online teaching

Teaching Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Look Inside My Online Course

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What’s inside?

I’m thrilled to share a bit about my online course, “Artificial Intelligence in Education,” which explores the exciting intersection of artificial intelligence and the future of learning. This course is designed for educators, administrators, and anyone passionate about leveraging AI’s potential to transform the educational landscape. It’s a journey through the core concepts of AI, practical tools, ethical considerations, and culminates in a personalized action plan and final project. Let’s take a peek inside each module:

Module 1: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

We kick things off with the fundamentals. What is AI, really? This module demystifies the jargon and introduces key concepts like machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. We explore the history of AI, discuss its current applications beyond education, and lay the groundwork for understanding how these technologies can be applied in the classroom. Think of this as your AI 101 – no prior technical knowledge required! We focus on building a solid understanding of the core principles before diving into specific applications.

Module 2: AI Tools for Teaching and Learning

This is where the rubber meets the road! Module 2 is all about exploring practical AI tools that educators can use right now. We delve into AI-powered platforms for personalized learning, automated grading, content creation, and more. Participants get hands-on experience with different tools, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, and considering how they can best integrate them into their teaching practices. From AI-driven tutoring systems to tools that help generate lesson plans, this module is packed with actionable strategies and resources.

Module 3: Ethical Considerations in AI

With great power comes great responsibility. As we explore the potential of AI in education, it’s crucial to address the ethical implications. This module tackles important questions surrounding bias in algorithms, data privacy, the potential impact on student equity, and the future of human interaction in learning. We engage in thoughtful discussions and explore frameworks for responsible AI implementation in education. This module ensures we’re not just using AI, but using it ethically and thoughtfully.

Module 4: Developing your Action Plan

Armed with knowledge of AI concepts, practical tools, and ethical considerations, participants begin crafting their own personalized action plans. This module guides them through the process of identifying a specific challenge or opportunity in their educational context and developing a plan for leveraging AI to address it. We provide templates, resources, and feedback to help participants create actionable and realistic plans they can implement after the course. This is about turning theory into practice and creating a tangible roadmap for change.

Module 5: Designing and Presenting the Final Project

The culmination of the course! Participants bring their action plans to life by developing and presenting a final project. This could involve creating a prototype of an AI-enhanced learning activity, designing a professional development workshop on AI for colleagues, or developing a comprehensive implementation strategy for their school or district. This module provides support and feedback as participants refine their projects and prepare to share their work with the cohort. It’s a chance to showcase their learning and contribute to the growing conversation around AI in education.

This online course is more than just learning about AI; it’s about empowering educators to become leaders in the AI revolution. I’m incredibly excited to guide participants on this journey and see the innovative ways they will use AI to enhance teaching and learning. If you’re interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d love to answer any questions you have. To register for this course, go to the New England Institute for Teacher Education website.

The Nature of Summer

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Every day of summer vacation includes some professional time. I’m not one to take the summer off. Even if I could truly take the summer off, I’m sure I’d fill my time with professional development or a project of some kind. I’m not good at vacating!

While summer gives me time to regroup and change up my routine, it also allows me time to reflect on what’s truly important in my career as well as my home life. What parts of your work life spill over into your home life? If you’re an educator, then probably a lot.

beach during sunset
Photo by b. on Pexels.com

Educational professionals lead a different kind of life. There is a constant need to reinvent oneself as technology changes, curriculum changes, schools change and demands change. It can cross into your personal life in such a way that you never truly feel like you are away from your job.

So how do you balance it? Every person does it differently, but I find that I have to still teach all summer. Maybe you teach at a summer camp. Maybe you give professional development sessions to other teachers. Maybe you teach your own kids. Or maybe you teach yourself new things. I try to combine as much of that as I can but on a less demanding schedule than the traditional school year.

I teach teachers online for the New England Institute for Teacher Education. Two of my established technology classes are running concurrently right now. The summer is the only time to run two at the same time while working full-time! This adventure is full of new things every time I do it. These teachers find new angles that I hadn’t even thought of! I get a “2-fer” – I get to teach and I get to learn at the same time. Now that’s a great summer!

The nature of my summer might look a lot different than yours. Yes, sometimes I long to go take a really long walk on a beach somewhere, but my family has other demands that just don’t allow for much of that. It’s all good, though. I’m able to help them out and still get to do something I love: educate and learn.

How about you? What’s your “Nature of Summer”?

 

Developing an Online Course Is Like A Box of Chocolates

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Chocolates would be good right about now. Every time I sit down to work on the next piece of one of my online courses, I start searching for the one with the gooey caramel center. I mean, that’s what it’s like. I look for the nuggets of wisdom. The centers of rich and creamy perfection that I can share with my online students.

box of chocolates

Gee! Now I’m hungry – again!

Teaching online is a bit different than just taking your seated course and moving it to the cloud. Some universities and professors find that an acceptable way to educate adults online. Frankly, I haven’t seen it work yet. You have to find the richness that is found in your topic and make it relevant to the classroom.

The online platform requires a different set of skills for the learner. If I don’t find out what kind of learner they are, I can’t assist them in any way. Asynchronous courses – those that can be accessed and worked on at any time by teacher or student – are tough for those that aren’t used to self-directed learning and being in the proverbial closet when doing their work.

While I’ve tried to set up synchronous meetings in past online classes, the availability of busy teachers (including me) just hasn’t been helpful. My summer courses seem to have a bit more flexibility, but even then my students are often working other jobs to make ends meet.

So back to the development of these courses…

My courses are project based. They have to be. Writing papers for an online technology course is like asking a cat if he wants a bath. It just isn’t pretty. Besides, it doesn’t show me what my students know and are able to do.

I create tutorial videos and screencasts which help a lot. But, if my content changes every 10 weeks or so, it’s hard to keep up that recording schedule. My dog isn’t much help. He barks every time I need a quiet moment. Or the 3D printers start printing a remote job. Or someone comes to the door. Or, well, I could think of a million excuses.


Who did we ask before Google

The fact remains, that I keep searching. Searching for just the right chocolate. Searching for just the right center. And then Google changes the way they do something. Or links go stale. Or the LMS (Learning Management System) gets changed. Or I’m just not satisfied that I did my best work. Or I’m in a hurry because I also work a full-time job and have a family.

Do I love it? Yes! Do I need to keep reinventing my courses? Yes! Maybe you are a teacher reading this and you think you might like to learn more about learning online. Or you need CEUs and want to learn more. Come shake up one of my classes. Come try out your Growth Mindset because you just don’t have it all done YET. Oh, and bring chocolate. Because everything is better with chocolate!

Barbara Vinal is a full-time Instructional Technology Facilitator and Magnet School Coordinator. She teaches online for the New England Institute for Teacher Education. She also teaches piano and plays keyboard/sings in a contemporary Christian music band.