Educators at the Forefront: Harnessing AI to Transform Teaching and Foster Inclusive Learning
Introduction
Educators like Melissa Sanzin, Ann Beard Etier, and Dionne Lewis are at the forefront of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their teaching practices. Participating in a specialized fellowship, they explore AI’s transformative potential across diverse educational settings, sharing their motivations, challenges, and the insightful learnings they have encountered.
Dionne Lewis: Championing Accessible and Adaptive Learning through AI
Dionne Lewis, a devoted educator from Mississippi, specializes in teaching students with visual impairments. She deeply values the principle of inclusive education, ensuring that her teaching methods adapt to meet the diverse needs of her students. Lewis’s commitment to education is rooted in her desire to empower these students, helping them to grow confident in their abilities and to thrive academically.
Lewis passionately articulates her approach and dedication: "My favorite course, that I like to teach outside of law and public safety… well that would be all of them. I love all of my classes. Why? It's because of the population that I'm here to serve. I see it as an opportunity to help those students one on one, and I really love to take the opportunity to learn from them and teach them at the level that they are and take time with them."
She views every class she teaches as a chance to make a positive impact on her students’ lives. Her enthusiasm for teaching is evident as she describes the joy and reward in seeing her students grasp new concepts: "I love to watch them grow and to see the excitement on their face when they actually learn a new concept or grasp a new idea. It's so exciting and there’s nothing more rewarding than to see them learn and be more excited about their growth and learn to be a little bit more confident in their capabilities."
The MS AI Collaborative Educator Accelerator Fellowship represents a significant opportunity for Lewis to further her professional development, specifically in the realm of educational technology. She believes that with the right guidance and instruction, technology, including AI, can significantly enhance the learning experiences for all students, particularly those with disabilities. Her motivation for joining the fellowship is twofold: to stay current with technological advancements and to challenge and change the stereotypes and biases surrounding technology in education.
Lewis explains her reasons for applying to the fellowship, stating: "I’ve applied to continue to learn and grow and to keep up with the advancements." She also addresses the need to confront prejudices associated with technology use: "And another thing is to look at the stereotypes or the biases in regards to our technology and how we may feel about technology, how they may feel about technology… it can be good. If used in the right way."
She anticipates that AI can be a transformative tool in education, particularly for students with disabilities: "The most exciting part about what I’m learning from the fellowship will be coming back to share about what AI is not, what it can be, what the benefits of using AI in education are, what the benefit of exposing our students to AI would be. And for my district it would most definitely be, for our kids, a total advantage."
Melissa Sanzin: Integrating AI to Enhance Digital Literacy at the Elementary Level
Melissa Sanzin, serving as a library media specialist in Long Beach, Mississippi, is dedicated to nurturing digital and information literacy among young learners. Understanding the foundational role of technology in modern education, Sanzin embraces the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform teaching methods and learning experiences. Her focus is on empowering students with the skills needed to navigate and utilize digital resources effectively and ethically.
Sanzin's interest in AI stems from its capacity to revolutionize education by providing personalized learning experiences and fostering critical thinking skills. However, she is also aware of the potential challenges and ethical considerations associated with its use in educational settings. Through her participation in the fellowship, she aims to explore both the advantages and potential pitfalls of AI, seeking to discover and develop responsible ways to incorporate these technologies into her teaching.
Expressing her excitement about the fellowship, Sanzin states, "I'm excited to share all of the resources that I've learned from guest speakers and CS implementers that are available to educators but also to students." This quote underscores her commitment to not only advancing her own understanding of AI but also to disseminating this knowledge within her professional community. She values collaboration and the exchange of ideas, which are vital for effectively integrating new technologies into educational practices.
By participating in the MS AI Collaborative Educator Accelerator, Sanzin is positioned to explore innovative teaching techniques that utilize AI tools, enhancing how she teaches digital literacy to elementary students. Her goal is to equip her students with the ability to assess information critically and to use digital tools wisely and safely.
Ann Beard Etier: Embracing Practical Applications of AI
Ann Beard Etier, with 28 years of teaching experience, brings a seasoned perspective to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. Her initial skepticism about AI has evolved into a robust appreciation for its potential to significantly enhance teaching and learning. Etier’s practical approach focuses on integrating AI in gifted education in ways that are both meaningful and ethically sound.
One standout example of her AI use in the classroom involves a creative writing activity utilizing ChatGPT. Etier describes the process and its educational impact: "I decided this week that we were going to do some black out poetry and they wanted to talk about April weather and use figurative language. So I got into ChatGPT and I asked for April Weather in Mississippi, and I asked it to be written from a 6th grade perspective with literary elements, and it popped out these beautiful paragraphs that 6th graders would never write." This experience not only introduced her students to AI but also helped them critically analyze the output, enhancing their understanding of literary creation and digital tools. Students then created black out poetry from what ChatGPT had produced, becoming creators rather than passive users of the technology. By integrating AI-generated content, she facilitated an innovative educational exercise that not only engaged students creatively but also prompted them to think critically about the content and its construction.
Reflecting on her experiences with AI, Etier elaborates on her educational journey and the outcomes: "I have learned a ton. I have been talking with different teachers all over the United States about how this, how I can help them, and how we can hone in on this."
Through her involvement in the fellowship, Ann Beard Etier continues to explore the practical uses of AI in education, always with an eye toward responsible and ethical application. Her experiences demonstrate the profound impact that thoughtful AI integration can have on educational practices, offering students unique opportunities to engage with advanced technology while enhancing their learning and critical thinking skills. Etier’s narrative underscores the transformative potential of AI in education, provided it is used with careful consideration of its implications and impacts.
About the Fellowship:
The MS AI Collaborative Educator Accelerator is a significant opportunity for educators committed to leading the advancement of AI in educational practices. The program spans six months and combines workshops, mentorship opportunities, and networking, focusing on equipping educators with the skills necessary to train, teach, and advocate for equitable AI use in learning environments. This transformative journey includes developing professional development training experiences and collaboratively designing workshops aimed at building a state-wide network of AI-knowledgeable educators.
Key components of the fellowship include:
Training and Development: Educators receive specialized training to enhance their ability to teach and train others in the equitable use of AI, preparing them to lead initiatives that integrate AI tools responsibly into educational practices.
Collaborative Projects: Fellows work together to create and host workshops, aiming to educate other Mississippi educators on the benefits and challenges of AI in education.
Networking and Events: The fellowship culminates in an all-expenses-paid 2-day Mississippi AI summit where fellows share insights with industry leaders and peers, further enriching their understanding and capabilities in AI.
Benefits of participating in the fellowship include:
· A $1000 stipend, recognizing the commitment and contribution of the educators.
· Monthly professional learning sessions with experts in tech education and AI development.
· A spotlight during the MS AI Collaborative Summit in Summer 2024, providing a platform to share achievements and insights gained.
· Membership benefits from CSTA+, enhancing professional growth and resource access.
Through this fellowship, educators not only advance their own knowledge and skills but also contribute significantly to the broader educational landscape by fostering an understanding of AI’s potential and pitfalls, ensuring that future generations are well-prepared to navigate and thrive in a tech-driven world. The program’s focus on equitable AI education highlights the importance of inclusivity and fairness, key themes that resonate through the educators' experiences and teachings.
