Education needs more of the one thing AI lacks: feeling
How is AI useful if it only speeds up or streamlines an educational process that is outdated?
How innovative is AI-generated assessment if the learning experience itself is in need of innovation?
And the learning experience itself can be innovated without the use of AI.
Instead, I believe, we should be focusing on how to create learning experiences that make the learner feel something.
If we can engage the learner in this kind of emotional experience, the rest of the technical and subject-specific knowledge will be carried along in its powerful wake.
“Helping students care about what they are learning is both difficult and complex, but it appears to be essential for the development of truly useful, transferable, intrinsically motivated learning.” Immordino-Yang
The question we should be asking ourselves as educators is: how can we design a more fulfilling and motivating framework for the learning experience?
You may have heard of “the hero's journey”, originally uncovered by Joseph Campbell. It is the underlying mythic story structure embedded in all great works of fiction.
This “monomyth” structure generally involves a protagonist with a particular goal or “want”. It is in pursuit of this want that they are driven forward, overcoming obstacles along the way.
As a Computing teacher in an inner city London school, I have explored many ways to motivate a diverse mix of learners. Eventually I discovered I could help create the “want” or desire in the learners, that would compel them to learn the more specific subject knowledge and skills required of the curriculum.
I did this through imaginative scenarios, project-based learning, creative media and games-based activities - all using digital technology.
It was my understanding of innate story structure and narrative that prompted me to put students on a quest that would have them pick up the necessary knowledge along the way, in pursuit of some project goal, or inspired by a grander imaginative framework.
Whether it was roleplaying as a marine charity; building a sustainable city in Minecraft; or running a media campaign using Adobe Express, I discovered that a motivating framework meant the students directed their own energy towards a goal, and were therefore compelled to to learn the required topic knowledge.
Through roleplay, games or creative projects, there was a palpable sense of agency and urgency in the classroom. You could then harness this energy and interweave the learning objectives along the route.
Most recently I tasked myself with creating this motivating framework for a Year 5 unit on the rather dry and technical topic of Computer Systems.
So what did I come up with?
The children were to create their own computer company, like Apple, and design a range of products. They would also design a logo and marketing materials that listed the features of their computer systems. They would then build up to the big launch where they would present their new computer business and products to the rest of the class.
The framework would ensure the curriculum knowledge was essential to the task, including hardware vs software, input devices/output devices and the different parts of a computer system. All whilst being driven by an engaging creative project.
And I didn't need AI for this.
But I did use it…
I input the initial idea into ChatGPT and it came up with a solid 6-lesson structure and fantastic suggestions for each lesson.
So if you are going to use AI for education, why not ask it to have empathy with how your learners are going to feel during the learning experience - and come up with a motivating framework that sends your students on an unforgettable hero's journey.
Because that is what education needs more of.
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Connect with me on here or on my LinkedIn if this chimes with you. I’ve got some Minecraft STEM books coming out on June 20th and I’ll be putting out more thoughts and resources around engaging learning experiences you might find helpful.