Using AI in Research Skills Through Collaborative Learning-Working the Web for Education - Tom March

What is AI? How do we use it in our lives? In what ways does AI influence your life? Suri, Alexa, your phone, Grammarly? what other ways? Discuss with a partner ways AI influences your life.

Do you think it will influence the jobs of the future?How can it influce the job market? Work as partners to find five ways you think AI will influence the future. Gather to discuss class observations. Put them on the board.

Use current articles to demonstrate the influence of AI on the job market ( Which U.S. Workers Are More Exposed to AI on Their Jobs?)  Discuss ways to prepare for the future (Navigating the Future of Work: 10 Ways to Prepare for the AI Workplace by Forbes) They mention three skills: creativity, collaboration and leadership. In the 10 skills mention they discuss Prepare for an AI-integrated workforce. Students turn to their neigbors and discuss skills they think will be needed in the new world of AI. We need to know AI, and how to use it.

Today we will use AI  to research AI!

 Decide which LLM (Large Language Model--machine learning models that gnenerate human language text) to use based on ease of access for students: Currently these include: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Microsoft CoPilot, Google Gemini, Claude, Pi. (Practice using it to be able to model to students effectively.)

Demonstrate how to access the LLM and write a prompt. Share the answer given by AI.

When given the prompt: Include sources of information about AI and its impact on the job market, ChatGPT answered:

Sources of Information:

World Economic Forum - Reports and articles on the future of work and AI impact on the job market. (https://www.weforum.org/)
Pew Research Center - Studies and surveys on technology, automation, and the labor market. (https://www.pewresearch.org/)
McKinsey Global Institute - Research papers and insights on the future of work, automation, and workforce transitions. (https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi)
Brookings Institution - Policy briefs and analysis on AI, automation, and workforce development. (https://www.brookings.edu/)
LinkedIn Learning - Online courses and resources for skill development in AI-related fields. (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/)

Information given by AI is not always accurate. Students will look up the sources given by AI and evaluate whether or not they think the source is accurate and useful. They will create a charf to share the information.

As pairs, students ask the LLM for sources of information about AI and its impact on the job market. Together create a chart on Microsoft Word or Google Docs with six columns: showing the source title, link, article title(if different), what they learned from the source, their evaluation of the credibility of the source and was the information useful? Be sure to copy and paste the prompt used to ask the LLM at the top of your chart.

The goal is for students to get comfortable using AI and learn to question and evaluate the sources given by AI. 

As pairs students write a prompt for the LLM. look at the recommended sources and evaluate their usefulness

Students share their charts with the teacher.

Gather the class and share the charts created by the students. have student pairs share their conclusions.

What are generalities learned about using AI? Prompt creation? Sources given? how can we use these observations in the future use of AI? Discuss first as pairs then share your conclusions as a class.