Three British Council Presentations about AI and TESOL

Co-designing language learning: students, teachers and AI

AI-Generated Summary Podcast

One-Sentence Takeaway

• Co-designing learning with students fosters engagement, critical thinking, and an understanding of AI’s role in education.

Summary

• Josh Underwood discusses co-designing learning with students, emphasizing human intelligence, AI’s role, and participatory techniques in education.

Ideas

• Co-designing learning promotes student engagement and ownership in their education.
• Understanding human intelligence is crucial in distinguishing from AI capabilities.
• Conversations about learning should prioritize the values and beliefs of students and teachers.
• AI’s advantages include speed and efficiency, but it can lack human connection.
• Participatory design techniques can help teachers and learners collaboratively shape their educational experience.
• Educators should encourage critical discussions on AI’s risks and opportunities in learning contexts.
• Scaffolding learning involves providing just enough support to foster independence and confidence.
• Incorporating stories and scenarios can make abstract concepts more relatable and actionable.
• Co-designing activities can lead to creative solutions that might not be visible to educators alone.
• Engaging students in discussions about technology fosters a deeper understanding of its implications.
• AI’s data-driven nature may overlook the nuanced human experiences essential for effective learning.
• The importance of empathy in teaching contrasts with AI’s lack of emotional intelligence.
• Transparency in using AI tools is essential for building trust with students and parents.
• Continuous reflection on the impact of AI on learning is necessary for ethical education.
• Teachers should explore how AI can complement rather than replace human interaction.
• Co-designing assessments can lead to more meaningful and relevant learning outcomes.
• AI can facilitate brainstorming and idea generation but lacks human creativity and experience.
• Engaging parents and communities in co-design discussions can alleviate resistance to AI in education.
• Educators must balance efficiency with the depth of learning experiences for students.
• Understanding diverse perspectives can enrich the educational process and outcomes.
• Fostering a culture of collaboration and open dialogue enhances the learning environment.

Insights

• Human intelligence is characterized by emotional depth, creativity, and lived experiences that AI lacks.
• Co-designing learning experiences with students can lead to more effective and meaningful education.
• The integration of AI in education should prioritize ethical considerations and transparency.
• Engaging students in discussions about AI fosters critical thinking and awareness of technology’s implications.
• Effective teaching requires balancing the advantages of AI with the need for human connection and empathy.
• Scaffolding learning is essential to develop student independence while acknowledging their unique needs.
• Collaborative approaches to learning design can yield innovative solutions that benefit all stakeholders.
• The role of AI in education should complement, not replace, the human aspects of teaching and learning.
• Continuous reflection and adaptation are necessary as AI technologies evolve in educational contexts.
• Engaging parents and communities in co-design discussions can foster acceptance and understanding of AI.

Quotes

• “What does it mean to be human?”
• “Being human is your AI advantage.”
• “AI can help us to do stuff that we find difficult.”
• “The future is here. The hybrid AI human teacher is the perfect blend of machine and human teacher.”
• “Students love them and they’re never bored in class.”
• “If education is all about those perfect scores, about getting the right grade, that is also a good thing.”
• “We need to create an environment in which people feel free to participate.”
• “There is a tension between speed and efficiency and connecting with students on a human level.”
• “We can use stories like this to engage people’s imaginations.”
• “What are the most important things for language teachers to do?”
• “Why do anything for yourself if AI can do it for you?”
• “AI has loads of training data, which is much broader and has much wider experience than I have.”
• “It’s important to talk about our pedagogical intentions.”
• “This is a literacy issue.”
• “The students are becoming afraid of their teachers.”
• “We need to think carefully about what is important.”
• “What risks are there when using AI?”
• “What other issues should we be considering?”
• “The importance of empathy in teaching contrasts with AI’s lack of emotional intelligence.”
• “Engaging students in discussions about technology fosters a deeper understanding.”
• “We need to ask our students about their beliefs on effective learning.”

Habits

• Engage students in co-designing their learning experiences.
• Foster a culture of open dialogue and collaboration in the classroom.
• Prioritize emotional intelligence and empathy in teaching practices.
• Encourage critical thinking discussions regarding technology’s role in education.
• Reflect on personal teaching practices and adapt based on student feedback.
• Use stories and scenarios to illustrate complex concepts in relatable ways.
• Incorporate diverse perspectives in learning design to enrich educational experiences.
• Facilitate participatory design techniques to enhance student ownership of learning.
• Create safe and inclusive environments for students to share their ideas.
• Balance the use of technology with the need for human interaction in learning.

Facts

• AI requires parental consent for users aged 13 to 18.
• The hybrid AI human teacher can deliver classes with speed and efficiency.
• AI can help facilitate conversations about learning and technology.
• Students may use AI more during times of academic pressure.
• AI’s advantages include efficiency, but it can lack emotional depth.
• Participatory design techniques can lead to greater student engagement in learning.
• Many students view AI positively, but their attitudes may shift based on experiences.
• The UNESCO framework for AI in education was recently released.
• Co-designing assessments can result in more relevant learning outcomes.
• Stories can engage students’ imaginations and illustrate potential learning scenarios.

References

• Handbook of design in educational technology (co-edited by Josh Underwood).
• Research publications on learning technology co-authored by Josh Underwood.
• Articles on participatory design and co-design in education.
• Reports on student perspectives on AI usage in learning contexts.
• Teaching English website with lesson plans on AI in education.
• Books on redesigning learning contexts by Professor Rose Luckin.
• Nick Peachey’s article on generative AI in the language classroom.
• AI competency frameworks from UNESCO and other organizations.
• Professor Mike Sharples’ work on story writing and AI tools.
• Articles discussing the ethical implications of AI in education.

Recommendations

• Implement co-design practices to involve students in their learning journey.
• Facilitate open discussions on the implications of AI in educational contexts.
• Use storytelling as a tool to illustrate complex concepts and engage students.
• Balance efficiency and human connection in teaching practices with AI integration.
• Encourage students to explore their beliefs about effective learning and technology.
• Create participatory environments that foster collaboration and ownership of learning.
• Develop assessments that prioritize the learning process over the final product.
• Promote transparency in using AI tools to build trust with students and parents.
• Reflect on the ethical considerations of AI’s role in education continuously.
• Engage parents and communities in co-design discussions to alleviate resistance to AI in education.