Jake and Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook dive into the power of AI’s imperfections as a teaching tool. They explore how the quirks and mistakes in AI-generated content, like extra fingers or misshapen images, can sharpen students’ critical thinking, media literacy, and observation skills. Instead of fearing AI’s flaws, teachers can turn them into opportunities for deeper learning and classroom engagement.

Matt shares how he uses AI-generated images in his Spanish classroom to help students develop AI literacy and train their ability to "check the weirdness." Jake builds on this idea, discussing how engaging with AI critically can strengthen students' ability to discern fact from fiction. This episode is all about flipping the script: AI isn’t a threat to critical thinking: it’s a tool to refine it.

• AI-generated errors can be powerful tools for teaching observation skills.
• Encouraging students to "check the weirdness" fosters critical thinking.
• AI literacy is essential in today's classrooms.
• Engaging with AI helps students become more skeptical and analytical.
• Classroom discussions on AI weirdness can lead to broader conversations about media literacy.
• Discerning fact from fiction is a critical skill in the digital age.
• Educators should embrace AI as a learning tool, not fear its impact.

• "Check the weirdness!"
• "AI is highly fallible."
• "Training our BS detector."
• "AI’s mistakes are teaching gold."

• Matt Miller’s Website
• AI for Educators by Matt Miller
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Have you tried using AI-generated weirdness in your classroom? How are you helping students think critically about AI? Share your story! Leave us a message on SpeakPipe or connect with us on social media. Your insights might be featured in a future episode!

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