Generative AI in Classrooms

Hello everyone,

This week we discussed a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately: How can we use AI in high school classrooms in effective and sustainable ways? In class we discussed what AI is, its origins, as well as how it can fit as a tool into our classrooms. We also chatted about our personal experiences regarding how we have already seen AI at play in schools through a poll.

I have been thinking about it a lot, because AI use has become pervasive in secondary and post-secondary institutions. We see it being used effectively for idea generation, where students are using it as a starting point for projects, writing, and problem solving. In my work as a tutor, it can be helpful to create extra problem sets for my Chem 11 students. It allows me to create questions that are similar to their homework, so if they are struggling on a specific concept, I have more material to work with, rather than creating questions in my head. This helps me reduce the time spent changing up the numbers of the question, and optimizes my lessons. I have also seen students use it to write their essays for them, or complete assignments. This is where AI is not a tool, but a crutch, and is replacing critical thought and learning processes.

Based on our conversations in class and my personal experience with AI, this is my stance: AI can, and should be used in classrooms, but educators must address three key components to ensure AI is used in a good way. Teachers need to 1) produce explicit expectations for AI use, 2) educate and model AI use, and 3) Address and implement sustainable AI practices. I address these three key ideas in an audio below.

I can see myself using sustainable AI models in my classroom for creating extra homework problems, and allowing students to use AI for generating ideas for projects, however, we have a responsibility to inform our students about proper use, and promote sustainable practices.

One AI company I have tried is a Chinese-owned AI model named DeepSeek. Similar to ChatGPT, DeepSeek utilizes open-source Large Language Model technology, providing a wide variety of uses to their users. However, their algorithms have more optimized computational efficiency compared to ChatGPT and many other popular North American AI companies, which allowed them to have significantly smaller energy demands. Although I still do not know what is out their in terms of sustainable AI models, I look forward to continuing on that journey, and supporting the AI tools that prioritize sustainability for myself and my students.

I am interested to hear your opinion about Hank Green’s video, and if you see AI being useful in your classrooms. Let me know in the comments!

Cheers,

Rylie