Author: Joe A. Melendez
At EngageAI, we’re committed to empowering teachers and students to use AI creatively and deeply understand it. Our latest AI-based tool, SceneCraft, is being designed with direct insights from educators in our Practitioner Advisory Board (PAB) to ensure it fosters AI literacy effectively and responsibly. As a story-generating tool, SceneCraft will be able to allow educators across the United States to enhance their curriculum with interactive narratives for students.
1. Modeling AI Literacy in Our Work
The PAB emphasized the importance of making the AI processes within educational tools transparent. We’re incorporating clear, engaging animations and visual explanations to illustrate how SceneCraft recognizes patterns and makes narrative decisions. Inspired by platforms like Quick Draw, we aim to showcase the AI’s “behind-the-scenes” thinking during story generation, enhancing users’ understanding through real-time insights.
2. Ethical, Responsible, and Safe Use of AI
Transparency and privacy regarding data usage are crucial. Aligned with PAB recommendations, we believe it’s important to develop simple and clear data collection policies and privacy practices for AI-enhanced tools. We want users to understand how their data influences AI outputs, helping to demystify the “black box” of AI decision-making.
3. Visualizing AI Literacy Through Animation & Graphics
Educators strongly suggest leveraging graphics and short animations to teach AI concepts. During the story generation wait time, we’re integrating informative visuals that educate users about AI concepts like bias, transparency, and decision-making processes. These visuals will foster continuous, embedded learning, aligning directly with classroom teaching moments.
4. Aligning SceneCraft with AI Literacy Frameworks
Our development team, with input from the PAB, is aligning SceneCraft with the Digital Promise AI Literacy Framework for understanding, evaluating, and using AI. We’re reviewing and incorporating best practices to ensure our platform meets educational standards and effectively supports both students and educators. This alignment helps SceneCraft remain a credible, engaging resource for AI literacy education.
5. Transparent Reporting of Bias and Inaccuracies
Acknowledging that AI isn’t flawless, the PAB recommended easy-to-use reporting mechanisms for bias and inaccuracies. Our team is working on a system for reporting and acting on user concerns. Moreover, these reports will directly feed into improvements, creating an accountable and continually evolving AI experience.
Moving Forward with Educators at the Center
We are dedicated to maintaining educator voices at the heart of SceneCraft’s development and encourage other developers to do the same. The insights from our PAB ensure that SceneCraft not only remains user-friendly and educationally sound but also actively builds critical thinking and responsible AI practices. Together, we’re creating a future-ready generation of storytellers who understand and responsibly engage with AI.