Using AI as a Teaching Ally: The Up Tutors Perspective
Our latest workshop at Up Tutors was our most exciting one yet! We've always felt strongly about advancing the quality of learning, and our recent training on integrating AI-driven tools showed us how it can enhance our teaching practices in remarkable ways.
AI technology has hurled the educational landscape into rapid and dramatic change. Learning about this technology forced us to consider what good teaching, stripped down to the bone, really means - and why we still remain relevant in a world where educational content and guidance has become effortlessly accessible.
So what does artificial intelligence offer us as educators - and why does our fleshy, embodied and personality-ridden human intelligence have to absolutely remain part of the teaching equation?
In essence, AI teaching tools free us from the shackles of generalised, conventional materials and time-devouring preparation tasks. Some of the most exciting applications we explored include:
1. Designing personalised quizzes, worksheets and exemplars to suit each student's ability and learning style.
We can now instantly integrate our students' interests into assessments to make them more engaging. Yes, in seconds, we can create a quiz on forces which exclusively uses examples involving the Springbok forward pack.
2. Diversify learning mediums to offer students more interactive and engaging study material.
We can turn the material we normally use, like PDF worksheets and textbooks, and transform them into structured summaries, self-assessment activities, guided study notes, and yes, even podcasts. Instead of trudging through a heavy note pack on your prescribed novel, imagine listening to two vibrant hosts talk about the exact same material in an interactive and curious way. Imagine further, that you can jump into the conversation and ask questions!
We can select a range of robust learning material - from examiner reports to helpful Youtube videos to trusted websites - and condense them into resources that our students can easily (and enjoyably) digest.
3. Offer immersive, real-time experiences with custom-designed and learning-friendly chatbots.
We can now set up ongoing, live chats where students can answer questions on the lesson topics, or engage with more imaginative tasks like chatting with characters from literature or historical figures. You can input all the information you want the chatbot to know, set the learning objectives, and view your students' interaction with it. It's set up to be learning-friendly, and encourages students to offer up their own answers and interpretations as it provides scaffolding towards mastering the skill.
Can you imagine my amazement when my student 'conversed' with one of his book characters, and was guided through describing his favourite moments in the book, why he resonated with the character, and providing parallels with the themes of the book and his own life!
Okay, enough about the incredible tools we're integrating. As we celebrated the potential of AI, we also reflected on its ethical implications. We have the special opportunity of teaching our students how to use these resources effectively, and how to engage with it responsibly and thoughtfully. Students, being tech-savvy youngsters, will gain access to this technology. And that means they should also have a framework with how to use it. It also means sharing with students the pitfalls of AI, and how it absolutely can and does get things wrong, meaning that we have to rely on ourselves as the experts always. The purpose is never to hand in automated work (this would be stupid), but to study productively and effectively for pen-and-paper exams.
Which brings us to the importance of the basics: tried and tested teaching principles. Whilst AI tools make our teaching easier on one hand, it also demands more of us as teachers. AI saves us time and energy - so where do we need to ensure that goes? We need to channel it into our human qualities: building genuine connections, being authentic and present, fostering curiosity and confidence, and supporting students in reaching their potential. This is the gift of human intelligence - a connection and a guide. Someone who has been in your shoes, can see where you're at, and brings themselves into that space to walk your journey with you. This is something integral to all meaningful human experiences, and something AI, as amazing as it is, cannot replace.
The future of education lies in our willingness to embrace change thoughtfully, ensuring that technology serves us in our mission, but does not distract us from steadfast principles. At Up Tutors, we are committed to leading this conversation and equipping both ourselves and students with the tools they need to thrive.
