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How to Use an AI Tutor Effectively, Accurately, and Ethically
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Activity Description
Learners will use AI in their lives. They need to learn how to use it effectively, accurately and ethically. In this lesson, learners will identify when to use AI assistance, how to use it effectively, how to evaluate the accuracy of AI responses and how to use AI ethically.
21Things4Students ins an online learning resource focused on teaching students technology proficiency. The information is presented for students through projects. It is designed for K12 but the interactives, videos and resources are well worth your time. One of their topics is Q7 Intro to Artificial Intelligence (AI): Introduction Vocabulary, What is AI? AI in Real Life, AI Playground, AI Prompt Writing, Training AI, AI Ethics & Privacy
Preparation
- Check the website to ensure it is not blocked at your site.
- Read through the lesson plan.
- Print and make copies of any handouts.
- Take time to look at the 21Things4Students site. Select games, interactives or videos to enhance your lesson
More Ways
Spend time expanding the lesson. Include videos, games and interactive resources at 21Things4Students Q7 Intro to Artificial Intelligence (AI): Introduction Topics include:
- Vocabulary
- What is AI?
- AI in Real Life
- AI Playground
- AI Prompt Writing
- Training AI
- AI Ethics & Privacy
Program Areas
- ABE: Adult Basic Education
- ESL: English as a Second Language
- ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation
- ASE: High School Diploma
- CTE: Career Technical Education
- AwD: Adults with Disabilities
Levels
- All Levels
- Beginning High
- Intermediate Low
- Intermediate High
- Advanced
Lesson Plan
Using Think-Pair-Share, ask the question, Have you ever used an AI tool like ChatGPT, Grammarly, or Google Translate for school or personal use? Share your experience.
Learners reflect on the questions for two minutes. Then they pair with another learner and share their ideas. Finally, learners share their experiences with the class. As the teacher, write responses highlighting common ideas and problems.
What is an AI Tutor? Have learners pair to share answers then gather as a class and discuss. Write down ideas.
Add to the learner answers what an AI tutor says. According to ChatGPT:
An AI tutor is a digital tool powered by artificial intelligence that can help students learn by:
- Answering questions
- Explaining concepts
- Giving writing feedback
- Solving problems step-by-step
- Offering suggestions and ideas
Today we will look at AI Tutors.
1.What are examples of AI tutors: ChatGPT, Khanmigo, Grammarly, CK-12 Flexi, Microsoft CoPilot, Google Gemini etc
2.Review examples of how AI can assist us. Learner pairs review the ways AI can help them and give examples.
Ideas:
- List the ingredients in your refrigerator and have AI help with a recipe.
- Explain something that is confusing to you: What is a thesis statement?
- Generate ideas: Where could I go on a vacation with a budget of $1000, Brainstorm topics for an essay about WWII
- Answer basic questions: What is the capital of England? How many continents are there and what are their names?
- Offer feedback: Check my paragraph for grammar and spelling errors.
- Break a problem down into steps: show me how to solve this equation.
- Summarize a Zoom meeting at work.
3.What are things AI can't do, or shouldn't do? Gather as pairs to discuss, then share with class.
Ideas:
- AI doesn't always give correct information. (mistakes called hallucinations) How could you correct this? Check AI answers to verify accuracy.
- AI is not aware of your class/job materials and may miss what your teacher/boss is asking for. Always put your own understanding of the question in the writing. Always examine closely any suggestions made by AI.
- AI cannot replace YOUR critical thinking, so you will not develop this important skill if you rely on AI for answers. Instead ask for clarification, examples, and next step so you understand the question more completely.
- AI doesn't understand emotion, tone, or subtle content, all of these are critical elements in writing, debate or communication. AI can give ideas, correct grammar, and give feedback on your drafts but YOUR voice will only be in the writing if you write it yourself. Then have the AI make suggestions. Finally examine the AI suggestions to see if they express YOUR voice.
- If you use AI to copy/paste your assignment, you are plagiarizing.
- If you use AI in a test or quiz you are cheating. Instead, use AI to assist in your learning BEFORE the test. Ask for step-by-step solutions and then ask for more problems to try on your own so you are prepared for the test. AI can be an excellent tutor in your learning. It can help you study 24/7, anywhere, on any device.
- If you use AI and do not check its answers/sources your writing may be wrong (because the AI was wrong) and you will be accused of false information. Check all information, facts, or sources given by AI.
- If you use the final draft created by AI you may not fill all the guidelines or rubric requirements for the assignment. Always review any suggestions made by AI, so the writing fills the assignment guidelines/rubric.
- If you rely on feedback only from AI the quality of your writing will be limited. You will miss the potential input of others including peers and the teacher. Your writing will be better if you include discussions with classmates and teachers who give multiple ideas and points of view allowing for you deeping your understanding of the topic.
- If you go to AI first, before trying to do the work on your own you lose the opportunity to deepen your own learning. You learn more when you struggle, puzzle, try and fail. After the struggle, then ask AI for ideas.
- According the ChatGPT: "AI is a tool to support your learning--not a substitute for your own thinking. Use it to enhance, not replace, your effort."
Key Vocabulary. In pairs, have learners go to 21Things4Students , Intro to AI: Vocabulary Review the voaculary and then play the game to practice
How can you check if the AI answer is correct? As pairs students consider the question and then share answers in the group.
Ideas:
1. Compare with Trusted Sources. Check your textbook, notes, or class materials. Look at reliable websites (e.g., Khan Academy, Purdue OWL, official .edu or .gov sources).
2. Ask the AI to Explain More. Say: “Can you break that down into simpler steps?” or “Why is that the correct answer?” If the AI can’t explain it clearly, it might not be reliable.
3. Look for Red Flags. Made-up facts, overly formal or vague writing, or incorrect math steps all suggest hallucinations. Ask yourself: “Does this make sense based on what I already know?”
4. Ask AI for sources for its answers and check the sources. If AI gives a citation or quote, Google it to make sure it’s real. Just because AI gives a source, check it out. Don’t trust AI to provide accurate citations automatically.
5. Ask a Human. Check with a teacher, tutor, or peer if you’re unsure.
As a class, generate a prompt that goes along with a current class topic. Assign pairs to input the prompt into different AI chatbots: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Anthropic's Claude, Perplexity.ai, Google Gemini.
Compare the outputs. Analyze Does it sound like AI?
As pairs answer the AI or Not Quiz (in documents). Then discuss the results as a class.
What are good habits to develop when using AI? As pairs learners share their ideas then gather and discuss as the class.
Ideas:
1. Try First, Then Ask AI
Struggle a little first — your brain learns better that way!Use AI after you’ve done your own thinking.
2. Use AI for Feedback, Not Final Drafts
Ask AI to suggest edits, fix grammar, or rephrase, but make the final changes yourself.
3. Double-Check Everything
Never assume AI is right. Use it as a starting point, not the final answer.
4. Be Clear About What You Need
Instead of “Write my essay,” try:“Can you help me brainstorm ideas for this topic?” “Can you outline a paragraph about climate change?”
5. Keep Learning as the Goal
Always ask: “Did this help me understand better?” If it just gave you the answer, go back and ask for an explanation.
As pairs make a list of ways to use AI and how to implement it in class, at home, or on the job.
Gather ideas as a class and discuss.
Learners fill out the Personal AI Use Plan Worksheet. See Documents.
In the coming week, discuss AI with people outside the class. Bring ideas to class to extend the discussion.
Documents
- “AI or Not_ Quiz.docx - Learners identify if the text is AI or Human Generated
- Personal AI Use Plan Worksheet.docx - Learners make a personal AI use plan
Subjects
- Basic Communication
- Communicate in interpersonal interactions
- Communicate regarding personal information
- Consumer Economics
- Demonstrate financial literacy skills
- Understand consumer protection measures
- Understand how to manage household finances
- Understand how to purchase and maintain an automobile and interpret driving regulations
- Understand methods and procedures to obtain housing and related services
- Understand methods and procedures used to purchase goods and services
- Understand procedures for the care, maintenance, and use of personal possessions
- Use information to identify and purchase goods and services
- Use measurement and money
- English Language Arts
- American Literature
- English 1-4
- English Electives
- Journalism
- Literature
- Speech
- World Literature
- Government and Law
- Understand an individual's legal rights and responsibilities and procedures for obtaining legal advice
- Understand civic responsibilities and activities
- Understand concepts of economics
- Understand historical and geographical information
- Understand information about taxes and fees
- Understand issues related to science and ethics
- Understand the functions of government
- Understand voting and the political process
- Language Arts - Reading
- Analysis
- Comprehension
- Inference and Interpretation
- Synthesis and Generalization
- Language Arts - Writing
- Language Facility
- Organization of Ideas
- Writing Conventions
- Learning and Thinking Skills
- Demonstrate ability to use critical thinking skills
- Demonstrate ability to use problem-solving skills
- Demonstrate study skills
- Demonstrate the ability to use information and communication technology
- Demonstrate the ability to view the media critically
- Identify or demonstrate effective skills and practices in accomplishing goals
- Understand aspects of and approaches to effective personal management
- Math
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Math
- Compute using decimal fractions
- Compute using fractions
- Compute using whole numbers
- Compute with percents, rate, ratio, and proportion
- Math
- Consumer Math
- Conversions
- Decimals
- Math
- Demonstrate measurement skills
- Demonstrate pre-computation skills
- Math
- Fractions
- Geometry
- Integrated Math
- Math
- Interpret data from graphs and compute averages
- Math
- Math Electives
- Percentages
- Pre-Algebra
- Proportions
- Trigonometry
- Math
- Use estimation and mental arithmetic
- Use expressions, equations, and formulas
- Use statistics and probability
- Math
- Whole Number Skills
- Mathematics
- Algebraic Concepts
- Data Analysis/Probability/Statistics
- Measurement/Geometry
- Numbers and Operations on Numbers
- Reading
- Consumer Skills
- Critical Thinking/Decision Making
- Employability
- Government
- Health
- Learning to Learn
- Vocabulary
- Reasoning Through Language Arts
- Mechanics (Capitalization, Punctuation, Spelling)
- Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- General Science
- Health and Life Science
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Science Electives
- Social Studies
- American Government
- Economics
- Psychology
- Social Studies Electives
- U.S. History
- World History
- Writing
- Basic Sentences
- Mechanics (Capitalization, Punctuation, Spelling)
- Paragraph Skills
- Parts of Speech
- Report Writing
CTE Anchor Standards
- Anchor Standard 1: Academics - Analyze and apply appropriate academic standards required for successful industry sector pathway completion leading to postsecondary education and employment. Refer to the industry sector alignment matrix for identification of standards.
- Anchor Standard 4: Technology - Writing Standard: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments and information.
- Anchor Standard 5: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking - Writing Standard: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem, narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate, and synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.