To Use or Not to Use? Artificial Intelligence (ChatBots) in PETE/HETE.

ANNOUNCEMENTS!

All PETE Collaborative calls are recorded and uploaded as podcast episodes of the Playing with Research in Health and Physical Education Podcast. Those interested in listening back to this call, visit Episode 318: PETE Collaborative on AI in Teaching in PETE/HETE (Oct 2023)

To democratize the PETE Collaborative space more explicitly, we want to open the opportunity to the broader community to facilitate our virtual meetings. Any PETE stakeholder can submit a proposal for a call by filling out a brief form that overviews the purpose of the proposed session (click this link to access the form)

The purpose of this blog is twofold.

1.     First, we aim to summarize the conversation that occurred during the PETE Collaborative virtual meeting that occurred on October 5, 2023, entitled To Use or Not to Use? Artificial Intelligence (ChatBots) in PETE/HETE.

2.     Second, we have compiled an initial bank of resources on the topic, as offered by call participants and suggested by the PETE Collaborative organizing group.

This PETE Collaborative session was an open-ended conversation about concerns, potentials, challenges, and opportunities related to the use of Artificial Intelligence tools for teaching and learning in Physical Education Teacher Education. Following a brief demonstration, most of the conversation focused on the use of ChatGPT, which is a commonly known AI-powered Large Language Model with capacity for outputting human-like text when prompted. This section provides some summary notes related to salient points discussed by participants.

Opportunities

Artificial Intelligence/ChatGPT presents a wealth of opportunities for innovation in PETE/HETE. During the recent session, we discussed some exciting opportunities that educators can harness to transform teaching practices and enhance student learning. Below are the opportunities for using AI/ChatGPT in higher education.

·      Efficiency in Teaching Preparation: AI can assist teacher educators in preparing for teaching, such as generating discussion questions and constructing presentation shells, saving time for planning.

·      AI for Enhancing Lesson Planning: Beyond competency levels, AI has the potential to uplift educators in creating more robust lessons. Even those with less experience can benefit from the assistance AI provides in the development of improved educational materials.

·      AI in Pre-Service Teachers: As we embrace AI in PETE/HETE, we are making an impact on the education landscape from its very foundations. Pre-service teachers in K-12 settings are encountering the opportunities and challenges of AI, preparing them for the future of education.

·      Improving Student Learning: The key question is whether AI can be a valuable tool for helping students become better learners and problem-solvers. AI holds the potential to enhance student learning, fostering an effective educational experience.

·      Efficiency and Effectiveness of Assessment: Understanding the busy lives of physical educators, AI offers the potential to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of assessment. In such cases, it becomes imperative to teach pre-service teachers how to effectively utilize AI for assessment in their future classrooms.

·      AI in Assessment Class: Using AI/ChatGPT in assessment classes has opened doors to both convenience and caution due to potential inaccuracies. One application is the creation of rubrics with AI's assistance, and the involvement of students in evaluating the quality of AI-generated rubrics. This approach not only enhances students’ learning but also cultivates their critical thinking skills.

·      AI and Lesson Plan Evaluation: One valuable application involves students using ChatGPT to create a lesson plan, followed by evaluating this lesson plan using a designated rubric. This approach provides a platform for students to assess the quality of learning objectives and their alignment with tasks. This exercise nurtures their lesson planning skills and sharpens their ability to appraise AI-generated content.

·      AI as a Tool: AI could be a powerful tool for educators. Just like any technology, it amplifies the capabilities of dedicated teachers, enhancing their teaching practices for the benefit of students.

·      AI as the New Normal: Using AI might become the new normal in education in the future. It is important to seek ways to harness its advantages for both educators and students.

Challenges

Alongside these exciting prospects, it's crucial to address the challenges that come with integrating AI/ChatGPT.  Below are the essential considerations in integrating AI in PETE/HETE.

·      Technical Barriers: Learning and effectively using AI/ChatGPT can be time intensive. Proper question-asking techniques are essential to obtain accurate answers.

·      Ethical Issues: Another challenge involves tackling academic integrity concerns, such as the potential for plagiarism arising from AI-generated content.

·      Equity Concerns: Recognizing that AI detection may produce false positives, especially among non-native English speakers. This has significant implications for ensuring equitable education practices when implementing detection software.

·      Specificity for Teaching: A challenge for AI is providing appropriate, context-based lesson plans.

·      Accuracy and Reliability: How reliable is the information? One challenge is to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of AI-generated information.

·      Instructor Knowledge: To what extent does AI keep PETE professors from having to have strong Content Knowledge, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, and Specialized Content Knowledge because of an over-dependence on AI? Over-dependence on AI might reduce the need for professors to possess knowledge.

·      Student Cognitive Development: It is important to foster critical thinking in college students, enabling them to assess and critique information generated by AI.

·      Avoiding Over-Reliance: Caution must be exercised to avoid excessive reliance on AI, as it could potentially hinder the development of creativity and problem-solving skills in college students.

·      Navigating University Policies in AI Integration: Professors may encounter challenges when attempting to adhere to university policies while incorporating AI into their teaching.

The following is a list of enriching resources as suggested by call participants and the PETE Collaborative organizing group. All resources relate directly to topics surrounding Artificial Intelligence tools, physical education, and education more broadly.

Podcasts: Playing with Research in Health & Physical Education

·      Episode #315: AERA SIG 93 Seminar- A Discussion about AI as a Disruptive Technology in Research and PETE

·      Episode #265: ChatGPT, A.I., and How it Will Affect Education and PETE

Academic Articles and Essays

·      Journal of Teaching in Physical Education: “Knock, Knock … Who’s There?” ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence-Powered Large Language Models: Reflections on Potential Impacts Within Health and Physical Education Teacher Education

·      Sustainability: Applying Artificial Intelligence in Physical Education and Future Perspectives

·      Education and Information Technologies: Application of Artificial Intelligence in Physical Education: A Systematic Review

·      IEEE Access: Artificial Intelligence in Education: A Review

·      The Press, Christchurch NZ, Darwin Among the Machines (By Cellarius/Samuel Butler 1863)

Educational Twitter Accounts

·      Neil Selwyn, Monash University @Neil_Selwyn

·      Tim Fawns, Monash University @Timbocop

Blogs and Internet Articles

·      Digital Learning Collaborative, The New Hype Cycle

·      Irish Independent, AI fears force Education Minister to abandon shake up of Leaving Cert assessments

·      AI Assignment Flip- 10 Examples

YouTube Videos

·      “If anyone wants to have their mind blown about AI,”, How Will We Know When AI is Conscious?

·      AERA SIG 93 Seminar, A Discussion about AI as a Disruptive Technology in Research and PETE

·      Alchemy, AI in Higher Education

 

*For more background about the origins and purpose of the PETE Collaborative, please read our Quest article entitled, The PETE Collaborative: Established in Crisis, Sustained through Community