I attended Tricia Friedman‘s online workshop “Looking at Emerging AI Research” for AAIE directors last night. Friedman is an educational consultant who focuses on helping schools take a “Futures Literacy” approach to artificial intelligence. The idea is that nobody knows for certain the direction AI is taking us. Schools need to explore different ways that teachers and students are and will be using AI to enhance learning and their lives.
My big takeaway from the session is that a critical mass of people in schools are using AI companions rather than tools. I need to learn how to shape personalized AI Bots, as this is the next stage in education. Schools need to move from being worried about students using AI to “cheat” on assessments to teaching students to enhance their learning through personalized AI companions. The other idea that resonated with me is that people like using AI as tutors because they are non-judgmental. Asking a question for a student to an AI Large Language Model is much easier than asking a question to a teacher in a classroom full of peers. All school leaders should think about being more non-judgmental in our interactions with others.
TIS Director's Blog 
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