The Ai Library asks, 'Can Ai motivate students?'
Ai can help motivate people to learn more or dig deeper into a topic, or are we just getting answers faster and losing our intrinsic will to gain knowledge?
Ai Research I’m Reading
Imagine a classroom where AI tutors cater to each student's individual needs, providing personalized lessons and feedback. Sounds amazing, right? This article, while a small research study, it dives into the exciting possibilities of AI in high school education, exploring how it can revolutionize learning and boost student motivation. But it's not all sunshine and roses. The authors also raise critical questions about the potential downsides of AI, such as ethical concerns and the risk of decreased intrinsic motivation. Think AI-generated essays and their impact on genuine learning.
They also highlight the importance of balancing technological advancements with ethical engagement and intrinsic motivation. Through qualitative analysis, and the application of Self Determination Theory, (R. M. Ryan and E. L. Deci, 2000) the study reveals a nuanced picture of AI’s role in education. This thought-provoking piece challenges us to find the balance between harnessing the power of AI and nurturing the human element in education. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the future of learning!
providing autonomy-supportive teaching practices, opportunities for mastering skills, and fostering a sense of community and connection among students and educators. Such an approach not only encourages responsible use of AI tools but also promotes a more intrinsically motivated, engaged, and meaningful learning experience (Ryan & Deci, 2017)
Here’s a list of actionable points from the article:
Balance technological advancements with ethical engagement and intrinsic motivation.
Integrate ethical considerations into the adoption and implementation of AI technologies in educational settings.
Educational institutions must balance the technological capabilities of AI with fostering ethical involvement and intrinsic motivation in students to overcome issues.
Improve digital literacy by teaching students how to utilize AI tools and educating them about the ethical implications of their use.
Establish thorough policies for the ethical application of AI in academic environments, outlining specific criteria for misuse and its consequences.
Integrating AI education into the curriculum can assist students in understanding the importance of AI as a tool for learning and creativity.
Works Cited
Alasgarova, Rena, and Jeyhun Rzayev. “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Shaping High School Students’ Motivation.” International Journal of Technology in Education and Science, vol. 8, no. 2, Apr. 2024, pp. 311–24, https://doi.org/10.46328/ijtes.553.
AI Teaching & Learning
You might notice I moved this up in the AI Library blog. I received feedback (thanks you know who you are) that this is one of the most valuable elements here and should get priority. This is a process I developed using some ideas I got from Toddle.com to help students build effective Research Questions.
We used this with just our Extended Essay students but found it so effective that we modify it slightly (generally changing the command term) to use it across the curriculum now when creating investigations. The AI in this lesson revolves around a ‘Feasibility’ test where the students are given the PROMPT: I am a high school IB student writing my Extended Essay. Help me decide if my research question is feasible and how it would perform against the Extended Essay Rubric criteria. Here is my question: (PASTE YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION HERE)
This lesson is tied directly into the ideas shared in the research above as we have found that it motivates students to refine their questions and gain an intrinsic sense of agency about their investigation. It does an amazing job of providing ideas around possibilities, limitations, and needs that the students will require. Additionally, this specific application also runs down the Extended Essay Rubric giving feedback on where the students might need more or run into trouble related to specific rubric requirements. You can change out that rubric and command terms for usage across the curriculum. It helps the students apply AI in a meaningful manner that encourages curiosity while specifically helping them refine their questions.
AI Quick Trick
Right now, if you go out and do a cursory look at AI in education you will find no shortage of prompts. There are teachers, technologists, and even myself who have posted large sets of AI prompts to help novice users in applying AI to their work. To be fair they can be helpful. The next time you are writing your prompt or even copying/pasting a prompt into your chosen bot, stop and try this trick. Ask the bot how to write the prompt better. PROMPT: “How could I have written this prompt to give me better results”
You will be amazed at how it gives you examples, suggestions, and even varied thinking on the approach to getting your answers. I find this helps me to think more broadly about my ideas and also forces me to critically think about how my initial prompt was biased or even incorrect.
AI Technology Tool
Consensus
Pricing: Freemium (Unlimited Searches - Premium for deeper dives and power searches)
Location: https://consensus.app/
Consensus is revolutionizing the way research is conducted. This is an AI-powered search engine specifically designed for academic research that provides direct answers and synthesized information from research papers, unlike traditional search engines that simply provide a list of papers. By leveraging the power of AI, Consensus empowers students, and you, with a tool that streamlines the process of finding and understanding information. It’s committed to providing credible and cited information. As Consensus continues to evolve and expand its database and features, it is poised to become an indispensable tool for researchers across all disciplines.
Digital Citizenship
Google’s Be Internet Awesome
If you haven’t heard or checked out Google’s Be Internet Awesome you are in for a treat. This is a stand-alone curriculum and game that gives educators the tools and methods they need to teach digital safety fundamentals. The materials developed by Google in partnership with iKeepSafe enable educators to bring the most critical teachings—and the excitement of Interland—into the classroom. In addition to being engaging and turn-key, this is already aligned with standards and can be ‘dropped into’ Advisory/Pastoral programs.
Book Recommendation
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
I saw this book and just had to give it a read. It did not disappoint. As we consider all the potential ways that Ai can help us improve our lives and the future, what it would be like if we figured out time travel? Would it be used as a weapon? Who would we test it on? That is the premise of this book. The Ministry ‘snatches’ people from the past, to see if they can be integrated into society today. There are funny moments and moments where your thinking about the treatment of people will be challenged. It is a really different kind of time travel book for adults with great characters and a fast plot.
Specifically, I am recommending this book here because one of the major conversations in education right now is around what Ai can do and what Teachers can do to improve learning. This is a conversation I am genuinely invested in as an educator and I would say the early results are exciting. Teachers are coaches in their hearts. They know how to get kids to do just a little more, to get them to sit focus, and in most cases, learn. It is amazing and reminded me of a popular Slam Poet, Taylor Mali, and his ‘What Teachers Make’ poem.