About four years ago, I posted on my blog about the concept of developing a personal syllabus. In that post, I describe the steps of creating a personal syllabus:
First, choose an area where you want to deepen your knowledge or experience. This could include internal explorations of yourself, or an external exploration of a topic that is interesting to you right now.
Once you have your topic, you draft the following:
- A short description of the area you want to explore (i.e. your course description)
- A list of what you hope to learn through the exploration (i.e. your learning objectives)
- A reading and/or resources list that you will use to deepen your knowledge
- Potential “assignments” that will help you to check in on your progress
- A rough schedule of your exploration (it can take as long as you need)
I’ve revisited this topic recently because I’ve been using ChatGPT as a resource to help me create personal syllabi for topics that are feeling overwhelming to me. This is such an incredible use case for this tool.
For example, here’s a recent prompt that I used: “I’m feeling overwhelmed by how AI will be impacting higher education. Can you put together a personal syllabus with learning objectives and a multi-week schedule of readings, podcast episodes, multimedia resources, and books to help me get caught up on what I need to know?”
And here’s the ChatGPT response:
Certainly! Exploring the impact of AI on higher education is an excellent endeavor, given its potential to revolutionize teaching, learning, and administrative processes. Below is a personalized syllabus to guide you through this exploration, along with learning objectives and a multi-week schedule of resources:
Syllabus: Understanding the Impact of AI on Higher Education
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the current landscape of AI in higher education.
- Explore how AI is reshaping teaching and learning methodologies.
- Examine the ethical implications of AI in academia.
- Identify potential challenges and opportunities AI presents to higher education institutions.
- Gain insights into future trends and possibilities in AI-driven education.
Week 1: Introduction to AI in Higher Education
- Readings:
- “Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Current Uses and Future Applications” by Li, Lin, Wang, and Lin
- “AI in Higher Education: Applications, Promises, and Challenges” by Elsalam and Aljohani
- Podcast Episodes:
- “AI in Education” – Future of Work podcast
- “How AI is Shaping Higher Education” – AI in Business podcast
Week 2: AI and Teaching Methodologies
- Readings:
- “AI and Education: The Importance of Teaching” by Luckin, Holmes, Griffiths, and Forcier
- “Enhancing Learning and Teaching with Artificial Intelligence: Seven Transformations” by Bates and Sangrà
- Multimedia Resources:
- TED Talk: “Can AI Replace Teachers? | Michelle Zhou | TEDxBeaconStreet”
- YouTube Video: “AI in Education: A Time for Caution” – Center for Data Innovation
Week 3: Ethical Considerations in AI-driven Education
- Readings:
- “Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence Courses” by Wickens and Huang
- “The Ethics of AI in Education: A Researcher’s Guide” by Gotterbarn et al.
- Books:
- “Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” by Joseph E. Aoun
Week 4: Challenges and Opportunities
- Readings:
- “Challenges and Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence in Education and Training” by Man, Ma, and Naidu
- “Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Education” by Khamparia et al.
- Multimedia Resources:
- Video Lecture: “The Future of Learning: Personalized Learning, AI, and More” – World Economic Forum
- Documentary: “Most Likely to Succeed” (Available on various streaming platforms)
Week 5: Future Trends and Possibilities
- Readings:
- “The Future of AI and Education: A Cambrian Moment” by Shoham and Koren
- “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education” by Baker et al.
- Podcast Episodes:
- “The Future of Education and AI” – Voices in AI podcast
- “What’s Next for AI in Education?” – The EdSurge Podcast
Week 6: Synthesis and Reflection
- Reflective Journaling: Reflect on the key insights gained from the readings, podcasts, and multimedia resources. Consider how AI may impact your role in higher education, whether as a student, educator, administrator, or researcher.
- Discussion: Engage in discussions with peers or mentors about the implications of AI in higher education and potential strategies for leveraging its benefits while addressing challenges.
- Future Learning Plans: Identify areas for further exploration or research within the realm of AI and higher education.
Conclusion: This syllabus is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the impact of AI on higher education. Through a combination of readings, podcast episodes, multimedia resources, and reflective activities, you will gain insights into the current landscape, emerging trends, ethical considerations, and future possibilities in AI-driven education. Adjust the schedule and resources according to your preferences and availability, and feel free to delve deeper into specific topics of interest. Happy learning!
What would you ask ChatGPT to help you create a personal syllabus for?
