Exploring artificial intelligence in the classroom
Sit in on any of Trinity’s Professional Learning Teams and you’ll get a glimpse into how Academic Staff are keeping up with the latest pedagogical frameworks, digging into research, and implementing innovative new ideas into their classrooms.
One such PLT is conducted in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney who are focused on learning how artificial intelligence can be realistically implemented in the classroom. The PLT has allowed staff like Ms Alexandra Wood (Visual Arts Teacher) to explore the touchy subject backed by support and research as they use AI tools to create teaching resources, differentiate lessons for students with various learning needs, improve their time management, and deliver content effectively.
“Through this group, I’ve had discussions that have made me think about what I can do in my classes to start to change things, embrace this technology, and test it out with the students,” she says.
In particular, Ms Wood worked with student Matthew Vickery (‘24) to utilise AI in his HSC Major Work.
“Matthew is an incredible photographer,” she says. “He’s at a level that … you wonder, where does he go from here? That’s where we thought AI could play a subtle part.”
Matthew’s efforts across his final year at Trinity culminated in a piece that spanned 20 metres, full of beautifully captured landscapes. The photography was all his own work, but blending the pieces together seamlessly to create such a large piece was supported by Generative Fill, an Adobe Photoshop AI-powered feature. His work has now seen him receive a nomination for possible inclusion in the HSC showcase, ARTEXPRESS.
Ms Wood showed the piece to her UTS connections who were blown away. They put her in touch with Dr Tim Kitchen, Adobe’s Senior Education Specialist, a connection that saw Ms Wood present one of Adobe’s ‘Wednesday Webinars’ to a global online audience in November, sharing the way that digital creativity is bring used in learning experiences. She has also had a chance to present at UTS, sharing Matthews work with a wider audience.
Her work with Dr Kitchen can lead to her pursuing recognition as an Adobe Expert if she chooses to apply for this opportunity – an idea and opportunity she’s excited to explore.
“Adobe advises science teachers, maths teachers, their Creative Cloud products are available to all students in NSW to harness their creativity and let them explore. The idea of taking that next step to be an Adobe Expert is significant.”
Recognising that the topic of AI is a touchy one, especially for those in creative industries, Ms Wood knows that embracing technology is the only way forward but the way in which we embrace it – as a school and as a society – is the key point.
“It’s important that craft is still taught. Craft is so important,” she says. “But AI can have a place at the beginning of a project, helping with ideation and visualisation, or at the end of a project, enhancing the work to take it to a new level.”
She notes that Visual Arts and other subjects like it are already adopting assessment approaches that leave space for AI to be incorporated.
“When I’m assessing, I’m not so much looking at the final product, but the creative thinking that’s gone into the final product, how they interpret the assignment and get to that point.”
If AI becomes a part of that process, there’s room for that to be considered in the assessment process, she says. She says the boys love working with AI and they know that it’s about enhancing their work, not creating the work for them, even if there’s still a way to go with getting everyone on the same page.
“They have to use their skills first and the new skill they’re learning with AI is the prompting,” she says, noting that they only get out of AI what they put in, it isn’t a magic tool that provides all the answers.
The conversation around AI in the education and creative spaces is ongoing, but Ms Wood says she’s grateful to have the chance to be a part of the discussion and to be hands-on when it comes to implementing new approaches in the classroom.
“I love working at Trinity because you are provided with opportunities to explore interests within teaching. I think it’s really important to be involved with tertiary education institutions where you’re given the opportunity to discuss the relevance of what’s happening in the wider world and then to bring it straight into your classroom – we’re at the forefront of change and it’s a good place to be. The world is going to change so much over the next few years so it’s important to be able to equip the boys to deal with these changes and utilise these tools to enhance the way they work.
“Instead of being fearful of new technologies, we’re embracing it.”
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