MODULE 1

Module 1: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Design Thinking 

The first module was astonishing. Before starting the course, I expected we would only discuss popular AI tools like ChatGPT. However, I was excited to learn about AI and, more specifically, how we can use it to teach English. To be honest, I did not have much prior knowledge about AI, only some basic information I had heard from others. This is why I was so excited to start the course, as I had only used ChatGPT a few times and was not sure exactly how to utilize it. Therefore, my expectations for this first module were very high.

As we began the course, I discovered various types of AI tools that I was previously unaware of. I was also surprised by the idea that AI can help us with an infinite number of tasks, and particularly that it can be so beneficial for teachers by offering assistance in many areas. Later in the course, I learned several new concepts, such as prompt, output, generative AI, prompt design, and prompt engineering, among others related to how AI should be used. The prompt is basically the way we communicate with AI; for example, it is when we write the things we want AI do for us, and the output it’s the answer that AI give us based on our requirement. Something that really caught my attention was the fact that AI's effectiveness depends on the instructions we provide; to get an effective answer, we must give effective guidance. Additionally, I learned that there are several factors to consider when writing a prompt, such as persona, aim, recipients, theme, and structure. These elements are important because they provide more information to the AI, enabling it to offer a better result. Moreover, we work in a design thinking project in which we could learn how to create an AI tool for solving a specific problem. We took into consideration the needs of our user. On the whole, after a several steps, we could provide him with a tool that really helps him to continue doing a great job in his English classes.

This knowledge will undoubtedly help me immensely in my future coursework and even in my work as a teacher. The new insights I have gained will be beneficial, as there were some things I struggled with in the past, but now I know I can use AI tools to improve my job. I am confident this information will help me create better lesson plans, as I previously found it challenging to brainstorm activities or find the right materials, even when I had an idea. Overall, I truly enjoyed everything I learned in Module One. 

Material created by me during module one

I created this Funko pop image during a class. I was trying to make her look like me, but this was the best I could achieve. 

I created this image because I was trying to replicate one image that the teacher showed us during a class. But this is what I got. 

I created this image because I was practicing my prompting. I wanted to create a flashcard to teach the verbs in class.