Hey Siri…what is AI?
Introducing Students to Artificial Intelligence

Introduction | Background Knowledge | Activities | Extensions | Standards

Introduction

Deep Blue and Alexa and Siri

Artificial intelligence has been a part of our conversations and lives for many years. The world buzzed when Deep Blue beat chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov in 1997. Apple’s Siri has been answering questions since 2011. Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, has been playing music and adding items to our to-do lists since 2014.

Since then, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making its way into classrooms nationwide. Teachers can arm themselves with knowledge and use this technology to enhance instruction.

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Background Knowledge

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is still a relatively new concept. However, the history of AI in education dates back to the 1980s. Here's a brief overview of the history of AI in education:

  1. Intelligent Tutoring Systems: In the 1980s, AI researchers began developing intelligent tutoring systems to provide personalized guidance to students based on their individual needs and strengths. These systems used machine learning algorithms to adapt to the student's learning style and pace.
  2. Adaptive Learning: In the 1990s, adaptive learning systems emerged that could adjust the difficulty level of the content based on the student's performance. These systems used AI algorithms to analyze the student's progress and provide personalized feedback.
  3. Natural Language Processing: In the 2000s, natural language processing (NLP) technologies that could analyze and understand human language were developed. That led to the development of chatbots and virtual assistants that could provide personalized support to students.
  4. Educational Games and Simulations: In the 2010s, AI-powered educational games and simulations emerged that could provide students with immersive and interactive learning experiences. These games use AI algorithms to adapt to the student’s performance and provide individualized feedback.
  5. Personalized Learning: Today, AI is used in education to create personalized learning experiences that can adapt to the student's needs, interests, and abilities. This includes using learning analytics and predictive modeling to identify students at risk of falling behind and provide targeted interventions.

Overall, the history of AI in education is an ongoing journey of innovation and experimentation. As AI technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more advanced and sophisticated AI systems that can help enhance the learning experience for students and teachers alike.

To help my writing process, I used this Grammarly AI prompt:
- "History of AI in education"

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ACTIVITIES

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EXTENSIONS

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CORRELATION TO STANDARDS

  • AASL National School Library Standards
    • Inquire Shared Foundation, Think Domain - Learners display curiosity and initiative by: 1. Formulating questions about a personal interest or a curricular topic. 2. Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning.
    • Inquire Shared Foundation: Create Domain: Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes: 1. Using evidence to investigate questions. 2. Devising and implementing a plan to fill knowledge gaps.
    • Inquire Shared Foundation, Share Domain - Learners adapt, communicate, and exchange learning products with others in a cycle that includes: 1. Interacting with content presented by others. 2. Providing constructive feedback. 3. Acting on feedback to improve. 4. Sharing products with an authentic audience.
    • Include Shared Foundation, Share Domain - Learners exhibit empathy with and tolerance for diverse ideas by: 1. Engaging in informed conversation and active debate. 2. Contributing to discussions in which multiple viewpoints on a topic are expressed.
    • Include Shared Foundation, Grow Domain - Learners demonstrate empathy and equity in knowledge building within the global learning community by: 1. Seeking interactions with a range of learners.
    • Collaborate Shared Foundation, Think Domain - Learners identify collaborative opportunities by: 1. Demonstrating their desire to broaden and deepen understandings. 2. Developing new understandings through engagement in a learning group. 3. Deciding to solve problems informed by group interaction.
    • Collaborate Shared Foundation, Create Domain - s Learners participate in personal, social, and intellectual networks by: 1. Using a variety of communication tools and resources. 2. Establishing connections with other learners to build on their own prior knowledge and create new knowledge.
    • Collaborate Shared Foundation, Grow Domain - Learners actively participate with others in learning situations by: 2. Recognizing learning as a social responsibility.
    • Explore Shared Foundation, Think Domain - Learners develop and satisfy personal curiosity by: 1. Reading widely and deeply in multiple formats and writing and creating for a variety of purposes.
    • Explore Shared Foundation, Create Domain - Learners construct new knowledge by: 1. Problem solving through cycles of design, implementation, and reflection.
    • Explore Shared Foundation, Share Domain - Learners engage with the learning community by: 3. Collaboratively identifying innovative solutions to a challenge or problem.
    • Explore Shared Foundation, Grow Domain - Learners develop through experience and reflection by: 1. Iteratively responding to challenges. 2. Recognizing capabilities and skills that can be developed, improved, and expanded. 3. Open-mindedly accepting feedback for positive and constructive growth.
  • ISTE Standards for Students
    • Empowered Learner - 1b. Students build networks and customize their learning environments in ways that support the learning process. 1c. Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
    • Knowledge Constructor - 3d. Students build knowledge by actively exploring real-world issues and problems, developing ideas and theories, and pursuing answers and solutions.
    • Innovative Designer - 4d. Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance, and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.
    • Computational Thinker - 5c Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.
    • Global Collaborator - 7c. Students contribute constructively to project teams, assuming various roles and responsibilities to work effectively toward a common goal.

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