6 Introducing Topics
Student Learning Objective
- Explore a new topic using Generative AI and class discussion.
An interactive method for bridging into a new topic, while simultaneously allowing students to practice using Generative AI and applying critical thinking skills around the results.
Activity Steps
- Determine if this will be given as individual pre-work for a class beginning a new section or topic OR as an in-class activity.
- Give students a broad topic term or several key terms within the topic and have them prompt Generative AI for explanations.
- Ask them to note specific theories, people (experts), definitions that appear relevant to the topic(s) prompted.
- You may want to provide guiding prompts or develop those in class with the students. This could help steer the activity to the appropriate depth for the course.
- Debrief their findings and collectively build an overview of the topic.
Discussion Questions
- Can you summarize the main topic in a sentence or two?
- How does this topic relate to your field of study/industry?
- What are the most important points for you to know now? Which might be something you would need to know down the road?
- How do you know the source of the information? How do you know if the information is correct?
- What gaps do you still have around this topic?
Considerations
- The debrief of this activity is key to making sure the students come away with an accurate picture of what you want them to learn.
- It is important to reiterate information literacy content around verifying Generative AI input for correctness, being aware of potential bias, and transparency of sources.
Example Prompts
Possible prompts at the start of a course:
- What are the key topics connected to the study of [your course topic]?
- What might I learn about in a course called [your course name]?
- What topics might be covered in a course intended to teach [one of your course learning outcomes]
- This specific prompt could be used as an activity on the first day of class to encourage students to review the course workplan by matching items in the workplan to the Generative AI output.
Possible prompts at the start of a new unit or topic:
- What are some of the key points to understanding [your topic]?
- Who are the key steps in [your topic]?
- How would you explain [your topic] to a student studying it for the first time?
NSCC Resources
For alternative ways to structure group activities and class debriefs, see the The CTL Teaching Commons resource Instructional Strategies.
