Candidates will synthesize research on issues and trends in instructional technology.
The database assignment, Part 1, focused on my collaboration with two of my classmates on a technology trend we wanted to learn more about. We chose Artificial Intelligence as a trend because we were currently experimenting with it in our respective content areas as a library media specialist, a first-grade teacher, and a kindergarten teacher. Part 1 is an essay examining why AI is becoming popular in schools. Our research theorized that schools have taken an interest in AI because of its impact on teacher pedagogy and student performance on assignments.
The database assignment was a paper written by two other classmates and me from the Issues in Instructional Technology course. The purpose of the paper was for us to select a technology trend that we want to do extensive research on in the context of a particular education level. We chose Artificial Intelligence as our technology trend, and in Part 3, we focused on how it is used in the area of higher education. The paper discusses both the positive and negative implications of AI in higher education. Our conclusions were developed from researching the history of AI and examining peer-reviewed articles outlining its impact on learners.
Both artifacts represent scholarly research that incorporates elements of research-based information and collaboration among educators. Researching Artificial Intelligence in Education provided us with the opportunity to compare how we use it in our schools, but also to understand how it is being used in other disciplines. Both artifacts focus on the use of AI in two different educational arenas: elementary and higher education. Our research allowed us to develop some best practices for how we can promote the responsible use of AI in schools. For example, we learned that students need to understand the importance of critical thinking skills and not rely solely on AI for answers because the information is not always factual and beneficial to the learner.