ETEC 565H: Artificial Intelligence in Education – Using AI to Enhance Learning

Description

In the foreground of the image a child holds a transparent tablet. On the screen is a humanoid robot presumably delivering a lesson. The light of the screen illuminates the child’s glasses. In the middle ground another child looks directly at the viewer, breaking the fourth wall in an unsettling way. The background shows a traditional classroom, with blurred posters decorating the walls. The image is photorealistic and ultra-detailed, however it demonstrates the tell-tale issues with hands that early Midjourney images were known for.

There is no question that artificial intelligence will revolutionize education – it is already an integral part of our society. A site of research and speculation for well over 50 years, public interest in artificial intelligence and its social implications has garnered unprecedented attention due to the emergence of publicly available generative AI technologies. From the recommender engines guiding commerce and entertainment to the electoral candidates we vote for, artificial intelligence is an increasingly significant part of our decision-making processes.

This is a foundational course in artificial intelligence, spanning its application in our homes, classrooms, workplaces, and society at-large. We will begin with a discussion of the historical development of AI and the underlying technologies that enable it. Learners will critically examine the ethical dimensions, theoretical foundations, and practical implications of AI in education, such as chatbots in language learning and automated essay writing. We will discuss how and when to leverage artificial intelligence to address opportunities and challenges within a variety of contexts, best practices in the implementation and evaluation of AI, and pedagogical strategies for AI-assisted teaching and learning. Learners will be challenged to think critically about the greater social, cultural, and environmental implications of artificial intelligence with special emphasis on addressing bias from an intersectional perspective, toward the goal of fostering equity and inclusion. For the final project, students will either develop an AI-powered prototype or formulate a comprehensive plan for AI implementation, integrating the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired throughout the course.

Learning Objectives

After completing ETEC 565H, you will be able to:

  • Describe the history and evolution of AI, highlighting significant milestones.
  • Define artificial intelligence and relevant key concepts and associated themes, including machine learning, natural language processing, neural networks, data colonialism, surveillance capitalism, and data sovereignty.
  • Identify and analyze various applications of AI in education, such as adaptive learning systems, intelligent tutoring systems, and data-driven personalization.
  • Develop criteria for evaluating the effectiveness and ethical implications of AI tools.
  • Discuss the ethical, legal, and sociocultural challenges posed by the use of AI, including issues of privacy, racism, bias, and equity.
  • Design an AI-enhanced learning activity, environment, or tool, incorporating principles of instructional design and learner-centered pedagogy.
  • Speculate on future developments and potential long-term implications of AI on pedagogy, policy, and practice.
  • Engage in forward-thinking discussions about the role of educators in an AI-augmented educational landscape.

Course Themes & Activities

This course leads you through resources, discussions and activities that explore:

  • Algorithms, machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks.
  • Historical perspectives on AI
  • AIEd in our classrooms (from intelligent tutors to facial recognition systems)
  • Bias in AI
  • An AI-empowered society
  • Pathways forward with AI

Discussion participation is pivotal to deepening your engagement with course material, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical understanding. Weekly exercises will expose you to other aspects of artificial intelligence and education, and feature skills practice with these tools.

Readings & Resources

All course materials will be available online via the Library Online Course Reserve (LOCR) linked to the course navigation menu and/or from hyperlinks to freely available videos and articles online.

Examples of course resources

  • Beer, D. (2017). The social power of algorithms. Information, Communication & Society, 20(1), 1-13.
  • Okonkwo, C. W., & Ade-Ibijola, A. (2021). Chatbots applications in education: A systematic review. Computers and Education. Artificial Intelligence, 2, 100033.
  • García-Martínez, I., Fernández-Batanero, J. M., Fernández-Cerero, J., & León, S. P. (2023). Analysing the impact of artificial intelligence and computational sciences on student performance: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research, 12(1), 171-197.
  • Kajiwara, Y., Matsuoka, A., & Shinbo, F. (2023). Machine learning role playing game: Instructional design of AI education for age-appropriate in K-12 and beyond. Computers and Education. Artificial Intelligence, 5, 100162.
  • Walter, M., Kukutai, T., Carroll, S. R., & Rodriguez-Lonebear, D. (2020). Indigenous self-determination and data governance in the Canadian policy context. In Indigenous data sovereignty and policy (1st ed., pp. 81-98). Routledge.

Assignments & Assessment

There are two major assignments in the course – a case study and a major project – in addition to weekly exercises and activities.

Course activity weighting

  • Final Project 30%
  • Case study 15%
  • Discussions 15%
  • Exercises 30%
  • Activities 10%

 

Image created using Midjourney with the following prompt: /imagine: classroom of the future with mixed race African American students, teaching with artificial intelligence technology, in a Pixar style, photorealistic, ultra photoreal, ultra-detailed, intricate details, 8K, super detailed, full color, volumetric lighting, HDR, realistic, Unreal Engine, 16K, sharp focus