AI-Powered Imagery in Education: Picture-(Im)Perfect!
"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I might remember. Involve me and I will never forget." Or so they say. But let's be honest, involving imagery in education can be like trying to take a perfect selfie on the first try – trickier than it seems! And what if I told you that AI could be your new camera assistant? Allow me to introduce you to my friends Midjourney, Bing AI, and Stability AI.
When AI Becomes Your Art Department
When stock images just won't cut it or when the price tag is too high – that's when AI comes to the rescue. Want to flex tech muscles in front of your students or simply avoid paying for that clichéd apple-on-books photo? AI tools are there, waiting to be your sidekick. Mind you, they might need a cup of coffee or two to wake up properly!
My Rollercoaster Ride with Midjourney and Bing AI
Imagine creating the Mona Lisa for your PowerPoint, but ending up with a Picasso instead. That's how my journey started. But I learned to ride the wave!
Structuring Slides: Need to differentiate various points in your lecture? I used Midjourney to create themed images for each segment. Historical debate? A picture of philosophers in deep thought. Economic trends? Dollar signs raining from clouds, obviously.
Bringing Characters to Life: Teaching Shakespeare? Why not have Midjourney create a portrait of Hamlet, looking as perplexed as a student during finals?
Setting Mood or Ambiance: Looking to create a Victorian atmosphere for a literature lecture or perhaps a futuristic vibe for a technology talk? With a few prompts, Midjourney can whip up images that transport your students through time and space.
It's not all smooth sailing, though. I once spent an hour prompting Midjourney for an image of a chef tasting soup in a fancy restaurant. The result? Let's just say you can see that chef (and my virtual sweat) in the library below. Bon appétit!
Summary: Embrace the Image, They Said...
Who needs boring, old slides when you have AI-generated art at your fingertips? But remember, it's a partnership, not magic. Your AI tools might interpret your requests in ways that would make Salvador Dalí proud. However, with a bit of time and patience, you'll have visuals that even your tech-savviest students will applaud.
Library
An analogy between education and an obstacle race.
An analogy for formative assessment: A chef tasting a dish before it goes to a patron.
An analogy for summative assessment: A patron tasting a dish and making a judgement.
A visual cue for the backpack metaphor for explaining cognitive load theory.
A slide placeholder when talking about personal productivity.
A slide placeholder for a lecture on focus and attention.
A slide placeholder for talking about graduating from university in the age of artificial intelligence.
This post was created with the help of ChatGPT GPT-4 and Midjourney.
