Editor's note: The following is the first in a series of three perspectives on artificial intelligence from the Social Institute.
Did you know that artificial intelligence has been impacting student experiences for decades? The term artificial intelligence (AI) was coined by computer scientist John McCarthy in the mid-20th century, and has been around ever since. , AI has evolved. a lot. From Alan Turing's proposal for the “Imitation Game” to test machine intelligence, to industries adopting his AI for automation and process optimization, to ordinary people using his AI in their personal devices.
Every day, students experience AI as they browse social media, play games with friends, stream their favorite movies and shows on Netflix, and shop on Amazon. While AI can help personalize the student experience, it relies heavily on capturing personal data such as name, address, financial information, and even medical records. This is a reminder of why it is so important for students to be able to protect their personal information and be mindful of their screen time.
It may seem like only recently that artificial intelligence has taken over our lives, but is it really?
AI will be everywhere from the moment students wake up
“The theory and development of computer systems that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual recognition, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.”
oxford dictionary
With this in mind, you may not be surprised to learn that students are using artificial intelligence almost from the moment they wake up.
According to Common Sense Research, 43% of tweens (ages 8-12) and 95% of teens (ages 13-18) own and use their own smartphones. Many students use their phones as alarm clocks, so these devices are often the first thing they pick up in the morning. When users unlock their phones to shut off an alarm or scroll through TikTok or Instagram, it's artificial intelligence that powers facial recognition on the device. This means that students will experience her AI within the first few seconds of waking up.
Next, let's talk about TikTok and Instagram. Chances are, your students will be scrolling, liking posts, commenting on videos, and following accounts before getting out of bed to get ready for school. Artificial intelligence captures all this behavior and adjusts what the student continues to see on her social media feed. The AI observes the student's behavior and decides what to show next to keep the student's attention for as long as possible, or send a notification to lure the student back.
When I get to school, ChatGPT seems to dominate the conversation. Schools are wondering whether to allow or ban ChatGPT, as some school systems tried to do in early 2023. A teacher is wondering whether she should allow some students (not all, of course) to use her ChatGPT because they might use it to help with lesson planning. school work. And underlying all this is a question that is always present in the teacher's mind. “Did the student write this paper or did she use ChatGPT?”
While this is a legitimate concern, ChatGPT, one of the most obvious versions of artificial intelligence, can help foster critical thinking by providing insightful questions about specific topics. “ChatGPT teaches students to ask better questions and stick to those questions,” said Kathy Hirsch Peske, a psychology professor at Temple University in Philadelphia. It will be possible to become one.”
So what are the solutions to help students navigate a world where artificial intelligence is increasingly permeating everyday life?
High standards for navigating AI in a positive way
Artificial intelligence is neither inherently bad nor good. Benefits include easier facial recognition and the ability to ask Alexa for the weather. And when you interact with social media, AI's ability to suggest content that you might find interesting can help you explore new interests you might not have known about before. However, it is also essential to manipulate artificial intelligence in a positive way.
The relationship between AI and social media is addictive, so it is more important than ever to equip students with modern life skills that will help them meet high standards when navigating social media and technology. One of the criteria for preparing students against addictive algorithms is: balance. This means providing students with the skills and tools to balance time spent on social media with daily responsibilities, schoolwork, and time spent in person with friends and family.
These life skills don't just empower students when navigating their favorite apps like TikTok and Snapchat. You can also enable students to make advanced decisions in their approach to ChatGPT. Equip your students with these modern life skills so that they can respond in an ethical manner when faced with ChatGPT.
- critical thinking: Be careful that your students don't immediately believe everything ChatGPT says. Even if it's wise, it can sometimes be wrong. Make it a habit to check information using reliable sources to make sure it's true.
- responsible decision making: AI tools like ChatGPT are very useful for studying and having fun with friends. However, it is important to remind students not to use AI in ways that are mean or unethical towards others.
- self-awareness: Remind students that AIs like ChatGPT can be biased due to the opinions of their creators. This means you need to be careful how you ask questions to avoid biased or unfair answers.
- using technology for good: Encourage your students to use ChatGPT for good. You can also use it to help with homework, improve grammar, and learn new words. There are lots of cool and positive ways to use AI to further improve learning.
The Social Institute's collaborative learning platform #WinAtSocial brought together more than 2,000 high school students about the role of artificial intelligence in their lives, and nearly 50% of them asked their schools to “allow ChatGPT and teach them how to use it well. I shared what I thought I wanted. ”
From sunrise to sunset, artificial intelligence is in our students' lives, and it's not going away. As educators, how do we meet our students where they are and help them navigate this ever-evolving technology in a positive way? Learn more about proactive approaches to technology and social media If you would like to know more, please contact The Social Institute.