“Ametros provides a safe space for students to experiment with their thoughts and feelings to understand the result of different responses.”
Jeff Adams, Digital Wisdom Teacher, Curriculum Designer and GLLD Mentor, Havergal College
1. Tell us about yourself and your background.
My name is Jeff Adams. I’m in my 16th year of teaching at creative K-12 schools. Currently, I’m a Digital Wisdom Teacher, Curriculum Designer and Global Leading & Learning Diploma (GLLD) Mentor at Havergal College. I mostly teach students in grades 7 through 12. However, I have been focused on grades 5 through 8 for the past few years through the Digital Wisdom course. I enjoy farming and kayaking. Spending time with my children allows me to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
2. Tell us about the course you taught and the Ametros experience you used?
I teach Digital Wisdom which is a new course that’s aligned with Havergal’s strategic direction and developed through our new HC-X department. HC-X is an innovation hub for the development and the delivery of innovative teaching and learning. Our goal is to give students the tools they need to adapt, thrive, and be future-ready, as well as ensure parallel professional learning for educators.
The Ametros experiential learning module on Digital Wisdom is a middle school program that focuses on identity building and perspective taking, and covers the challenges and opportunities we face in our digital lives. The goal is to get students to think about the scenario-based learning activity as well as how they feel about engaging with AI and being evaluated by it. The module was developed for students to have a hands-on, scenario based learning experience with AI that allows them to work with it, but also consider AI in broader contexts. The students learn through a blended learning model in which we’ve embedded questions within the module and the classroom discussions that extend their thinking on the impacts of AI on their lives.
3. Did you receive any feedback from your students that you are able to share with us?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Students like the idea of experimenting with their thoughts and feelings to understand the result of different responses. They see this experience as a safe space where they can say, “Well, what if I try this,” which they might not be able to do in a classroom setting because there are peers around. At times middle school students become frustrated when the AI misunderstands them. However, we normally have an open discussion about how to deal with situations like this. Nevertheless, they have a great time learning with AI. Also, the platform’s support services are great as the Ametros team has always been responsive to our requests to make iterations to the experience based on the student’s feedback. It has gone so well that we are in the process of developing a new module to be launched in the Fall of 2022.
“I liked Ametros because it was really fun to interact with someone who isn’t a real living walking human being. It was cool to see how their responses directly correlated with what I said.” – Grade 8 student
4. What teaching tips would you share with other instructors?
Having clear outcomes and goals for your students to attain as a result of the experience is important. In terms of teaching tips, one aspect that I would add is that we all need to be mindful of our students. Some students interact with the experience really well. And some student’s socio-emotional spaces are a little different. It’s crucial to understand how to support each student, so that they don’t get frustrated and have a great learning experience.