{"id":19430,"date":"2024-10-22T11:26:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T15:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/?post_type=cw_post&p=19430"},"modified":"2024-10-22T14:02:30","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T18:02:30","slug":"chicago-students-build-key-adaptive-competencies-while-exploring-the-boundaries-of-ai-and-creativity","status":"publish","type":"cw_post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/cw_post\/chicago-students-build-key-adaptive-competencies-while-exploring-the-boundaries-of-ai-and-creativity\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Students Build Key Adaptive Competencies while Exploring the Boundaries of AI and Creativity"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Creative
Creative Technologist & Trainer, Paul Hamilton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This summer, eighteen Chicago Public School (CPS) students and alumni served as summer interns for a partnership program developed by <\/span>One Summer Chicago’s Everyone Can Code + Create<\/span><\/i><\/a> Program and <\/span>CPS\u2019 Department of Competency-Based Education. <\/span><\/i>International Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert, <\/span>Paul Hamilton<\/span><\/a>, led the course – <\/span>Beyond Imagination: Exploring the Boundaries of Creativity with AI-Assisted Tools<\/span><\/i>. This course focused on integrating CBE competencies & practices with those of work-based learning and other relevant external partner programs. <\/span><\/p>\n

About the <\/span>CPS CBE AI & Creativity Summer Youth Program<\/span><\/i><\/h2>\n

This program was a partnership between the CPS\u2019 Grading & Proficiency Based Learning (CBE) Team, Apple\u2019s Everyone Can Code + Create Program, Illinois Tech University, CPS\u2019 Work-Based Learning Team, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, and One Summer Chicago. Citywide program coordination was facilitated by Daniel Yao. Teacher <\/span>Molly Hintz<\/span> served as the CPS CBE Summer Program Coordinator. <\/span>Illinois Tech<\/span><\/a> students and alumni of the Summer 2023 <\/span>One Summer Chicago’s Everyone Can Code + Create<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Khayla Erediauwa<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Angelica Viramontes<\/span><\/a>, served as teaching assistants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During this hybrid program, interns participated in virtual and in-person AI and Competency-Based Education (CBE) sessions. Hamilton led students through an exploration of a variety of web-based AI software, including Canva, Spline, Kaiber, Spatial, and Padlet. There was emphasis on examining AI tools beyond ChatGPT, particularly investigating the impact of ethics and creativity in original product creation. He shared the importance of becoming a \u201cprompt engineer\u201d in order for creatives to get the best output for their projects. The pace was fast! Students only had six weeks to learn, navigate, and select from at least thirteen AI platforms. The program culminated in a final AI and creativity project presented at the 2024 Sandbox Showcase. You can check out the final AI & Creativity Project Videos for all of the students <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. Students worked on a variety of topics from using AI to learn new languages or how to build office environments to creating diverse AI cartoon characters & posters for school-based robotics teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"CBE
CBE AI & Creativity Finalists (L to R) Olivia (Bradley Univ), Benjamin (Payton College Prep), Katrina (Payton College Prep), Mia (Lindblom HS) and Sabeen (DePaul Univ).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Connecting Learning Goals to the Key Adaptive Competencies<\/span><\/h2>\n

At the same time students were honing their artificial intelligence skills, <\/span>Hintz<\/span> led three CBE mini-sessions focusing on work-based learning skills and goal-setting aligned with the four <\/span>Key Adaptive Competencies<\/span><\/a> (KACs) outlined in the <\/span>CPS CBE Framework<\/span><\/a> \u2013 agency, adaptability and flexibility, collaboration, and leadership. In CBE session 1, students focused on understanding the KACs, identifying what they look like in the classroom, workplace, and community roles. Students rated their proficiency in each competency and identified their strengths and areas for growth within the KACs. They then created goals aligned with the KAC of their choice, which led to the successful integration of AI and creativity in their learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benjamin<\/span><\/a> (AI Finalist, Payton College Prep), an AI Showcase finalist, shared his goal that,<\/span> \u201cBy the end of the summer, I will focus on agency by making consistent progress on my project, and demonstrate effective time management, and check off goals within a plan.<\/span><\/i>\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>Italy<\/span><\/a> (Southern IL Univ-Edwardsville)\u2019s goal was to \u201c<\/span>figure out how to manage and set weekly goals for myself while completing my AI project for the showcase at the end of the program.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

By the second CBE session, students assessed their progress, getting feedback from their peers and mapping out the final steps to be showcase ready. While exploring various AI-integrated tools, students participated in discussions and informal debates about the pros and cons of AI. They examined the ethical considerations of using AI in creative contexts. Ultimately, the cohort agreed that while AI represents the future, it also carries significant responsibility and accountability. Learning about the KACs supported students’ ability to responsibly use AI to amplify their creativity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kennedy<\/span><\/a> (Brooks College Prep) worked on <\/span>\u201csuccessfully navigating the utilization of AI programming to create a unique project that suits me, demonstrating the adaptation necessary to progressing, and presenting the work to a panel of mentors for feedback.\u201d While <\/span><\/i>Khloie<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep) shared that, \u201cI struggle to hold myself accountable for some things and it\u2019s definitely a work in progress. I want to work for agency.\u201d <\/span><\/i>Estefani (Curie HS)<\/span><\/a>, on the other hand, said, \u201cDespite being able to collaborate with groups almost my whole life, I tend to care more about others and make sure they\u2019re doing okay while I don\u2019t really take care of myself, but I have been seeing signs of myself taking care of myself during the summer\u2026I would have to make sure I have a routine that I do each day of the week that I work for to make sure that I get things done.\u201d <\/span><\/i>During the final CBE workshop, provided the students reflected on the ways they were using AI to not only enhance their creative expression, but to address academic needs or social issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Final
Final group photo at the 2024 Sandbox Showcase for AI, Machine Learning, AR and ESports at the Ed Kaplan Institute of IL Tech University.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reflecting on the Key Adaptive Competencies<\/span><\/h2>\n

By the time students were putting the finishing touches on their AI & Creativity project videos, they were able to reflect on the ways in which they\u2019d grown in each of the KACs. In the final CBE workshop session, students discussed how the KACs were applied in their classrooms, workplaces, and community roles. These discussions sparked \u201clight-bulb\u201d moments, helping students connect their current experiences to broader life goals and future aspirations. These learning opportunities fostered deep collaboration among peers, not only regarding their projects, but also in applying KACs to advance their personal growth beyond the summer program. Having a range of high school and college students allowed for perspectives and insights from two different chapters of life, inspiring students and teachers to think about the bigger impact of learning about agency, collaboration, leadership, and adaptability and flexibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are learning highlights from students in the KACs:<\/span><\/p>\n

Agency<\/span><\/p>\n