Explore engagement strategies for incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom setting.

In part one of this blog series about course preparation, I shared my intentions for making small adjustments to a university-level course about the modern-day selfie with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). In part two, I shared my experimentation with AI image generators to create a new image of myself for the course. In this third article, I dive into ways I will use artificial intelligence  to spark meaningful and engaging conversation and creation among students this term. 

AI Engagement Strategy One: Create Your Own AI Self-Portrait

Experimenting with AI image creators to create my own instructor selfie in article two gave me the idea to introduce a similar task right at the start of my selfie course. The first day of an in-person, synchronous class should be both informative and engaging in my mind. It’s an opportunity to get to know the course, the people in the room, and start dipping a toe into content. I incorporated an AI image generation task into my day one Canvas module shared below. 

Students will choose one of the AI image generators listed in Canvas to create a AI-generated selfie, and then add their image to a team note-catcher. After which, they will spend time as a group reflecting on their AI-generated images, looking for similarities and differences, as well as generally reflecting on their accuracy. 

My intention with this exercise is not to discourage students from AI-generated image creators, but to foster a community of reflective practice and a critical eye for imagery. My hope is that students will walk away from this activity with a deeper respect for authentically created self-portraits, no matter if they are created with AI, or more traditionally. 

AI Engagement Strategy Two: Chat with an Artist

My second AI-inspired engagement strategy for the beginning of the term will incorporate Hello History, an AI-powered app that lets you have life-like conversations with historical figures. I plan on introducing this tool as an engagement strategy in week two of my class when I start talking about the history of the self-portrait. I will prompt students to choose a prominent historical figure in the app and ask the famous figure some questions related to self-portraiture and/or selfies. Following is a sample conversation I had with Salvador Dali. 

My intention with this exercise is to see how some of the world’s most famous and prominent figures in the art world might consider the rise of the selfie as a cultural marker. I will be asking students to generate their own working philosophies regarding selfie creation later in the course, but ahead of that, I want to give them plenty of opportunities to see and hear alternative perspectives. Hello History may open their eyes to divergent perspectives regarding selfies. I’m interested to see the results. 

AI Engagement Strategy Three: Use AI to Write Image Captions

A third engagement strategy I’m excited to trial with students is using AI to help write captions for imagery. Pallyy is one of many tools out there that will allow you to drop in an image and then choose a tone for an AI-generated caption. I plan on using this as part of an initial ice breaker activity, ahead of students creating new selfies.

I will ask students to upload a few of their own selfies and then toggle between the various tone options for the resulting caption. The intention here is to help students see how their images may be interpreted on a surface level, which can have implications on the types of images they would like to create and put out into the social universe. Circling back on this tool (or one similar) after students create new images will be a great way to get the reflective juices flowing again.  

Why All the Effort?

Why am I incorporating artificial intelligence into weekly lessons with students? Because I want them to see and feel how AI can be used in interesting ways. I want students to know the tools out there, as well as ways to leverage those tools to lead to productive and desired results.