Can AI Win Over Educators? Insights from the Experts

On August 21, The Ohio State University Inspire podcast released a new episode on Artificial Intelligence in Education and reported on experts' insights on using chatbot technology to boost learning motivation and student engagement. The monthly Inspire Podcast asks Ohio State's Education and Human Ecology experts and everyday heroes about the issues that people encounter in life, like mental and physical health, lifelong learning, and raising and teaching children… Special thanks to Robin Chenoweth, the host of the Inspire Podcast.

In this episode, I highlight the importance of maintaining a critical mindset when using generative AI tools. They should be seen as opportunities to enhance human creativity rather than replace it. I use historical parallels, such as the introduction of calculators and the societal fears they initially generated, to illustrate how technology can be successfully integrated into education.

Interacting with AI

“So the more time you spend on writing that prompt, the more thinking you’re putting on it, the better is going to be the output. But you still have to critique it… Now, you're going to use that brilliance to critique the output. It's only going to be a problem if there's no motivation and pride of getting your human imprint on the output."

I emphasize the need for educators to guide students in developing well-crafted prompts that elicit insightful responses from AI. By focusing on prompt design, students can leverage AI as a tool for exploring different perspectives and deepening their understanding of complex topics.

AI has the potential to free up time for more creative thinking and exploration. Therefore, AI can turn into a valuable asset in fostering innovation and intellectual growth.