Teaching AI in the Classroom

 

Many educators are hearing a lot of talk about using AI and incorporating it in our classrooms. This can be extremely overwhelming for teachers because many of us do not understand AI or how to use it in the classroom. I was extremely hesitant at first because there is so much we are still learning about AI and technology, but the reality is that it is not going away any time soon, and our students deserve to be prepared for their future.

How To Teach AI by Rachelle Poth is a phenomenal resource for teachers to use to begin their AI journey. When discussing teaching students about AI, Poth states that, "we do not have to be experts" (2024, p. 99). I believe that most educators, myself included, are hesitant about introducing AI to their students because they do not understand it enough themselves. We should not be worrying about what we know, but focusing on how we explore these resources with our students. Showing our students that even as adults, we are learning new things will be inspirational for them and prove that you can always learn new things. 

When beginning to plan a lesson for AI, check out the infographic below for some great tips from Poth.

Teaching With AI by awillis

Whether you are comfortable with using AI or not, we can all agree that AI and technology will be ingrained in our students' futures and careers. The work force ten years from now will look entirely different than the work force now. Poth states that "not all jobs will be lost, as some will be enhanced with this technology, and entirely new jobs will appear" (2024, p. 118). There may be jobs that are "replaced" by automation, but with this comes new jobs for people to work on the code and technology. We need to make sure our students are exposed to these ideas and topics, so they can be prepared for a future career in technology if they choose. Even if a student has no interest in a career in technology, they will still face AI in their daily lives. If our students have a general understanding of AI, they will be able to competently use it in the future. 

If you would like activities to try with your students click here!

Reference

Fischer, T. S. (2025, June 3). 5 Engaging AI classroom activities to try with your students. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-engaging-ai-classroom-activities-try-your-students/

Poth, R. D. (2024). How to teach AI: Weaving Strategies and Activities Into Any Content Area. International Society for Technology in Education.

Social Media in Education

When I first considered how I use social media in education, I immediately thought that I didn't. I don't have a classroom social media page, and I don't make posts about teacher content. I have since realized that there is more to using social media for professional purposes than creating content. I am a viewer of professional social media, as many teachers are. I see education Instagram posts and TikTok posts from teachers that are sharing their ideas and experiences. For example, the TikTok post below is from a teacher who created anchor charts for 4th grade math curriculum. I had been searching the Internet for inspiration for my anchor charts and was so glad to come across this teacher's post. 

Lawrence states that "social media is a broad term that refers to a variety of media platforms that allow people to communicate with one another, combining a number of mechanics such as direct messaging, user profiles, photo galleries, and comment walls" (2022, p.84). There are so many aspects to creating social media posts and viewing posts. Social media has had a bad reputation for a while, but it can be more than a popularity contest. It can be educational and informative, with the power to reach a large audience. Lawrence discusses that while social media is present, we have to be sure to use it ethically and learn how to reduce the spread of misinformation (2022, p. 86). We must be careful not to believe everything we see on social media and teach our students to view media with a critical eye. Many teachers use social media in their classrooms by showing students YouTube videos or creating class social media accounts. These can be great talking points to have conversations with students about what is factual and appropriate for the Internet. If you are interested in educating your students about the use of social media, check out this website for lesson ideas!

References

Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the Web.                     [eBook edition] Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press

Social Media. (n.d.). https://schools.au.reachout.com/social-media

Digital Writing in a Video Format

In a world saturated with videos, it is easy to view a video as a separate entity from the world of writing. However, most video ideas are started by writing scripts, or include text within the videos. Understanding how to write and how to write for a digital format is the basis for creating well-meaning and put-together videos. Turner and Hicks state, "social media, then, must be embraced as a form of reading and writing" (2017). Social media and other online media include many elements of reading and writing; they are just focused on a different avenue. This new outlook will help guide students in their use and production of videos. 

When I have to make a video for a class assignment, I always have a written script in front of me. This allows me to have a solid plan for what I will be conveying to my audience. Turner and Hicks describe the "MINDFUL" technique to assist creators and students in developing digital media (2017). MINDFUL is an acronym that stands for "monitor your reading and writing," "identify the claim," "note the evidence," "determine the framework and mindset," "facts," "understand the counter argument," and "leverage your response" (Turner & Hicks, 2017). This acronym can be used as a checklist when writing and videoing to make sure your digital media has all of the important components. During my own video, I made sure to have a clear goal, use factual information, and understand counter arguments. 

Check out my introduction video below!

 

Writing digitally and creating videos seems like a daunting task. By having a clear directive and end goal, videos become more feasible to do. I believe that adding visual components like text or even pictures also gives videos an extra level of engagement. When there is something visual happening, people are more likely to pay close attention to what you are saying, especially on social media. 

A great way for students to be engaged in a lesson is by watching and creating a video. The YouTube video below is a great resource for teachers wanting to create their own videos! This would be a great lesson to have with students to prepare them for a digital world. 

Reference 

Canva. (2022, September 4). Make short educational videos for the classroom fast and free with Canva [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtoVR5ZByoM

Turner, K. H., & Hicks, T. (2017). Argument in the real world: Teaching Adolescents to Read and Write Digital Texts. Heinemann Educational Books.

The Importance of Visual Rhetoric in Digital Literacy

The visual aspect of digital literacy has risen over recent years. A lot of people, including me, watch a lot of videos and see many pictures on the Internet. It is important that we are mindful of the rhetoric that these videos and pictures are presenting, and we interpret them with a clear mind.

One of the major aspects of the online world is the impact of visuals. Lawrence states that "a writer in the 2020s is also creating graphics, putting text on top of images, putting text into video, writing a script that becomes a video, writing content for a website that also features illustrations, and so on" (2022, p. 166). Now, not only is it important to be able to write, but you must also include your writing in a visual way to build engagement and enforce your rhetoric online. For example, videos take an idea and put it in a visual format. Another example of writing put to a visual format is the use of infographics. Infographics have gained in popularity in education and any company or person wanting to share information in a simplified way. The infographic below is one example of how a lot of information can be presented in a visually appealing way while also relaying information. 

Infographics by awillis

It is important for creators of visual media to understand their stance and what they are trying to get their audience to do. The purpose of the infographic above is to support teachers in understanding how and why infographics can be useful in their classroom. A store may not choose to create an infographic for their advertisement, but instead choose a short video with a catchy jingle. On the other hand, an educational website might choose an infographic instead of a video. Lawrence discusses that "visual rhetoric, then, is the study of how visual forms of communication can be persuasive" (2022, p. 169). Keeping in mind your audience and your action is imperative when creating any type of visual media. Any slight change in color or font could rebrand everything, and the audience may or may not respond well. You also have to keep in mind that others may not have the same digital literacy skills and could misinterpret visual media. Those responsible for the look and message that companies, organizations, and people are trying to present online have an enormous job.

Here is a great resource from Edutopia for teachers to check out when considering teaching visual literacy in their classroom. Click the link here!

References

Agtarap, K. (2021, November 15). How to incorporate visual literacy in your instruction. Edutopia.                 https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-incorporate-visual-literacy-your-instruction/

Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the Web. [eBook edition] Ontario,                 Canada: Broadview Press

Preparing Today's Students for a Future in the Digital World

It has not changed that the future of our world will be in the hands of our current students. What has changed, however, is the sheer number of jobs in their future that require digital literacy skills. Lawrence states that "increasingly, jobs in marketing, communications, advertising, and media are jobs that deal directly with social media and the Internet" (2022, p.15). In an ever-competitive job market, most careers include some use of social media and dealing with the Internet. If we want our students to be prepared for their future, then we must ensure that they are learning how to be digitally literate from an early age. This can be quite a controversial topic among educators. I have even been on the anti-social media side, but it is increasingly more important that students understand the digital world and are literate in digital writing. The future of technology and social media is constantly changing, so it is imperative that we prepare our students to the best of our ability.

I remember being in elementary school in the early 2000s and there being a computer lab where we played typing games and learned about Floppy Disks. At the time, this was considered the most appropriate approach for students to learn. However, this shows a drastic change between the skills that today's students need to learn and those of a generation ago. Not only do students need to learn how to type and use a computer, but they also need to be proficient in digital writing. For students to be successful, they need to be proficient in “emulating, experimentation, prototyping, optimization, interactivity, automation, and self-teaching” (Lawrence, 2022, p.71). Many of these skills are already being taught to students through literacy skills. Such as emulating by using example paragraphs from the teacher or prototyping by writing a rough draft and optimizing by revising a paper. These skills do not necessarily have to be directly taught in through social media, but teachers should help students make connections to how these skills are used in an online world. As much as we would like to keep students off social media and the Internet, the reality is that they will be much more prepared if they are properly taught the ins and outs of digital literacy. 

The University of Iowa College of Education wrote a blog post that includes the importance of digital literacy and ways to support digital literacy education in your classroom. Check it out by clicking here!

This YouTube video below also provides a great overview of the importance of teaching digital literacy to students to ensure their success for the future. 

References

Digital literacy: Preparing students for a tech-savvy future. (2024, September 12). University of Iowa. https://onlineprograms.education.uiowa.edu/blog/digital-literacy-preparing-students-for-a-tech-savvy-future

Everything STEM. (2023, October 12). Empowering the future: The importance of digital literacy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSsQAvSGqvM

Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the Web. [eBook edition] Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press