AI in Food Education
By Roy Ballam; School food education consultant, working with the Food Teachers Centre
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While there’s lots of activity around using AI in education when text, numbers and/or images are used, the capability of using AI in food and nutrition education is still relatively new. With the Food Teachers Centre, we have started to explore this area, with the focus on AI tools that:
complement what you do;
have the potential to save you time;
support your planning and teaching;
enable you to quickly develop ideas and approaches;
enhance pupil learning (and experience).
What’s currently happening?
We undertook a quick poll in the Food Teachers Centre group, asking a number of questions around AI. While only small scale, the results paint a picture of current understanding and concern, as well as an appetite for use in the future. 55% of the respondents said that they had no or limited knowledge about the use of AI in general, with 22% saying that they did have knowledge about AI in their own subject.
When asked about the future, 65% said that AI had the potential to support their teaching (33% neutral), although 55% indicated that they had concerns about its use (29% neutral). 86% had not received any training, but 52% said that it was likely that they would use AI in the next 2 years (45% neutral).
What can AI do in food education?
There’s lots of AI tools already in existence, with more being created. There are image and video generators, text-based enquiry systems and specific task AI tools (such as recipe, diet, photo and meal planning), as well as education-based tools (like MagicSchool, Quizezz, Diffit and teachmate.ai). However, we’ve decided to start simple and use something that most people may have heard and can access for free – ChatGPT (3.5) – to demonstrate the potential and speed. However, if you’re keen to explore more, check out https://theresanaiforthat.com/ for an ever-growing list.
There’s so much that could be done, but where and how can it help add-value and reduce time? Our current focus has been where AI can help the busy food teacher:
create schemes and individual lessons;
generate and modify recipes for a range of scenarios and contexts;
write multiple choice and open questions, including the answers;
produce differentiated information;
explore and create time plans multiple recipes;
develop food assessment frameworks.
It is important to tread with a little caution – the technology is emerging, concerns have been raised and there are a number of ‘watch-outs’ that need to be considered, including:
the quality of responses, often due to lack of context;
bias, such as reflecting stereotypes;
accuracy of response – it is draft only, and must be checked;
misuse, often in the form of plagiarism (see JCQ guidance for support).
So, we shouldn’t depend on AI tools for accurate information first-time round. We need to use the tools as assistants, giving guidance and context. They do not have our level of critical and creative thinking, and ultimately, they are not food education subject experts – that’s the job of the food teacher.
ChatGPT Tips
Be clear about what you want
Don’t be vague
Give context: who, what, how & any constraints
Give prompts such as …
Act as a food teacher in the UK, teaching pupils aged 11-14 years (role)
Write a lesson about X (task)
Display as a chart (how)
Simplify the plan step-by-step (task and chain)
Only use ingredients readily available in the UK (give constraints)
Give ‘ChatGPT’ a go
Get a free account (https://chat.openai.com/) and give the following ‘prompts’ a go:
Continue the enquiry, exploring and developing the results to better suit your needs. Check for accuracy and quality – result will vary! Think about what you do and whether AI can help.
Next steps?
AI does have the potential to support, but as with any tool, it must be used properly to be of real benefit. Next steps should be to ‘have a go. Explore and see what’s possible and grow your confidence by trying these tools.
To support, there are two AI in food education events this year, designed to introduce and integrate AI into your food teaching. Let’s explore the future together.
Smart Teaching: Introducing AI in food education
• 7 Feb ‘24, 5:30-6:30pm, £20
Smart Teaching: Integrating AI in food education
• 26 June ‘24, 2-5pm, £75
Details and booking: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/smart-teaching-ai-in-food-education-2904279
Roy Ballam is the former Managing Director and Head of Education for the British Nutrition Foundation. Whilst Roy is no longer working for the Foundation, he is still very much involved in food education through his work as a consultant and with the Food Teachers Centre where he is supporting Food and Nutrition teachers develop into the school leaders of the future. Roy is award winning for his contribution to food education and we are thrilled to have him write for Futureminds on AI in Food Education.
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