HOW THE IB LEARNER PROFILE HELPS STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX WORLD OF AI

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April 13, 2024

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An academic technology specialist says the International Baccalaureate Learner Profile provides much guidance and answers many questions from those who wonder and worry about what effect artificial intelligence will have on the education of young people at Notre Dame Prep and around the world.
 

At a 2017 conference held in Lisbon, Portugal, English theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Stephen Hawking said that too little was known about artificial intelligence to render an accurate prediction of its effect on mankind.

"Success in creating effective AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization. Or the worst. We just don’t know. So we cannot know if we will be infinitely helped by AI, or ignored by it and sidelined, or conceivably destroyed by it,” said Hawking, who died a year later at the age of 76.

Indeed, artificial intelligence is having a moment today with the recent development of tools such as ChatGPT, Dall-E 2, Midjourney and Google's Bard, which have spawned even more handwringing about what it all means. 

In the world of education, especially as it relates to K through 12 schools, AI is quickly transforming the academic landscape. For educators, this coming AI wave is looked upon as either a mystery or a threat — or both. 

But according to Melissa York, who is a technology specialist and sixth grade math teacher at Notre Dame Prep, the explosive popularity of AI, she believes, is and will continue to be a net gain for schools and chock full of positives for both teachers and students.
 

"The opportunities brought by AI, or large language models (LLM), in education are vast and the potential to revolutionize the way educators teach and students learn is nearly unlimited," she said. "These opportunities will be in personalized learning, increased efficiency, improved student engagement, enhanced accessibility and predictive analytics among many others."

To add even more context to AI and its effect on education, we are republishing a recent blog from the International Baccalaureate organization that says IB provides many of the tools to successfully manage the new world that artificial intelligence is creating.

The author of the blog, John Mikton, who is the primary technology-for-learning coordinator at International School of Geneva – La Châtaigneraie in Switzerland, says that the "deliberate integration of AI tools in the learning process is a vital step in cohabiting with AI as equal partners."

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NOTE: Notre Dame Prep is the only private school in the state of Michigan with the IB-Primary Years Program, IB-Middle Years Program and IB-Diploma Program.

Integrating AI with the IB learner profile

By John Mikton

The accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence, generative AI, and large language models and their widespread implementation across platforms, has grabbed our attention.

Reactions to the developments of AI have been diverse, from excitement to disbelief. While some see AI and its tools as an opportunity, others view it as a potential threat to the traditional education system.

A mix of interest, worry and hope seems to fill many of the conversations in schools.

In this context, the question schools should be asking is: “What is the added value of school in a world where AI becomes prominent and accessible to all 24/7?”

A unique aspect of the IB learner profile is that, in many ways, the above question is addressed by the learner profile’s attributes.

These contain dispositions and approaches that support agility, reflection and curiosity. In turn this creates important connections for learners to develop the skills, knowledge and values to navigate the accelerated adoption of AI and the unpredictability around its growth.

Challenges and opportunities of AI

AI, generative AI and large language models are challenging many of the approaches of teaching and learning. With these developments come opportunities for access to information, real-world problem-solving, creativity, time-saving tools, and interdisciplinary learning.

At the same time, questions arise about ethics, bias, misinformation, manipulation, loss of originality, ownership and attribution.

If many of the AI algorithms independently make complex decisions without people knowing how they arrived at those decisions, this lack of transparency makes it difficult to understand and address potential biases or errors. The concerns around AI’s lack of transparency increases the challenges these tools bring to a school setting.

Developing future-ready students with the IB learner profile

IB World Schools and educators over the years have developed an immense amount of expertise and created learning experiences to support students and guide the teaching and learning with the 10 IB learner profile attributes:

• knowledgeable
• thinkers
• inquirers
• communicators
• principled
• open-minded
• caring
• risk-taking
• balanced
• reflective

Linking the IB Learner profiles with AI offers educators an opportunity to integrate and use AI tools with an open mind. This open-mindedness doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be cautious, thoughtful, and reflective. Instead, it allows us to adopt potential opportunities while being mindful of the implications.

Exploring the potential of AI, generative AI and large language models with the IB learner profile attributes provides many learning opportunities.

The ways in which the IB learner profile attributes of knowledgeable and thinkers can support the responsible and effective adoption of AI are alluded to above.

Below I provide a short commentary on how educators can embrace the remaining attributes as they help students navigate the complex world of AI.

Inquirers

As inquirers, educators can explore the complexities of AI, modeling evaluation to highlight the importance of self-directed learning. As educators collaborate in creating activities with colleagues using AI tools, this can help nurture critical thinking and transdisciplinary connections between different subjects.

Communicators

By integrating AI driven scenarios, discussion prompts, real world case studies and role-playing exercises, educators can support the growth of their students’ communication skills.

These AI enhanced activities not only grab the students’ attention but also provide them with practical experiences that reflect real life situations, giving them an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how to navigate different communications contexts and work in collaborative settings.

By facilitating these approaches, educators mentor their students with important current skills to manage a digitally driven world while creating an environment where learning remains relevant and authentic.

Principled

Educators can facilitate activities to help students understand the significance of integrity, biases and racism through the use of AI tools to delve into matters of ethics, diversity, equity and fairness.

One example would be to analyze text and images from different voices in media outlets to uncover hidden biases. The students use the AI tools to see how hidden biases might be used in the local, national or international media. This activity gives students an opportunity to develop an understanding of the importance of media literacy skills and being critical thinkers of media in their local, national and international context.

Open-minded

With an open-minded approach, educators can build activities that guide students to use AI tools to explore different perspectives and voices. This could involve using AI-generated content to analyze different articles from newspapers and magazines on current events, exposing them to different viewpoints or historical events from different perspectives and cultural lenses. Students are then provided with opportunities to interact with a variety of viewpoints and experiences, enhancing their critical thinking skills.

Caring

As educators, we can model the use of AI tools to emphasize the importance of caring, empathy, compassion, and respect. By leveraging AI tools, activities can be created with simulations and case studies that explore social issues and their impact on local and global communities.

For example, an educator introduces an AI simulation based on real world case studies linked to a social issue connected to the unit or lesson they are focusing on. Through these simulations, supported by teacher generated questions, prompts or activities, students are exposed to the challenges, tensions and complexities of the social issue. This process gives them the experience to read, listen, and watch how individuals and local communities from diverse backgrounds solve this social issue in the lesson.

Risk-taking

Engaging in the learning process, interacting, trying out, and exploring the use of AI tools as educators is an effective way to model risk-taking. Students experiencing this with activities guided by educators will develop confidence when navigating the uncertainties of AI tools.

Balanced

Recognizing the importance of balance and well-being, educators can mentor and help students explore different ways to understand their social, physical and emotional well-being. This is very important as the use of AI-generated platforms, tools and experiences become more prominent and are capturing our attention constantly throughout the day.

Reflective

In conclusion, as reflective practitioners, it is essential for school leaders to deliberately carve out the necessary space, allocate time and provide purposeful professional development to support educators in this journey of AI cohabitation. This ensures that each of us can mentor, model and guide students of all ages through experiences, activities, and learning pathways. This deliberate integration of AI tools in the learning process is a vital step in cohabiting with AI as equal partners.

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John Mikton is the Primary Technology for Learning Coordinator at International School of Geneva – La Châtaigneraie, a trainer/course designer at the Principals’ Training Center and Teacher Training Center and a coach at Farai Education Group. He was a recipient of the Edruptors ISC Research Award 2021 and 2022.

John has 29 years’ experience as an educator in education and media technology in international schools (Africa, Asia and Europe), of which 18 years in school leadership as an IT director, director of e-learning, head of education and media technology and deputy principal.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.