For some educators, recent student essays have suddenly become really good — scary good. However, the level of writing, use of advanced terms, clear composition and syntax were not due to an immediate better understanding of lesson contents among students but rather to ChatGPT. Students had found a powerful tool to help them create unique texts that were nearly perfect and almost impossible to trace to the original source.
ChatGPT is just one artificial intelligence (AI) tool that is shaping the future of education. Graduates of the Youngstown State University (YSU) online Master of Science in Education (MSEd) – Teacher Education – Curriculum and Instruction (C&) – Digital Teaching and Learning program are equipped with current knowledge in AI and the ways it is influencing learning spaces.
The Power of AI in Education
AI has emerged as a powerful technology with transformative potential in various industries, and education is no exception. While it poses some challenges, like with essay-writing, the integration of AI into curriculum design has the potential to revolutionize the learning experience for students of all subjects and grade levels, and teachers are now being challenged to either work with it or risk being left behind.
“From smart software that can grade essays to predictive analytics that can identify at-risk students, AI is changing the landscape of K12 education,” writes Dr. Kadam Bhambari for SkoolOfCode. “AI can be used in a variety of ways, from helping students to better comprehend abstract concepts to providing personalized feedback. AI can also be used to create virtual classroom environments, and even to create automated grading systems, […] to help teachers design computer science curriculum and assess student performance.”
Uses for AI in Curriculum Design and Testing
Anyone who integrates this technology into their classroom will already be two steps ahead. That’s why YSU offers the online MSEd – Teacher Education – Curriculum and Instruction – Digital Teaching and Learning program, which equips graduates with the necessary skills to harness AI in curriculum design.
Through courses such as Designing Curriculum for Digital Teaching and Learning and Literacy for Digital Learning, graduates gain the knowledge necessary to implement AI in the classroom — a seemingly simple but complicated task, since there are many tools and erroneous information out there. These tools include the following capabilities, among others:
- Enhanced content design. AI technology offers educators the opportunity to create and deliver high-quality learning materials. By analyzing vast amounts of data, AI algorithms can identify knowledge gaps, update curriculum content and recommend resources for teachers. This capability ensures curriculum design adheres to accurate and up-to-date information, enabling educators to provide students with the most relevant and comprehensive learning materials.
- Personalized learning. One of the significant advantages of AI in curriculum design is its ability to tailor the curriculum to meet each student’s specific needs. AI algorithms can analyze student data — including learning preferences, strengths and weaknesses — to develop personalized learning paths.
But, as Nikolas McGehee from Michigan Virtual points out, “It’s important to understand, however, that many of these accommodations and modifications will still require a teacher’s intimate understanding of a child’s needs to be successful.” In other words, AI can’t work without a human overseeing it.
Coding and the Future of Careers
Teaching kids the fundamentals of coding through Java and Python is an excellent way to prepare them for the future. It equips them with skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving and computational logic, opening doors to a wide range of future career opportunities. Considering there will not be many careers untouched by AI and technology, even those pupils who are creative types can benefit from this knowledge.
As one may have noticed, it’s almost impossible to adopt these examples without the active participation of humans — or it can have catastrophic effects. “If educators follow their traditional patterns of incorporating new technologies into their instruction, then it will most likely be negative and lead to an increase of plagiarism and a lack of ultimate education for our students,” points out a California elementary school principal for Education Week. “If on the other hand, educators evaluate the potential for how these technologies are going to change our lives and adjust instruction to teach how to use these as tools, then it will help prepare students to ethically use them to enhance their lives.”
Learn to Apply AI in YSU’s Online Program
Educators must understand the risks and benefits of AI to curriculum design and leverage this knowledge to benefit learners. YSU’s online program empowers students to engage with AI and other digital technology trends in education to improve their instruction and student outcomes.
Learn more about Youngstown State University’s online M.S.Ed. – Teacher Education – Curriculum and Instruction – Digital Teaching and Learning program.
