With the increasing popularity of AI and its potential to revolutionise various industries, it's not surprising to see it making waves in the world of e-learning. Determined that EL Learning Design would not left behind I decided to take the initiative to upskill myself in this field. This led me to build various applications that query ChatGPT.
In this blog post, I will be sharing my insights and experiences of what I have learnt so far and some of the consideration I am making whilst designing AI tools for healthcare e-learning.
Most of the AI-based ideas that I have come across primarily focus on enhancing and accelerating current practices for educators. However, there seems to be a limited emphasis on exploring how learners can utilise AI tools effectively. In fact in some corners, there is a widespread apprehension regarding the usage of AI by learners. This is concerning as I feel that there is an amazing potential of AI to improve online education.
My initial experimentation with AI writers has centered on utilising ChatGPT as a query source. With this basic setup, I have been able to develop a variety of AI tools, ranging from a film suggestion system that personalises movie recommendations based on the user's mood, to more education-focused tools such as an critical AI engineering professor. The AI engineering professor is an example of a tool that enriches existing ideas rather than relying on ChatGPT to generate new ones. To create the tool I carefully crafted the prompts to follow a predefined pedagogical structure. Through this process, I have found that using ChatGPT in this manner has proven to be more effective in producing meaningful results.
Fuelled by my early achievements, I was eager to venture into the realm of healthcare education and develop AI tools that could contribute to this field. However, this endeavour is not without its challenges. I needed to consider a number of factors such as ensuring the validity of the information being conveyed, avoiding the dissemination of incorrect advice, and preventing the endorsement of harmful practices. These considerations are critical in ensuring the responsible and ethical deployment of AI in healthcare education.
Below I have outlined some of my initial ideas for AI tools that would be useful for online healthcare education:
Facilitating Reflection and Discussion in a Non-Collaborative Setting
In previous blog posts I have highlighted the challenges of creating collaborative and discussion-based courses and the significance of these elements in education. AI can play a valuable role in this regard by effectively summarising and analysing user input based on specified criteria, thereby supporting reflection and discussion even in a non-collaborative environment.
Branching Narrative Scenarios
The possibility of creating realistic branching narrative patient consultations with AI is substantial. My focus is particularly drawn towards utilising pre-written clinician questions to model interactions accurately. However, by incorporating AI patients into the scenario, learners can encounter a range of outcomes, providing them with exposure to a diversity of challenges that cannot be replicated through pre-written case studies alone. This creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment that is different each time!
"AI" Experts
The ability to engage with an AI "expert" in a particular field, such as another healthcare professional, provides learners with a unique learning opportunity. By interacting with these AI-powered individuals, learners can practice summarising their ideas and refining their communication skills. Additionally, by developing AI applications with pre-defined prompts, learning experiences can be personalised and designed with a specific pedagogical intention in mind. This allows for a more targeted and effective learning experience that is tailored to the needs and goals of the learner. Furthermore, by utilising AI technology, learners can access these expert interactions anytime, anywhere, making it easier and more convenient for them to continue their learning and development.
The End...
In conclusion, as AI technology continues to advance and new creative tools become available, EL Learning Design is eager to stay ahead of the curve by upskilling in this field and we hope to be able to share some new tools very soon!
It is imperative to always consider the underlying pedagogical problem that new educational technology may solve or support but also not to fear disruptive technologies. The potential for AI to revolutionise various industries, including e-learning, is undeniable. We are enthusiastic to see the future development of AI and we hope to be apart of developing technologies that support the development healthcare professionals.