Back to School with AI: A Playlist for Educators

Some of the resources that have inspired me and guided my work with schools

Eric Hudson

Aug 08, 2024

Eric Hudson's article "Back to School with AI: A Playlist for Educators," published on August 8, 2024, offers a curated list of resources for educators to enhance their understanding and integration of generative AI in the classroom. This "playlist" is designed to be both accessible and practical, helping educators at all levels engage with AI in a meaningful way as they return to school. The article is organized into several thematic areas, each providing valuable insights and tools to support the effective use of AI in education.

Strategizing for AI in Schools

Hudson begins by emphasizing the importance of strategic planning for AI integration in schools. He shares his own resource, "Four Priorities for Human-Centered AI in Schools," which outlines key areas where educators should focus their efforts. Complementing this, he highlights other valuable resources, such as the mini-documentary "AI can do your homework. Now what?" by Vox, and "Generative AI and K-12 Education: an MIT Perspective" by Eric Klopfer and colleagues, which provide a broader context for understanding the implications of AI in education.

Building AI Literacy

A significant portion of the article is dedicated to building AI literacy among both educators and students. Hudson underscores the importance of understanding the fundamentals of AI, recommending resources like "An AI Literacy Framework for Learners and Educators" by Digital Promise and an animated explanation of generative AI by The Financial Times. These resources are designed to make the complexities of AI more approachable and to help educators foster critical AI literacy in their classrooms. Hudson also points to "Practical AI for Instructors and Students," a video series by Ethan and Lilach Mollick, which offers practical advice for integrating AI into teaching.

Using AI to Support Teaching

Hudson provides several resources aimed at helping teachers use AI to enhance their teaching practices. His own articles, such as "Make Sense of AI" and "Looking Ahead with AI, Part I: Teachers," focus on how AI can be used to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation in the classroom. Additionally, Hudson highlights the "GenAI Prompt Library for Teachers" by AI for Education, a collection of AI prompts designed to inspire creative and engaging lessons.

Working with Students on AI

When it comes to working directly with students, Hudson advocates for activities that encourage exploration and ethical considerations of AI. His piece "Talk with Students About AI" offers six activities to engage students with AI in thoughtful ways. Hudson also recommends the open-source course "Writing with Artificial Intelligence" by Joseph Moxley, which challenges students to explore AI's role in writing and creativity.

Building AI Capacity in Schools

For administrators, Hudson includes resources that support the development of a school-wide AI strategy. His articles "13 AI Ideas for School Leaders to Try" and "Looking Ahead with AI, Part 3: Leaders" provide actionable steps for integrating AI into school leadership. He also cites "Five Questions Every Parent Should be Asking Their Child’s School About AI" by Dan Fitzpatrick, which encourages school leaders to engage with parents about AI use in education.

AI’s Impact on Assessment

Hudson addresses the evolving landscape of assessment in the age of AI. His own articles, "AI and the Question of Rigor" and "AI and the Authenticity Problem," discuss the challenges AI presents to traditional assessment methods. He also references Sarah Elaine Eaton's "Six Tenets of Postplagiarism: Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," which explores new approaches to academic integrity.

Crafting Guidelines and Policies on AI

Finally, Hudson emphasizes the importance of clear guidelines and policies for AI use in schools. He recommends "The AI Assessment Scale" by Leon Furze and colleagues, as well as the "Decision Tree to Guide Student AI Use" by Jen Stauffer and Jonathan Gold, as tools to help schools navigate the ethical and practical considerations of AI in education.

In conclusion, Hudson’s article serves as a comprehensive guide for educators seeking to understand and implement AI in their classrooms. The curated resources provide a solid foundation for developing AI literacy, supporting teaching practices, and addressing the broader implications of AI in education.

Source: Back to School with AI: A Playlist for Educators by Eric Hudson, August 8, 2024.

Original Article

------------------------------

Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com