10 May 2010
Role of new media and technology in shaping the future of education
Two talks by cultural anthropologist Michael Wesch.
Insights
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a focal point for any of us thinking about digital skills and tools in the last two years. AlphaPlus has been providing AI support via training opportunities, “sandbox sessions” and virtual showcases for adult literacy educators in Ontario. At a recent virtual showcase, we highlighted the experiences of educators using AI in adult literacy education, and we invited one of our presenters, Sara King, to answer a few questions.
Sara King has worked in literacy and basic skills (LBS) at Northern College in Moosonee for over 12 years in various positions, including instructor, program co-ordinator and overseeing programming. Working primarily with Indigenous students, today Sara is an instructor for academic upgrading, post-secondary education and community employment services in the James Bay area (Moosonee, Moose Factory, Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat). Here’s our question-and-answer (Q-and-A) with Sara:
I jumped on board with generative AI as soon as the first boom happened a couple of years ago. While we educators need to learn how to deal with many of the issues, I could see that AI isn’t going away, and we also need to support and embrace it.
I’ve used AI for many things, including supporting adult literacy education in and out of the classroom and in my personal life. In class, I’ve tried to show students how the technology can support them. For example, I’ve generated ideas, prompts and images that we can use for creative writing activities.
I’ve also shown my learners how to use AI tools like ChatGPT when they’re struggling to express themselves. AI can correct and reword writing to make things sound nicer, better, friendlier, angrier, more persuasive, etc. AI also makes it easier for my learners to advocate for themselves. For example, suppose someone has to voice their concerns in a formal manner for medical care issues, access to medical care or even to address bad experiences at a restaurant or other customer service situation. I demonstrate to my learners that using AI to structure a complaint letter is very simple.
I’ve always liked innovation. There’s nothing worse than having to teach the same subject, the same way, over and over. By incorporating AI, I can create fun assignments that get students excited to use new technology. Prompt writing is another example. We created an image in Canva based on my students’ prompts and creative input. The result was an image that the learners were excited to take home to show their children and continue the conversation with them.
This past summer, my husband (an early childhood educator) and I developed a five-week employment skills training program for the “tutor escort” position, a role hired by elementary schools in our local communities. Similar to a teacher assistant, the role emphasizes one-on-one support for children with exceptionalities. We created a rough outline of topics to cover and used ChatGPT to generate a list of lesson plan ideas specifically tailored to children with exceptionalities. This gave us a strong foundation, which we then refined and customized to suit our goals.
Of course, there’s the potential for abuse. For example, for one recent assignment, I asked students to pick three writing prompts and write a paragraph about each one. Some of the paragraphs that came back had clearly been generated by AI. But knowing my learners have access to the tools, my responsibility is to explain when to use ChatGPT for an assignment, when not to, and the impacts of AI on developing communication skills.
Do you have AI tips or tricks to share with your fellow adult literacy educators?
Here are two helpful uses for ChatGPT:
I’m excited to keep playing with ChatGPT for marketing writing since I’m the main marketer for this location and our access centres. Here are a couple of recent examples I’ve generated:
Example 1
G1 Workshop: Master the Ontario Driver’s Handbook!
Ready to ace your G1 test? Our G1 Workshop is here to help! Get expert guidance on how to study the Ontario Driver’s Handbook effectively. We break down key concepts, traffic rules and road signs so you’ll feel confident and prepared.
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Example 2
Join our FREE Interview Skills workshop at Northern College Moosonee Campus and get ready to shine in your next interview! Whether you’re just starting out or making a career change, we’ll guide you through what to expect and how to showcase your strengths.
📅 Tuesday, November 12, 2024
🕙 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 Northern College Moosonee Campus
🍕 Bonus: Enjoy a FREE pizza lunch while you learn!
Register now:
✉ access@northern.on.ca
📞 705-336-2913 ext 5606
Imagine AI as an assistant, with you in charge — it’s there to support. It doesn’t replace my work but enhances my confidence in areas where I need it.
Are you interested in exploring AI with fellow literacy educators? We’re here to help you take advantage of AI’s benefits, use it ethically and be realistic about what it can and cannot do. Don’t miss these offerings from AlphaPlus: