Amanda Hardman is a senior learning designer with the Colorado Community College System. Hardman is also an online instructor and teaches a course on Universal Design for Learning. ” Harman presented “Aligned AI: Balancing Learning Goals, Learner Engagement, and Learner Support” at the QM research conference. The presentation began with a quote from Ethan Mollick (2024): “I believe the cost of getting to know AI – really getting to know AI – is at least three sleepless nights.” and spoke about the angst of using AI. I appreciate how Hardman also shared the UDL Guidelines framework has access and a section for “design options for welcoming interests and identities.” Hardman also emphasized QM’s commitment to alignment and building objectives on a taxonomy such as Bloom’s. In a series of examples, Hardman shared how students ca compare their learning objectives to those created by AI and reflect on the process. AI can be used to take on different roles so learners can deepen their analysis of a topic. They spoke about “AI Literacy” and how we should recognize which tasks we should and which we should not delegate to AI. Hardman emphasized CAST’s definition of Learner Agency and the UDL guidelines asking: how are we going to support learners and their agency when it comes to use of AI? For this, they noted the importance of providing structure for the use of AI to accomplish the desired task. Hardman shared a “Guided Thinking Activity” and how the goal of the activity is described in detail in the guidelines. The assignment has options: for example students may choose not to use AI for the assignment. The guidelines include example prompts and ChatGPT conversations. I enjoyed the examples of assignments and prompts. The Guided Thinking Activity may be a great way to integrate AI in the seminar I am teaching this fall!
