI-powered grading tool revolutionizes the assessment process for teachers. By selecting ChatGPT, educators can streamline grading by inputting questions and correct answers, prompting the system to evaluate student responses. This efficient AI-driven evaluation saves time, ensures consistency, and provides immediate feedback to students. Teachers can interpret the results and offer personalized guidance for improvement, enhancing the learning experience. This harmonious integration of technology and pedagogy fosters a more personalized and enriching learning environment for students.(ClassPoint, 2023).

Practical Example: Intelligent Essay Evaluation

• Clarify the scope and clearly specify the scope of the evaluation or the topic you want the AI to focus on. This will help ChatGBT tailor its responses accordingly and provide relevant prompts or descriptors.
• Prepare a rubric that outlines the criteria for evaluating the essays, covering aspects like content, organization, language usage, and overall quality.
• Prompt the AI model to assess the essay according to the provided rubric, ensuring that it evaluates each criterion thoroughly.
• Interpret the AI's response to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the essay, based on the criteria outlined in the rubric.
• Encourage students to use the AI-generated feedback to revise and improve their essays further.
• Highlight that students can continue creating multiple copies of their essays, incorporating the AI's feedback, and making necessary revisions until they achieve their desired learning goals.
• Emphasize that this iterative process of utilizing AI feedback can lead to continuous improvement and enhanced writing skills for the students.

IV. Evaluating the Effectiveness of AI in Teaching: The Good, the Bad, and the Ethica:

Considerations for Responsible AI Integration in Education

While the integration of AI in education brings tremendous potential, it is essential to address the associated risks and challenges. Biases in AI systems could arise if the data used to train them contains biases. Human oversight is crucial to ensure that AI systems provide fair and equitable results. Teachers can avoid this by leveraging ChatGPT to enhance language instruction and feedback. For example, Instructors can support better ESL/Non Native Speakers students by providing customized prompts, interactive exercises, and error analysis, and in that way students can practice grammar and vocabulary while receiving targeted, more accurate and unbiased feedback.

Practical Example: Addressing Biases and Ensuring Fair Outcomes

For instance, if an AI system is used to evaluate students' writing, it is important to ensure that it does not favor or penalize certain words or expressions based on cultural biases. Human intervention is necessary to review and validate the AI-generated scores, ensuring fairness and accuracy in the assessment process (Cambridge English, 2020).

Training and Support for Effective Use of AI

To ensure the effective and responsible use of AI systems, training and support are vital. Educators need to develop the necessary skills and confidence to utilize AI tools effectively. Training programs and resources can provide educators with the knowledge and hands-on experience required to leverage AI technologies optimally.

Practical Example: Providing Training and Support

Professional development workshops can introduce teachers to AI-powered tools and guide them on their effective use. These workshops can offer hands-on training, resources, and ongoing support to help educators integrate AI seamlessly into their teaching practice (Chun, 2020).

Financial Implications and Motivational Factors

It is crucial to consider the financial implications of integrating AI in education. Developing and deploying AI systems can be expensive, requiring careful budget considerations to ensure sustainable implementation.

Practical Example: Budgeting for AI Integration

School administrators can allocate funds to support the integration of AI technologies, providing educators with the necessary resources and infrastructure. This investment demonstrates the commitment to harnessing the potential of AI in education and creating an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning (Cambridge English, 2020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the integration of AI in education offers transformative opportunities for personalized instruction, content creation, and assessment. While embracing AI's potential, it is crucial to approach its adoption with skepticism, considering factors such as biases, ethical implications, and financial considerations. By striking a balance between embracing technological advancements and preserving the human touch in education, educators can harness the benefits of AI while ensuring responsible and effective use for the benefit of student learning and growth.

References

Cambridge English. (2020). AI in language learning: Opportunities and challenges. Retrieved from [Insert URL]

Chun, S. (2020). Training needs for educators to integrate AI in education. Asia Pacific Education Review, 21(4), 525-529.

ClassPoint. (2023). AI-powered teaching tools. Retrieved from [Insert URL]

Hwang, G.-J., et al. (2020). AI in education: The present and future trends. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 23(3), 222-226.

Kim, K., & Lin, C.-H. (2019). AI in education: A review. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 22(2), 223-238.