Lyceum of History

Last week we looked at getting started with artificial intelligence, or AI. This week I want to show you something that’ll seem shocking. I want to show you how to teach students to use AI. I know it seems counterintuitive to teach students how to use something that many are already using to write papers, answer questions, etc. Like I said last week, AI isn’t going away. It’s time we prepared students for the 21st century.

If you’ve spent any time with a child, especially when they’re being asked to write an essay, you know that look. That deer in the headlights stare that signals they have no idea where to start. The same tips I shared with you last week can be applied to students as well.

The key point of any lesson on AI is that students must use it as a tool and not as a simple copy and paste. Just like you would instruct students how to paraphrase the work of someone else, you have to do the same thing with AI. Students can use it to generate story ideas, or put the list of historical figures in chronological order. 

Another trick you can do is have students respond with specific sentence starters. Say for example they’re reading about the fall of the Roman Empire. Students can then use “In my opinion…,” “Some historians think…,” etc. By forcing students to respond to the AI results, you can help guide them through the process of putting things in their own words just like you would from a textbook, an interview, or an internet article.

At the end of the day, it’s important to realize AI is still young. We’re on this journey of discovery together. Think of the impact you’ll have when years down the road, students still remember you teaching them how to use AI as a tool instead of as a crutch.

Ryan Wagoner

Lyceum of History

“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” ~Alexander the Great