Listen and learn: Edtalk 
Streaming Session
Recorded Session
In this humorous, uplifting, and informative talk, I will combine a teacher, humanist, and computer scientist perspective on using generative AI in the classroom. I'll start with showing what ChatGPT can do, and point out its limitations. The most common model for interacting with generative AI models is to ask it a question, then critique its answer, which is often wrong or incomplete. I'll then present an alternate model for using prompt engineering to shape the answers ChatGPT provides, and provide tips and strategies for engaging ChatGPT in a dialogue, or conversation, that will result in much more helpful answers that are co-created by the AI and the learner. I'll then show how we can coach our students to see ChatGPT as a willing partner in helping them to better learn material, rather than simply as a "homework machine". I'll show examples of the guidance our school has provided to all students as part of an "AI Policy" and finally, I'll wrap up by showing why good teachers and good students will never be replaced by good AI.
I. ChatGPT (15 min.)
A. Examples of Using ChatGPT
1. ChatGPT gets Alanis Morrisette
2. …kind of
3. ChatGPT vs. Mr. Kiang in a Face Off to the Death (or at least, public humiliation)
B. How AI Works
1. Artificial Intelligence
a. Machines Programmed to think like a human
b. Example: Tamagotchi
2. Machine Learning
a. Machines learning independently of human programming
b. Example: 20q.net
3. Supervised learning models
a. Labeled sets of data
b. Classification
4. Unsupervised learning models
a. Find the pattern in unlabeled data
b. Application in medicine
c. Research: Trained doctor + trained AI > either one alone
5. Paradigm shift
a. Computer Scientists
b. Teachers
c. Teachers are the best equipped to deal with the shift
II. Curriculum (15 min.)
A. Care and empathy are essential intelligences
1. Concept of pathfinding
2. Choice
B. Example: Menlo CS course progression
1. Cooks vs Chefs
2. App Design
C. AI Mission Feature Feature (Participatory Audience Game)
III. Learners (15 min.)
A. Today's learners are different
1. Choice as it relates to social media
2. Engaging minorities and increasing belonging (Discussion)
B. AI Tutors
1. Socratic dialogues vs. Oracle of Delphi
2. Models for understanding
C. Stone Soup
1. Co-construction of knowledge
2. Teachers are at the heart of the student-centered classroom
IV. Teacher-Centered Discussion (10 min.)
A. Prompt 1 (discussion)
B. Prompt 2 (peer-to-peer interaction)
C. Q&A (Open)
1. 20q.net
A website that uses machine learning to play a game of 20 questions. There is also a 20q children's toy based on the same technology. Another fun example of a website that gets smarter the more humans use it is Google Quickdraw, a game that tries to figure out what you're drawing.
2. Satariano, A., Metz, C., & For, A. S. (2023, March 5). Using A.I. to detect breast cancer that doctors miss. The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/05/technology/artificial-intelligence-breast-cancer-detection.html
3. Computers can have a hard time recognizing images that humans can distinguish pretty easily; case in point, the Chihuahua or Muffin? puzzle. https://blog.cloudsight.ai/chihuahua-or-muffin-1bdf02ec1680
4. Gopnik, Alison. A Very Human Answer to One of AI's Deepest Dilemmas. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/ai-deepest-dilemmas. Association for Psychological Science - APS. Accessed March 4, 2023. Published January 03, 2023.
5. Chiang, Ted. The Lifecycle of Software Objects. Subterranean Press, 2010. A Hugo-Award winning novella about human caregivers helping AI "digients" to learn. Interesting and provocative insight about learning, teaching, and caregiving. Links to this in our Menlo School library.
6 DIY.org
DIY.org is a website where kids can share and receive inspiration for all sorts of maker projects. What's especially interesting about their website is how they organize the different pathways along which kids can explore different skills.
7. Structure and choice. Excerpted from this podcast episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kenji-live-2-we-cooked-and-a-wok-q-a/id1054509922?i=1000557745588
J. Kenji Lopez-Alt, New York Times columnist and bestselling author. How he encourages his daughter to learn to be a chef: "Taste this. Do you think we should add salt?" not "What should we add?" then honor their choice.
8. U.N. Global Goals
The Global Goals are a plan agreed to by all world leaders to build a greener, fairer, better world by 2030.
9. Langreo, L. (2022, November 16). Students are turning to TikTok for homework help. Is that a bad thing? Education Week. Retrieved March 5, 2023, from https://www.edweek.org/technology/students-are-turning-to-tiktok-for-homework-help-is-that-a-bad-thing/2022/11
Return
Trips and Tours