Getting AI Ready! My Experience on the BustED Pencils Podcast

The Problem with Traditional Learning

Hey everyone, it's Aaron Makelky here! Today, I want to share my conversation from the BustED Pencils radio show and podcast this week. I am on a journey that began with frustration over old-school teaching methods and currently has me using generative AI to transform my classroom. We all know the struggle – outdated teaching techniques (has this teacher updated their PowerPoint since 1996???), crushing stress, and the constant pressure to keep grades up without losing our sanity. This is especially true for college students who are tech-savvy, connected, and suffering from major AI FOMO. You know you need to learn AI, but where do you even start?

I recently had the honor of discussing this very topic on the BustED Pencils podcast with Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci. It was a live radio broadcast, and it was a blast! The best part? The callers who chimed in with encouragement and positive feedback. It was clear – people are excited about the potential of AI in education.

Why Solving This Problem Matters

Our conversation started with why should you care about learning AI? You already know – AI is revolutionizing every industry, from healthcare to entertainment. For college students, mastering AI can mean the difference between just passing your courses and excelling in them. AI tools can help you study smarter, manage your time better, and ultimately, reduce your stress levels. And no, I’m not talking about using AI to cheat on your assignments. I’m talking about using AI to genuinely enhance your learning experience and save you time! Students like mine and those who have taken courses from Dr. Slekar & Dr. Lupinacci know that the demands of a full-time college course load can be overwhelming, 

Experiment in the Classroom 

My journey to learn with LLM’s began with experimenting with AI in my own classroom. I started small – using ChatGPT for the assignments I gave my students and then generating myself feedback. It was a challenge that initially didn’t seem promising. In fact, I was convinced ChatGPT was a terrible tool for students, especially when it came to writing for academic settings. With practice though, ChatGPT helped me craft better assignments and provided instant feedback, making the learning process more interactive and engaging. I also realized: this is the WORST version of ChatGPT that will ever exist: it’s only going to get better! So I needed to put in the reps and get practice at using it.

Learning AI Without Cheating

We discussed how one of the biggest challenges was teaching my students to use AI tools without just asking ChatGPT to write their essays. Instead, I encouraged them to use AI for research, brainstorming, and even leveling texts for students who read at a lower grade level. This not only made learning more accessible but also empowered students to use AI as a tool for growth. One story I shared was of a student who could use ChatGPT to take a challenging history text & revise it to be written on a grade level he could comprehend WITHOUT the teachers having to do it manually! How could anyone say this is cheating or unethical?

Overcoming the AI Resistance

One of the topics we discussed were skeptics – colleagues who were firmly in the "AI resistance" camp (mostly English teachers…surprised?). They saw AI as a threat rather than a tool. 

“You are teaching your students to CHEAT!” 

“You shouldn’t be showing them how to use AI!”

“My students said you encouraged them to use ChatGPT on their assignments!”

It made for some awkward conversations, even having department chairs discuss the issue of AI in my classroom. Once students see how much tools like generative artificial intelligence apps can help them in the classroom, there is no going back! I told the audience how I went to some of the “AI resistance” teachers on my lunch break & directly addressed their concerns. I understand where they are coming from, I really do. BUT, until they actually use these tools, they shouldn’t be putting others who have on blast. Whether they like it or not, AI is not going away.

Next Steps

If our conversation hits home with you, make sure to reach out to me! I will be running the first (that I could find anyways!) live learning class for college students to learn to use AI tools to raise their grades & lower their stress without cheating this June! 

My links page will take you to everything I’m working on, where you can book a call with me, get #maktok merch, and connect on all my social media platforms.

-Your AI Teacher Aaron Makelky