Teaching with Large Language Models (LLMs) - Strategies for High School Educators

Strategy 1: Encourage Metacognitive Reflection

Objective: Enhance students' ability to think critically about their learning process and evaluate their interaction with LLMs.

Goal: Develop students' self-awareness regarding how they learn and how effectively they use AI tools.

Benefits to Students:

• Boosts self-awareness and critical thinking.
• Helps identify strengths and areas for improvement in prompt design.
• Encourages independence by guiding students to evaluate and refine their work.
• Promotes a growth mindset, viewing errors as learning opportunities.

How to Implement:

1. Introduce Metacognition: Explain metacognition as "thinking about thinking." Provide examples like, "What strategies do you use when you don't understand something right away?"
2. Scaffold Reflections: After using the LLM for tasks, ask students to reflect with structured questions:
   • "What strategies did I use to ask my question?"
   • "Was the response clear and helpful? Why or why not?"
   • "What could I have asked differently to improve the result?"
3. Reflection Logs: Use reflection logs, either digital or physical, to track progress. These logs allow students to record thoughts and see how their LLM interactions improve.
4. Expanded Activity: Pair students to compare their reflections on similar prompts. This helps them see different approaches and develop a broader perspective on LLM interactions.

Assessment:

• Formative: Use reflection entries as formative assessments to gauge students' understanding of what worked and what didn't.
• Summative: At the end of a unit, ask students to summarize their learning on how to effectively prompt the LLM and track their skill development.

Example Activity:

• After completing a task with the LLM, students reflect on the process and whether the responses were helpful, accurate, or insightful.
• Ask students to generate a response from the LLM (e.g., "What are the main causes of climate change?").
• After receiving the answer, have them reflect:
  • Was the answer accurate and helpful? Why or why not?
  • Was the information clear?
  • What could have improved the response?
• After interacting with the LLM, have students reflect on the overall experience and the quality of responses.

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• To avoid superficial reflections, provide a rubric or specific guiding questions.
• Encourage students to compare LLM responses with traditional research sources to foster a deeper understanding of information sources and critical evaluation.

Strategy 2: Incorporate Research-Based Prompts

Objective: Guide students to use LLMs for academic research with a focus on credible, evidence-based reasoning.

Goal: Foster critical thinking about reliable sources and the role of evidence in supporting arguments. Introduce students to source citation and credibility assessment, vital skills for research writing.

Benefits to Students:

• Enhances digital literacy and research skills.
• Teaches critical engagement with information and source evaluation.
• Builds a foundation for evidence-based writing and higher-level academic work.

How to Implement:

1. Teach Research Skills: Start with a discussion on what makes a source credible. Cover primary vs. secondary sources, peer-reviewed articles, and how to spot bias.
2. Guided Research Prompts: Give specific prompts that require research, such as:
   • “Explain the causes of climate change. Use two scientific sources to support your answer.”
   • “What were the economic causes of the Great Depression? Include references to historians or economic studies.”
3. Cross-Check Information: After students receive responses from the LLM, have them verify the information using databases like Google Scholar, JSTOR, or library resources. Teach them to compare AI-generated responses with trusted sources.
4. Discuss Source Credibility: Encourage students to evaluate the credibility of LLM-provided sources. Are they current? Are they trustworthy? Discuss what makes a source reliable.

Assessment:

• Formative: Have students compare LLM responses with other sources, then write a reflection on the accuracy and credibility of the information.
• Summative: Assign a research paper where students use the LLM for initial information but must also cite peer-reviewed or credible sources.

Example Activity:

1. Assign a research task (e.g., “Research the causes of the Industrial Revolution”).
2. Ask students to prompt the LLM for a summary and supporting sources (e.g., “Summarize the causes of the Industrial Revolution, including two historical sources”).
3. Students verify the information by cross-referencing or researching the validity of the provided sources.
4. Have students reflect on whether the sources were credible and relevant.

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• Over-reliance on the LLM: Some students may accept everything the LLM provides without cross-checking. Solution: Teach them to treat the LLM as a starting point, not a definitive source. Emphasize triangulation—verifying information across multiple sources.
• Evolving the Strategy: Over time, integrate evaluation criteria into assignments where students assess the reliability of various sources, including AI-generated content and traditional media. This can involve exploring biases in both areas.

Strategy 3: Foster Problem-Solving and Decision-Making

Objective: Develop students' critical thinking and decision-making skills by using LLMs to address real-world challenges.

Goal: Cultivate informed, reflective decision-making while exploring practical applications of subject knowledge.

Benefits to Students:

• Enhances critical thinking and decision-making capabilities.
• Connects theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
• Sharpens reflective reasoning and evaluation skills.
• Fosters teamwork through collaborative discussions and debates.

How to Implement:

1. Introduce Real-World Scenarios: Create problem-based tasks that span subjects, such as disaster management or economic strategies.
   • Example: "You're a government official handling a health crisis. Use the LLM to find the best course of action."
2. Guide LLM Use for Decision-Making: Have students ask the LLM for advice on tackling real-world challenges.
   • Example prompts:
     • "What are the first steps in responding to a pandemic?"
     • "What challenges arise during city evacuations in a disaster?"
3. Reflect and Analyze: Students assess the options provided by the LLM, then follow up with deeper, investigative questions.
   • "What are the pros and cons of temporary shelters?"
   • "What are the long-term effects of ignoring mental health in crises?"
4. Class Discussion: Facilitate group debates, where students discuss which strategies work and what risks are involved.

Expanded Activities:

• Real-World Case Studies: Introduce dilemmas that require careful decision-making, like the trade-offs of a new dam project.
• Multi-Step Problems: Challenge students to tackle complex, multi-faceted issues, such as urban transport system design, using the LLM to explore each phase.

Evolving the Strategy:

• As students progress, incorporate dimensions of ethics and sustainability to encourage holistic decision-making.
• Encourage students to weigh both short- and long-term consequences.

Assessment:

• Formative: Have students submit decision reports detailing options, reasoning, and the chosen course of action.
• Summative: Present group decision-making challenges, judging the quality of decision-making and the effective use of LLM research.

Example Activity:

• Scenario: "You're a mayor facing a flood. Use the LLM for advice on keeping residents safe."
• Step 1: Ask, "What steps should be taken to ensure safety?"
• Step 2: Students receive suggestions, choose the best action, and explain their reasoning.
• Step 3: Follow up: "Why did you choose that solution? What risks did you consider?"

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• Avoid incomplete decision-making by requiring students to justify their choices with evidence and consider multiple perspectives.
• Regularly review and discuss long-term implications to foster comprehensive, thoughtful decision-making.

Strategy 4: Promote Creative Expression through Open-Ended Prompts

Objective: Encourage creativity and critical thinking by using open-ended prompts that leverage the LLM as a tool for brainstorming, idea refinement, and experimentation with different writing styles.

Goal: Foster an environment where students view the LLM as a partner in creative expression, rather than a source of canned answers.

Benefits to Students:

• Enhances creative thinking and writing skills.
• Builds confidence in generating and refining ideas.
• Encourages exploration of different perspectives and styles.
• Promotes experimentation with narrative structures and writing techniques.

How to Implement:

1. Brainstorm with the LLM: Ask students to use the LLM to generate ideas for a creative project:
   • "What are three challenges for a protagonist in a dystopian world?"
   • "Give me five plot twists for a mystery about a missing artifact."
2. Create Original Work: After brainstorming, students craft their stories or poems. They can use the LLM to help with structure and organization:
   • "Help me organize my story to build suspense."
   • "Suggest different ways to end this poem on love and loss."
3. Peer Review and Revise: Students use the LLM to revise their drafts:
   • "How can I improve this dialogue?"
   • "Help me rewrite this paragraph for more impact."
4. Cross-Disciplinary Projects: Ask students to write a story combining elements of art and science (e.g., "Set your story on a distant planet and explain life there using scientific principles").

Expanded Activity:

• Creative Writing Challenges: Present a story idea (e.g., "A character wakes up in the future") and ask students to use the LLM to brainstorm twists, character arcs, and setting details. Students should integrate LLM suggestions while maintaining creative control.

Assessment:

• Formative: Students submit their LLM brainstorming and final creative work. Assess for originality and creative growth.
• Summative: Compile a class anthology of creative stories or poems, showcasing work supported by the LLM.

Example Activity:

• Step 1: Ask students to generate ideas for a story. Example prompt: "I want to write about a futuristic city. Can you brainstorm three unique challenges its people might face?"
• Step 2: After generating ideas, students build their stories, using the LLM for guidance on structure and tone.
• Step 3: Encourage exploration of writing techniques: "Help me describe a dark and rainy night to build suspense."

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• Over-reliance on the LLM: Some students may depend too much on the LLM, limiting their own creativity.
  • To avoid this: Have students start with their own ideas, then use the LLM for refinement or inspiration. For example, "Write your draft first, then ask the LLM to enhance the dialogue or setting."
• To promote critical thinking: Encourage students to evaluate the LLM's suggestions and choose the ones that best fit their vision.

Strategy 5: Collaborative Prompts for Group Work

Objective: Facilitate group discussions and problem-solving tasks with the help of LLM. Students collaborate to assess and refine responses.

Goal: Encourage students to work together, using the LLM as a resource to gather, assess, and apply information.

Benefits to Students:

• Promotes teamwork and collaborative problem-solving.
• Teaches students how to evaluate information collectively.
• Strengthens communication and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrates how to integrate AI tools in group work.

How to Implement:

1. Group Brainstorming: Assign a group project where students use the LLM to gather data or brainstorm. Provide examples like, "Create a marketing campaign to promote recycling in your school" or "Design a sustainable community garden."
2. LLM as Group Advisor: Each group asks the LLM targeted questions to facilitate discussion, such as:
   • "What are effective ways to promote recycling in schools?"
   • "How can we make recycling more accessible to students?"
3. Group Discussion and Decision: Students discuss the LLM's suggestions, selecting and refining the best ideas. Encourage them to consider variables like feasibility, cost, and potential impact.
4. Final Presentation: Groups present their final project, explaining how they used and evaluated the LLM's input.

Expanded Activities:

• Collaborative Essays: Students work together to write essays, using the LLM to generate ideas. They evaluate and refine the AI's suggestions as a team.
• Project-Based Learning: Groups design an eco-friendly city, using the LLM to assist with architecture, energy, and transportation planning. Each member focuses on one aspect, while the group assesses how their work fits into the broader project.

Evolving the Strategy:

• Introduce peer review, where one group evaluates another's use of the LLM and final product. This encourages critical thinking and accountability.
• Assign roles within the group, such as "Researcher" (prompts the LLM), "Editor" (refines responses), and "Presenter" (summarizes findings).

Assessment:

• Formative: Check group collaboration through discussions and peer evaluations.
• Summative: Assess the final project, focusing on how well students incorporated and assessed the LLM's input.

Example Activity:

• Divide the class into small groups and assign a project, such as "Create a presentation on sustainable energy solutions."
• Step 1: Each group asks the LLM, "What are the most effective forms of renewable energy for cities, and why?"
• Step 2: Students evaluate the responses, deciding which to use in their presentation.
• Step 3: Groups reflect on the accuracy of the LLM's suggestions and their team's decision-making process.

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• To avoid group dynamics issues, establish clear roles and expectations within the team.
• Encourage active participation by setting specific goals and deliverables for each group member.
• Consider having a class discussion on what makes effective group work and how to handle challenges that may arise during the process.

Strategy 6: Spotting Bias in AI and Using It Ethically

Objective: Help students identify potential biases in AI responses and explore the ethical impact of AI in different situations.

Goal: Develop students' awareness of bias in AI, sharpen their critical thinking, and promote ethical reasoning about AI's role in society.

Benefits to Students:

• Strengthens critical thinking and awareness of AI bias.
• Encourages ethical thinking about technology.
• Promotes thoughtful, reflective use of AI tools.

How to Implement:

1. Introduce AI Bias: Explain that AI can reflect human biases, leading to uneven or discriminatory results. Discuss the importance of objectivity in AI responses.
2. Detecting Biases: Teach students to watch for stereotyping, overgeneralization, and cultural assumptions. Use examples to demonstrate how AI biases can occur, such as AI-generated writing samples or biased news summaries.
3. Analyzing AI Responses: Ask students to evaluate AI-generated responses for balance, accuracy, and potential biases. Encourage them to question and investigate inconsistencies.
4. Case Studies and Debates: Use real-world scenarios to explore the ethics of AI, such as using AI for hiring, facial recognition, or predicting student success. Organize debates or discussions to develop critical thinking.

Assessment:

• Formative: Use group discussions or reflection questions to gauge students' understanding of AI bias and ethics.
• Summative: Assign an essay or presentation on the responsible use of AI, requiring examples of bias detection and mitigation strategies.

Example Activity:

• Analyzing AI Responses: Students ask the AI, "What are the pros and cons of social media for teenagers?"
• Evaluating Responses: Students assess the response for balance and potential biases:
  • Is the view balanced?
  • Are there any stereotypes or assumptions?
  • What are the potential consequences of biased information?
• Reflective Essay: Students write an essay on the ethical use of AI in education, considering potential risks and strategies for responsible AI use.

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• Avoid Oversimplification: Make sure students understand that AI bias can be complex and nuanced.
• Encourage Critical Thinking: Discourage students from simply accepting AI responses without evaluating their credibility and objectivity.
• Provide Real-World Examples: Use real-world scenarios to illustrate the impact of AI bias and the importance of ethical considerations.

Strategy 7: Developing Self-Correction and Feedback Prompts

Objective: Enhance students' writing and problem-solving skills by utilizing the LLM for self-review and feedback, empowering them to leverage the LLM as a tool for revising their work.

Goal: Teach students to critically evaluate their own work, fostering self-reflection, independence, and accountability in the revision process.

Benefits to Students:

• Encourages self-reflection and a growth mindset.
• Helps students critically evaluate their own work.
• Enhances writing and problem-solving skills through ongoing feedback.
• Fosters independence and accountability in the revision process.

How to Implement:

1. Initial Draft and LLM Feedback: Have students complete a writing or problem-solving task and then prompt the LLM for feedback. Examples:
   • "Can you check my essay for grammar errors and suggest improvements?"
   • "Is there a clearer way to explain this math solution?"
2. Revise Based on Feedback: After receiving feedback, students should revise their work. They can ask follow-up questions such as:
   • "Can you help me clarify this sentence?"
   • "How can I strengthen this conclusion?"
3. Final Submission: Students submit both their initial drafts and final revisions, demonstrating how they applied the LLM's feedback.
4. Reflection and Self-Assessment: Ask students to reflect on their experience with the LLM's feedback, discussing what they learned from the process and what they would do differently in the future.

Expanded Activities:

1. Self-Editing Cycles: After completing an essay or problem set, students use the LLM for feedback. They revise their work based on this input and can ask for a second round of feedback to compare improvements.
2. Grammar and Style Reviews: After completing some writing, students can prompt the LLM with prompts that focus on grammar and style, such as:
   • "What are some stylistic improvements I can make to enhance the clarity and engagement of this paragraph?"
   • "Can you identify any phrases or sentences that could be made more concise or impactful?"
   • "How can I adjust the tone of this paragraph to better suit my audience?"

Assessment:

• Formative: Evaluate how well students incorporate LLM feedback into their revisions.
• Summative: Grade the final submission based on the quality of improvements from the initial draft.

Example Activity:

• Step 1: Students write a paragraph for an essay, then prompt the LLM: "Can you give me feedback on this paragraph and suggest improvements?"
• Step 2: After receiving suggestions, students reflect on how to incorporate them.
• Step 3: For math or science, they can ask, "Can you check my solution and let me know if I made any mistakes?"

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• To avoid over-reliance on LLM feedback, teach students to critically analyze the feedback. Encourage them to reflect with questions like, "Why did the LLM suggest this change? Does it improve clarity or tone?"
• Consider introducing peer-editing sessions where students use LLMs to provide feedback on each other's work. This blend of peer collaboration and technology-enhanced self-correction fosters critical thinking.

Strategy 8: Cross-Curricular Integration

Objective: Foster a deeper understanding of subject connections by designating projects that bridge two or more disciplines, utilizing the LLM to explore interdisciplinary relationships.

Goal: Encourage students to make connections between multiple subjects, developing a more comprehensive understanding of how knowledge from various disciplines intersects and complements one another.

Benefits to Students:

• Develops a nuanced understanding of subject connections and intersections.
• Enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills through interdisciplinary approaches.
• Prepares students for real-world applications, where knowledge is often required to cross disciplinary boundaries.
• Promotes a more holistic understanding of topics, encouraging connections between seemingly disparate fields.

How to Implement:

1. Interdisciplinary Projects: Assign projects that span multiple subjects, leveraging the LLM to facilitate research and information gathering. For example:
   • A project on the Industrial Revolution could combine history, science, and economics, using the LLM to explore connections between technological innovation, economic policy, and scientific discoveries.
2. Multi-Subject Prompts: Encourage students to ask questions that require cross-subject thinking, such as:
   • "How did ancient mathematical principles influence architectural designs?"
   • "What are the historical and scientific contexts of a current environmental issue?"
3. Presentations and Reports: Have students create presentations or reports that combine insights from various subjects, using the LLM to gather multi-disciplinary perspectives and inform their work.

Expanded Activities:

• Interdisciplinary Research Projects: Assign projects that blend science and history, such as "How did the Industrial Revolution affect environmental practices, and what lessons can we apply today?" The LLM can assist in gathering both scientific and historical analysis.
• STEM + Humanities Presentations: Ask students to examine the intersection of technology and ethics in a science fiction novel, such as "Examine the ethical concerns in 1984 by George Orwell and relate them to modern surveillance technology." The LLM can provide insights from both literature and technology fields.

Assessment:

• Formative: Observe students’ ability to connect subjects during discussions and through ongoing project work.
• Summative: Grade final projects on the depth of connections and integration of multi-disciplinary knowledge, as well as their ability to synthesize information across disciplines.

Example Activity:

• Assign prompts that require applying knowledge from multiple disciplines, such as history and science or literature and social studies.
• Have the LLM provide information on a topic that spans multiple subjects, such as the impact of climate change on different ecosystems and human societies.
• Ask students to:
  • Analyze the LLM’s response and identify key connections between subjects.
  • Create an essay or project that links their findings across disciplines, using the LLM to inform their work.

Tips and Troubleshooting:

• To facilitate meaningful connections between subjects, provide structure with mind maps or outlines, and encourage students to identify common themes across disciplines.
• As students progress, assign more complex projects that require deeper integration of multi-disciplinary knowledge.

Conclusion

These strategies seamlessly integrate into the curriculum, fostering critical thinking, creativity, ethical reasoning, collaboration, and self-reflection. They enhance student engagement with LLMs and prepare them for a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

By cultivating skills like bias detection, ethical reasoning, interdisciplinary analysis, and reflective learning, students are empowered to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

Now that you have practical strategies for integrating large language models into your teaching, we encourage you to take action! Choose one or two approaches that align with your teaching philosophy and experiment with them in your classroom. Collaborate with colleagues to share experiences, resources, and insights on effectively leveraging LLMs. Together, we can create an educational environment that embraces innovation and prepares our students to thrive in an AI-enhanced world.