AI helps vocational special education students by clarifying documents or writing with prompts like “check that the text is spelled correctly”. When reading a difficult document, students can request a simplified version.
AI assists in creating job applications; for instance, if a student inputs “been interning at the grocery store”, AI can understand and process the prompt even with spelling errors or dialect words. Students can request different versions of the job application and modify their preferred version into the final form. Additionally, AI provides perspectives that help students view their background and actions more positively, especially if text production difficulties have hindered their goals.
We are already familiar with using AI to produce learning content, assignments, and exercises in Luovi. For example, in business studies, AI can create an exercise on customer service interactions between a salesperson and a customer, using the eRequirement website of curricula and qualification requirements as a source. AI has also been tasked with writing scripts for one-minute videos on topics like work safety, providing both the lines and the duration of the shots. We have explored AI’s misunderstandings and hallucinations, and even laughed at the biases it creates, such as when an employee asked for a picture of a tailless cat, all the generated cats had tails.
The most important lesson learned in utilizing AI is that it helps to get started, but human intervention is crucial for refinement. Learning materials produced by AI always need human consideration and pedagogical styling to be truly effective.
At Luovi, we encourage and support students and staff use AI in their studies and work. At the same time, we have focused on enhancing digital security and media literacy skills. We have explored and familiarized ourselves with the use of AI together through various workshops and training sessions. In these workshops we have practiced using Edge and M365 Copilot, delved into generative AI, experimented with creating images and music, and utilized the AI in Canva, Padlet, and Thinglink. Practicing AI usage in teams with shared tasks has proven beneficial. For example, the student well-being staff have practiced using prompts tailored to their specific needs. We have also created guidelines for staff and students on the principles of AI use, particularly from a security perspective, ensuring that personal data or copyrighted material is not entered into the services. Copilot has enabled us to ensure that data is not used to develop the language model and is not stored.
Our AI familiarization efforts have been conducted both internally at Luovi and with the help of external professionals. For instance, Antti Merilehto (an entrepreneur, ex-Googler, award-winning speaker and author) visited to discuss why artificial intelligence is changing the nature of work. We are currently seeking individuals both within and outside of Luovi who are willing to share practical examples of how they use AI in teaching, guidance, or other related work. By sharing concrete ideas on AI usage, we can utilize these services more effectively and efficiently. We aim to share short example videos in a reels format on practical AI applications or conduct brief 30-minute remote workshops. Practicing the elements of a good prompt is essential for the future, and we are planning independent exercises for this purpose.
Artificial intelligence can both inspire and intimidate. It is crucial to use it boldly, consciously, and safely.