I co-teach AP Computer Science A through Microsoft’s TEALS program. The classroom runs on Chromebooks, Google Classroom, and code.org (AWS). Corporate infrastructure top to bottom. This year I added an AI tutor. That’s apparently the controversial part.
The research is interesting: a Wharton study found students using standard ChatGPT performed 17% worse on exams—the “crutch” effect. But students using AI with pedagogical guardrails showed no negative effect. The problem isn’t AI in education. It’s unguided AI. So I built a tutor that asks probing questions instead of giving answers. I’m sharing the prompt I use and how to set one up yourself.
While, China made AI education mandatory for six-year-olds this year. We’re still deciding whether to block ChatGPT.
One of the best (also most intimidating) teachers I ever had would do this when students asked questions - asked questions in response, gradually leading the student to discover, by publicly stating, what they understood and what they did not.
Everyone misunderstood him (Turkish guy teaching EMF in the US) and thought he was just trying to embarrass and shame them. Though to be fair, I DO think he had some serious resentment toward the sense of entitlement many students approach their education with, and I share it.
His attitude left a bit to be desired, but if you were willing to humble yourself and truly engage with him when you asked a question (AKA not just retreat when he starts probing) - he just had this magical ability to ask questions until you revealed (seemingly to yourself) precisely what you had missed. Never really seen anything quite like it, he was distinct. And he respected and became warm with the students who would humble themselves and publicly try, too, which came as a shock given his permanently grumpy, disappointed demeanor. Plus he went some years where no students achieved that breakthrough, so his reputation never included notes about such.
(Uhh, my bad, just went down memory lane and only some of that has to do with what you said lmao)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socratic_questioning
100% the situation. He provided exactly zero info or context that he was up to that, however 😂
First - intense lecture - terse, clipped, accurate - then half-shouting while eyeballing everyone in the room, at the parts one can only assume are most often misunderstood.
And then, “you may ask questions”. Lmao. Legend. And he really would do exactly that, and extremely competently, and would enjoy it if anyone engaged. His enjoyment was genuine but also similarly illegible, lol. I have a feeling he wildly outclassed even his peers at the school, bro’s frustration was like a wound, sadly.
Learned a ton from the guy, but can’t say many did overall, he offered it but didn’t exactly invite. Gateway experience for a ton of degree candidates, that whole deal.
Not even at a particularly serious school lol. Like I said. Legend. “You will learn this [hapless candidate chasing a dollar by pretending knowledge] - to my standards - or you will not proceed. I offer everything you need and much more, but you must do the work.”