How to Use AI to Enhance Engagement and Improve Learning Outcomes

Do you feel overwhelmed by the workload of creating online courses? AI can serve as a powerful tool to enhance student and community engagement, ultimately resulting in improved learning outcomes.

Discover how Scott from Chipp.AI utilizes and integrates artificial intelligence to personalize the learning experience for his students.

Chipp can be used by course creators, educators, and even entrepreneurs who want to create their own chatbot for their learners or customers. It’s user-friendly, easy to embed, and allows you to monetize with subscriptions.

In this Learning Revolution Series powered by Disco, we invited Scott Meyer, the founder of Chipp.AI to share his thoughts on how AI is empowering his work in designing online courses. Scott talked about AI frameworks, inspiring case studies, and how AI generally helps improve the way we learn and teach today.

Getting to know Scott: From a professor to an entrepreneur

Scott's journey began in traditional education in Norway, where he started as a professor after completing his master's degree. He then ventured into entrepreneurship by founding a digital marketing agency and software company focused on teaching people to use social media, primarily assisting older individuals in navigating technology.

After exiting this venture, he transitioned to higher education, establishing entrepreneurship centers and teaching entrepreneurship.

Subsequently, he joined a startup teaching AI to developers, which ultimately inspired him to create Chipp, his own company dedicated to leveraging AI for business development. 

‍“Education has always been a passion of mine. I've been writing about it and the intersection of AI, and decentralization in education for the past 3-4 years. So lots of thoughts and experiences across the board.” - Scott Meyer, founder of Chipp

‍💡 Scott writes his AI ideas on Substack. Subscribe to get updated on his writings!

How AI revolutionizes the world of learning

AI transforms every classroom into a flipped model, where students learn independently with an AI chatbot before applying knowledge in class discussions. This revolutionizes education, providing equal access to knowledge and tools regardless of geographical location, and fostering exciting opportunities for learners worldwide.

“The bottom line is: if you're in rural North Dakota, not far from me, if you're in Mozambique, if you're in Paris, you have access to the same knowledge and the same tools, and that's incredibly exciting for learners.” - Scott Meyer

The world of learning with AI comes in three stages:

1. It helps course creators to better understand course and content creation, acting almost like a salesperson to engage their students.
2. AI aids in completing tasks more efficiently and creatively within classes, enabling personalized curriculums and boosting completion rates.
3. It facilitates the reuse of class materials for better retention and learning outcomes. This pressure to excel is making every teacher strive for excellence, emphasizing student engagement and interaction.

Education is about sparking ideas, and AI facilitates this creative process, encouraging learners to think outside the box.

How to start with AI: Use the AI Sandwich model

Most of us might be familiar with AI, yet we still need to learn how to start using it. The AI Sandwich model is a simple yet effective way to approach AI, especially if you're worried about its impact on learning.

Imagine the top slice of bread represents the human input—asking the question or setting the task. Then comes the filling—the AI—which eagerly works to fulfill your request. However, it may occasionally veer off track. That's where the bottom slice of bread, the human again, comes in. You fact-check, refine ideas, and ask further questions.

This model ensures that you're not just accepting AI's output blindly but actively engaging with it, refining, and enhancing the process.

For students, it's crucial to understand this dynamic. In fact, using AI isn't just about completing tasks but it’s about refining and improving its output to foster deeper learning and understanding.

How to write prompts: The R.I.P.E Framework

When it comes to leveraging AI effectively in education, creating meaningful prompts or questions is the key. One approach that has proven highly effective is the RIPE framework.

RIPE stands for Rule, Inquiry, Parameters, and Example, and it provides a structured method for designing prompts that guide AI toward generating tailored and relevant responses. 

• R stands for "Rule." Start by giving AI a role, like "You are a fun, energetic history teacher creating projects about the history of the Aztecs for sixth graders."

• I is for "Inquiry." Pose the actual question or prompt, like "Suggest potential aspects of Aztec history and ask the student what interests them most, then suggest projects they could do around those interests."

• P stands for "Parameters." Provide limits to guide the response, such as "Make sure to give them a chance to add their own ideas, wait for them to choose, provide an outline of how the project will be created, and make it roughly 60 minutes long."

• E represents "Example." Offer examples to illustrate what you're looking for. For instance, if you’re teaching about digital marketing, provide past projects or exercises as examples.

This approach fosters engaging interactions and empowers learners to apply knowledge creatively. Whether it's exploring Aztec history or digital marketing strategies, the RIPE framework ensures prompts are effective.

How AI enhances engagement and learning outcomes

Engaging learners isn't just about providing information, it's about empowering them to take action. That's where AI comes in handy. By integrating AI directly into the learning experience, we can prompt learners to apply knowledge in real time, fostering deeper engagement and understanding.

Imagine you're taking a course on AI for nonprofits. Instead of passively consuming content, you're encouraged to actively participate. Within the lesson, AI tools like Disco enable you to organize ideas, collaborate, and iterate on your own projects. You can upload files, brainstorm concepts, or even transcribe meeting notes—all within the lesson itself.

This hands-on approach transforms learning from a passive to an active experience. Learners are prompted to apply what they've learned immediately, enhancing retention and understanding.

💡 Want to test out this hands-on approach for your students? Sign up in Disco and enjoy our 14-day free trial. 

Use Case #1: Experience Institute introduces ZZ as a virtual coach

AI can be integrated into onboarding experiences to build excitement and engagement. Take Experience Institute, for instance, which uses Chipp.AI to introduce learners to upcoming workshops.

They've introduced a virtual coach named ZZ, whose goal is to inspire professionals to leap into their careers by trying something new.

Upon accessing the platform, users engage with ZZ, expressing their readiness to embark on this journey. The interactive experience guides them through an ideation process, prompting them to share their interests, aspirations, and desired achievements. Users can upload files, add personal details, and, importantly, share their progress with teachers or mentors.

Use Case #2: Cicero Learning automates the matching process of tutors & students

One convenient way to integrate AI into your course is by embedding it directly within your learning platform. This eliminates the need for students to navigate to external tools, streamlining their experience.

A lesser-known tip is the ability to share AI chats from platforms like ChatGPT. This allows you, as a learning designer, to create action-oriented chatbots and share them with your students via a simple link. By removing barriers, you empower learners to apply what they've learned in your class immediately.

An example of AI in action is Cicero Learning, an organization that matches tutors with homeschooled students. Using Chipp.AI, they automate the process of analyzing one-on-one tutoring sessions.

Use Case #3: Train ChatGPT to mimic your style

In content creation, ChatGPT excels in generating tailored materials, such as website copy or grant proposals. By uploading examples or past content, you can train ChatGPT to mimic your style, ensuring consistency and quality across your communications.

This applies to various tasks like email writing, social media posts, or even grant applications, where AI can streamline the process and adhere to specific guidelines effortlessly.

Integrating ChatGPT into your workflow, whether on a website or within learning platforms like Disco, enhances efficiency and personalization. You can create custom ChatGPT instances tailored to your needs, accessible wherever you work. 

The impact of AI in the future of learning and work

It transforms the onboarding experience with an interactive dialogue

Imagine using AI to initiate a dynamic conversation with new students, asking them about their interests, goals, and challenges. Through this interactive dialogue, AI can gather rich insights that inform the creation of personalized learning pathways.

Instead of relying on lengthy forms, consider incorporating interactive AI-driven interactions to collect valuable data and tailor the learning experience through Disco’s custom onboarding tool.

It boosts efficiency in the workplace by 40% 

AI will play a significant role in personalizing learning experiences and improving efficiency, particularly for individuals who are new to a job or learning environment.

This has been proven by an MIT study, that AI significantly boosts efficiency in the workplace by 40% for people who are new to their jobs. It also enhances output quality by 18% and fosters creativity.

Additionally, AI will continue to evolve. Traditional methods of education and training may give way to a more hands-on, project-based approach, where individuals can showcase their abilities through practical work rather than relying solely on formal credentials.

It allows the co-creation of content between educators and students

For educators, AI enables flexibility, allowing adaptation to learners' needs in real time. Rather than rigid lesson plans, embrace spontaneity, co-creating content with students for engaging discussions and unexpected insights.

It's about prioritizing depth, embracing uniqueness, and fostering collaborative learning experiences.

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