AI in Learning: Empowering Education & Self-Growth

Welcome to the New The AI Way

After long consideration and working on the “The AI Way” newsletter for the past 6 months.   I have decided to narrow the newsletter to a certain niche that I have more experience in and can therefore provide a better newsletter to my audience. Also AI is improving at such a fast pace that it is difficult for anybody to keep up and even to know what an audience will find interesting or worth seeing. 

Therefore, my focus will shift towards exploring how AI can be applied in the education sector, as well as how it can be utilized for self-education. This will include how AI can be used in the classroom but also be used by readers to learn new skills. 

What is featured in the newsletter this week:

AI news in education 

General AI news

AI tools  

Explanations of concepts in AI

How to get the most out of a LLM.

NEWS:

AI news in education:

The following article showcased that AI is coming to education whether the education field is ready or not. ChatGPT is already being adopted by 100 million users and 30% of those are college students. 

Here are some potential benefits AI can provide in education:

• Enhancing personalized support for teachers at scale, including simulating students and providing real-time feedback.

• Changing what is important for learners, allowing students to engage in more creative and ambitious learning.

• Enabling learning without fear of judgement, especially in developing soft skills.

• Improving learning and assessment quality, including personalized recommendations.

At the same time there are risks that should also be taken into account. 

• Model output lacks true cultural diversity, failing to represent the diversity of students.

• Models do not optimize for student learning and may priorities speed over educational soundness.

• AI can produce incorrect responses that appear coherent.

• AI advancements may exacerbate a motivation crisis among students.

(https://hai.stanford.edu/news/ai-will-transform-teaching-and-learning-lets-get-it-right) 

General AI News:

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a warning that generative artificial intelligence is expected to have an impact on approximately 60% of jobs in the United States and could exacerbate global inequality.

The IMF has released a new report highlighting the potential consequences of generative artificial intelligence on the job market and global inequality. According to the report, approximately 60% of jobs in the United States are expected to be affected by AI technologies. The report raises concerns about the potential for AI to deepen inequality on a global scale. It emphasizes the need for policies and measures to address the challenges posed by AI in the job market. The warning suggests that while AI offers many opportunities, it also comes with significant risks that need to be managed. The report serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the social and economic impacts of AI advancements.

(https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/imf-warns-ai-impact-60-us-jobs-increase-inequality-worldwide)

AI TOOLS: 

Khan academy:

Khan Academy offers a diverse learning platform, encompassing subjects like math's, science, arts, and test preparation. With interactive lessons, videos, and exercises, it caters to a wide audience, including students and educators. A special segment, Khan Academy Kids, focuses on young learners aged 2-8 with foundational skills in math's and reading.

Highlighting its innovation, Khan Academy introduces Khanmigo, an AI-powered tool that aids in lesson planning and offers personalised student feedback, enhancing the educational experience. This tool exemplifies Khan Academy's commitment to making quality education accessible and tailored through AI technology.

Socratic:

An AI software tool that provides visual explanations and helps with homework problems in subjects like Math, Chemistry, and Literature

Getting the Best Out of ChatGPT 3.5 : A Simple Guide:

Using ChatGPT, a powerful AI tool, can be super helpful, but it's important to use it right. Here’s a quick guide to help you out:

• Know Your Goal: First, be clear about what you want ChatGPT to do for you. Are you looking for help with writing, solving a problem, or something else? Knowing this helps you use it more effectively.

• Understand ChatGPT's Abilities: ChatGPT is like a super-smart helper, but it has its limits. It's important to know what it can do and how big or complex the tasks it can handle.

• Make It More Focused: Sometimes, you might need ChatGPT to be extra good at a specific task. This is where ‘fine-tuning’ comes in. It's like training ChatGPT on a special diet of information to make it better at a particular job.

• Use It Responsibly: Remember, ChatGPT is smart, but it's not perfect. It can sometimes give biassed or incorrect answers. So, it's important to use it thoughtfully and be aware of these limitations.

Examples of getting the most of chatgpt. 

The prompt I provided: 

act as a specialist in teaching python to students. The students come from different backgrounds and education levels. This needs to be taken into account when helping the students learn python. Provide the students with a fun and creative way of learning python that will keep them engaged and excited about learning python. Provide a step by step approach how the students can learn python from day one to day thirty. Provide everything the students will need to learn python. Not just and outline.

Although I clearly stated I want the full python course. ChatGPT still provided only the outline.

Now some fine tuning will need to be done to get the most out of chatGPT. 

The following prompt helped fine-tune the model for python 

This looks good. But I need all sources and steps to be provided and not just an outline. Begin with day 1 and provide step by step instructions on how the students can learn python. Do not refer to outside resources except for the python environment. Everything must be provided. I need you to provide the full guide on day one so that students can read it by themselves and not need guidance.

As can be seen from the results the prompt helped in providing clearer instructions to ChatGPT on what was needed from it. 

As we close this edition of "The New AI Way," I invite you to reflect on the endless possibilities that AI in education presents. Whether you're an educator, student, or just an AI enthusiast, there's always something new to discover and explore in this ever-evolving landscape.

I'm eager to hear your thoughts on the changes and content shared in this issue. Your feedback is not just welcomed, it's essential in shaping the future of this newsletter. Please feel free to share your insights, questions, or topics you'd like to see covered in future editions.

Next week, we'll dive deeper into the world of AI, uncovering more tools and strategies that can transform the way we learn and teach. So, stay tuned for more insights, and let's continue this enlightening journey together.

Stay connected and dive deeper into the world of AI with me! Follow my daily posts on LinkedIn and Twitter, where I share the latest insights, trends, and discussions about artificial intelligence. Let's keep the conversation going and explore the fascinating world of AI together. Find me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/niel-de-kock/ and Twitter @DekockNiel.

Thank you for reading, and see you next week in "The New AI Way."