Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education for Teachers

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/artificial-intelligence-education-for-teachers

Introduction

### Course Review: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education for Teachers on Coursera In an age where artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of our daily lives, the course titled **"Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education for Teachers"** offers a timely and essential opportunity for educators to immerse themselves in the world of AI. This course, designed by educators for educators, recognizes the necessity of equipping both teachers and students with a comprehensive understanding of AI—its workings, applications, and ethical considerations. #### Course Overview The rapid advancement of AI technology calls for an urgent need for educational institutions to prepare learners not just with technical skills but also with the critical thinking and ethical decision-making necessary to navigate this landscape. This course aims to bridge the gap between the often-misunderstood concept of AI and its real-world implications. #### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Introduction** The introductory module sets the stage by emphasizing the significance of AI in education. It provides a foundational understanding of why educators need to be well-versed in AI, not only for their own knowledge but for the benefit of their students. 2. **Knowledge Module: What is AI, History of AI, and Applications of AI** This comprehensive module dives deep into the definition and evolution of AI. It explores various applications and highlights the urgency of integrating AI literacy into the curriculum. Educators will appreciate the holistic approach that connects AI’s potential with the development of 21st-century skills. 3. **Skills Module - Part A: Design Thinking and Critical and Creative Thinking** This module focuses on design thinking and the importance of critical and creative thinking in problem-solving. Participants will engage in iterative processes, exploring real-world AI applications and how to foster creativity in students when approaching AI-centric problems. 4. **Skills Module - Part B: Data Fluency and Computational Thinking** Educators are introduced to the critical importance of data in AI decision-making. Through practical examples, such as image recognition tasks, the course emphasizes the necessity of understanding data representation and computational thinking—skills that are vital in modern education. 5. **Values Module: Ethical Decision Making and Bias Awareness** One of the most significant components of this course is the focus on ethics. Educators will reflect on the ethical implications of AI, understanding bias in AI systems, and how to instill a sense of responsibility in their students regarding AI's impact on society. This module provides educators with frameworks to guide discussions around AI’s role in ethical decision-making. 6. **Conclusion** The course wraps up with a summary and suggestions for integrating the learned concepts into classroom practice. This final module encourages reflection and implementation of the discussed principles in everyday teaching. #### Recommendation I highly recommend the **"Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education for Teachers"** course on Coursera for all educators. This course not only provides a thorough grounding in AI but also prepares teachers to cultivate an AI-literate generation. By understanding the intricacies of AI—from its capabilities to its ethical implications—educators are better equipped to guide their students in utilizing AI responsibly and creatively. Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to the profession, this course offers valuable insights and practical strategies to enrich your teaching practices. The emphasis on collaboration, critical thinking, and ethics ensures that you’re not only teaching the skills necessary for the modern world but also fostering a mindful approach to technology in your students. In conclusion, given the growing influence of AI in various facets of life, this course is an investment in your professional development as an educator, and by extension, an investment in the future of your students. Engage with this content, and embrace the future of education with confidence.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module we'll introduce you to the course, tell you a little bit about why we think it's important that you and your students know about artificial intelligence (AI), and share with you some additional resources that might be useful.

In his book, “Make. Think. Imagine”, John Browne writes: “Artificial intelligence seems to be everywhere”. Some of its recent applications and achievements are well known; its potential to help build – or undermine – our civilisation is immense. As teachers, it’s hard for us to ignore this potential. AI is changing the tools we have at our disposal and adds to the impetus for a curriculum which incorporates the so-called "21st century skills". In this module, you will think about how AI may be defined, particularly in relation to human intelligence, and how it has taken different forms. You will consider how it has evolved over the last 70 years and come to show promise in so many different applications.

Both design thinking, and critical and creative thinking (CCT), embrace skills which are important for teams working to solve problems with AI. In design thinking, these skills include collaboration, solving a problem with constraints, coming up with an idea, testing it, and if necessary, going back to the drawing board. The process is iterative. As for CCT, creative thinking is required to identify opportunities for AI, and critical thinking can help us evaluate its application. In this module, you will learn about the key principles and stages in the design thinking process. You will consider CCT from the perspective of convergent and divergent thinking, de Bono's Six Hats, and ACARA's four quadrant model. Examples of "creative AI" will be examined to help us understand the barriers to machine creativity.

When it comes to computational thinking skills, there are two people who’ve been very influential in bringing them to the classroom. One is Seymour Papert who in the 1960s developed a computer program for children. The other influential person is Jeanette Wing, a data scientist, who wrote a short article advocating the use of computational thinking. In this module, you’ll appreciate that human or AI decision-making depends crucially on the quality of data. You’ll think about what data is, how it takes different forms and can be represented in different ways. Using the website, Machine Learning for Kids, we will look at what has been a classic problem in image recognition: being able to distinguish between cats and dogs. You’ll also learn about just what computational thinking is, its place in the Australian Curriculum, and the ideas and skills behind it. You’ll see how these skills can be developed with both “unplugged” and computer-based activities.

Back in the 1940s, one of the grand masters of science fiction, Isaac Asimov, introduced into his stories the "laws of robotics" which were designed to protect humans from wayward machines. While machine intelligence has not evolved in ways that Asimov could have foreseen, there is still a need to ensure that AI works for the good of society. In this module, we will explore some of the ethical issues associated with AI. We will look at a CSIRO framework to help deal with these issues. We will see that decisions or predictions based on AI can be just as biased and prejudicial as those made by human individuals and groups. The Human Rights Commission recently reported the results of a poll designed to garner support for a variety of protective measures (Hunter, F. 'Human Rights Commission warns government over “dangerous” use of AI.' SMH, August 15, 2020). For example, it might be considered important that people should know when a decision which affects them, has been made by computer and that they have the right to appeal against such a decision.

In this module we'll summarise the course, and remind you of some options you might like to utilise in your future teaching practice.