Options
Choy, Doris
Learning in the 21st century
2021, Tan, Seng Chee, Choy, Doris
This chapter discusses changes in perspectives about teaching and learning, as well as our state-of-the-art knowledge about ways to optimize learning in the 21st century. Researchers and educators suggested the need to change teaching and learning practices from those that cater to the Industrial Age to those that are aligned with the Knowledge Age. It involves changing roles, such as teachers acting as facilitators and co-learners and students taking more ownership in learning. This chapter will also discuss principles to optimise learning for 21st-century competencies using technologies.
Perceptions of fourth grade students on technology enabled self-directed learning and collaborative learning activities in English writing lessons in Singapore
2022, Choy, Doris, Cheung, Yin Ling
The purpose of this study is to explore and compare fourth grade students’ perceptions of technology enabled self-directed learning and collaborative learning during their five-week English writing lesson. Three elementary schools in Singapore were invited to participate in the study. In this pseudo-experimental study, students in the intervention group were able to use various technology tools to develop their self-directed learning and collaborative learning skills while working on their writing tasks. At the end of the intervention, their perceptions of self-directed learning and collaborate learning with technology were collected and compared with the control group. There were significant differences in the perceptions between the control and the experimental groups.
Developing pedagogical knowledge and skills for teachers
2021, Choy, Doris
Supporting self-directed learning and self-assessment using TeacherGAIA, a generative AI chatbot application: Learning approaches and prompt engineering
2023, Farhan Ali, Choy, Doris, Divaharan, Shanti, Tay, Hui Yong, Chen, Wenli
Self-directed learning and self-assessment require student responsibility over learning needs, goals, processes, and outcomes. However, this student-led learning can be challenging to achieve in a classroom limited by a one-to-many teacher-led instruction. We, thus, have designed and prototyped a generative artificial intelligence chatbot application (GAIA), named TeacherGAIA, that can be used to asynchronously support students in their self-directed learning and self-assessment outside the classroom. We first identified diverse constructivist learning approaches that align with, and promote, student-led learning. These included knowledge construction, inquiry-based learning, self-assessment, and peer teaching. The in-context learning abilities of large language model (LLM) from OpenAI were then leveraged via prompt engineering to steer interactions supporting these different learning approaches. These interactions contrasted with ChatGPT, OpenAI’s chatbot which by default engaged in the traditional transmissionist mode of learning reminiscent of teacher-led instruction. Preliminary design, prompt engineering and prototyping suggested fidelity to the learning approaches, cognitive guidance, and social-emotional support, all of which were implemented in a generative AI manner without pre-specified rules or “hard-coding”. Other affordances of TeacherGAIA are discussed and future development outlined. We anticipate TeacherGAIA to be a useful application for teachers in facilitating self-directed learning and self-assessment among K-12 students.