Engagement Activities with AI
Engaging students in the classroom isn’t just about keeping them occupied—it’s about guiding them through the learning process, where they actively think, question, and connect ideas. While we don’t want students to skip the journey by rushing to answers, tools like AI can spark curiosity and critical thinking, helping them explore material more interactively. However, balancing exposure and distraction is key. Students need to understand how to use these tools responsibly, avoiding pitfalls like misuse, misinformation, and data vulnerability. The goal is not just to use AI but to use it wisely, ensuring learning stays meaningful and relevant.
Research highlights that student engagement plays a vital role in academic success and long-term satisfaction. According to studies by Pandita and Kiran (2023), students actively involved in learning activities through technology are more likely to take ownership of their education, fostering deeper understanding and better outcomes. Furthermore, educational environments enhanced with digital tools encourage inquiry-based learning, creativity, and collaboration, all of which contribute to student satisfaction and skill development.
The integration of AI allows educators to offer dynamic, personalized experiences, facilitating interactive learning beyond traditional methods. These technological interfaces align with best practices in education by promoting active engagement, a factor critical to academic achievement and satisfaction in modern learning contexts.
Ideas
- AI Image Generation for Literary Visualization
Use platforms like DALL·E to generate visual interpretations of key scenes from novels.
Students compare AI-generated art to traditional book illustrations or their own mental images.
Example: The House on Mango Street – Copy and paste a paragraph from the novel into an image generator and see what happens!
- AI-Enhanced Group Discussions with Custom Chatbots
Create chat rooms with custom bots (via platforms like School.AI) programmed to play roles (e.g., historical figures, book characters).
Example: Have a conversation with Macbeth about his motivations to kill King Duncan.
- Creative Writing Prompts with AI Text Expansion
AI provides random lines or story starters, and students must complete them.
Example: Start with an AI-generated sentence like “The moon fell into the ocean,” and students develop a short story from there.
- AI as a Debate Partner
Students practice debate skills by debating with AI about controversial topics.
Example: Have students argue against the AI about school uniforms or social media’s impact.
- AI Rewrites in Different Genres and Voices
Use AI to rewrite classical passages in new formats (e.g., Hamlet’s soliloquy as a rap or spoken word).
Example: Rewrite "To be or not to be" in Eminem's style or as a stand-up comedy routine.
- Audio Production and Music Creation with Suno
Have students input summaries of literary works or historical events and use AI tools to generate songs.
Example: Turn Romeo and Juliet into a hip-hop song, summarizing the plot and emotions.
Use platforms to create interactive RPGs where students make narrative decisions, with AI acting as NPCs (non-playable characters).
Develop multi-path storytelling activities where students collaboratively write a story with AI.
Example: An RPG where students navigate through a post-apocalyptic world as a character from The Road.
- AI-Facilitated Research and Summary Tools
Students use AI to help summarize complex articles or research papers.
Example: Research the Civil Rights Movement, summarize findings, and verify with primary sources.
- AI-Enhanced Mock Trials and Role-Plays
AI generates case files, witness statements, or evidence. Students take on roles as prosecutors, defenders, and jury members.
Example: Mock trial of Victor Frankenstein, with AI generating witness testimony from the monster.
- AI Chatbots as Feedback Partners
Students draft essays or creative works, and AI provides instant feedback on structure, grammar, and tone.
Example: Use ChatGPT to guide revisions, asking “How can I make this argument more compelling?”
- AI for STEM and Literature Mashups
Use AI to create mathematical poems or combine scientific facts into creative narratives.
Example: Write a haiku incorporating scientific principles, like the laws of thermodynamics.
- AI-Generated Social Media Campaigns
Students design AI-assisted campaigns around themes like environmentalism, including slogans, visuals, and hashtags.
Example: Create a campaign on AI ethics with AI-generated tweets and posters.