using Generative ai to immerse learners in content with Khanmigo

What is Khanmigo?

Sal Kahn, the founder and CEO of the not-for-profit organization Khan Academy, has launched a new generative AI platform, Khanmigo. In contrast to Kahn Academy, Khanmigo not only provides helpful video tutorials and lessons but also integrates generative AI as a personalized tutor for literature, writing, math, science, and history. One fascinating feature allows for students to chat with characters from books such as Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”. Learners can pose questions to the characters and even give their own thoughts on literary elements. Additional features include interacting with historical figures, guidance from a writing coach, science and math tutoring, and can even act as a debate partner (Khan Academy, 2023).

“This tutor, powered by GPT-4, guides students to learn through more sophisticated conversations that avoid giving students direct answers. Khanmigo is seemingly attending to both types of effects: effects with Khanmigo so that students can successfully solve math problems with help from Khanmigo, and effects of Khanmigo so that students also learn the actual solution from this experience” (Chen, Zhu, & Díaz del Castillo 2023).

Sparking Curiosity

A learner’s innate curiosity can lead them to ask questions about the world around them. As a former educator, students sometimes ask hundreds of questions a day, especially when engaged in a lesson. Asking questions is an incredible trait and can lead to a lifetime of learning. Unfortunately, teachers are tasked with answering these questions for thirty or more students daily and most of the time they cannot answer each student’s questions with the amount of time and thoughtfulness they deserve. “When students struggle with assignments, GenAI can act as a virtual tutor, providing personalized learning support and answering their questions immediately. Feedback on submitted assignments is essential for students’ learning, but it also puts a lot of pressure on teachers, especially with a large number of students. In this case, GenAI may be a solution” (Chan, & Hu, 2023).

Generative AI can not only help students with their academics, but it can also reduce a teacher’s workload and allow the student to ask as many questions as they would like with unlimited amounts of one-on-one conversation about a topic. Learners can chat with the generative AI bot and ask it questions like, “Why do I need to learn this?” or more specific questions about a chapter they have completed reading such as, “What did Mrs. Dubose's Flowers symbolize in “To Kill a Mockingbird”? This capability can pique learners’ curiosity by providing them with unique experiences, like chatting with a historical figure, an experience that would otherwise be impossible.

Scaffolding Learning to Build Confidence

When raising the idea of artificial intelligence, some individuals express apprehension and worry, touting the belief that learners may fail to learn fundamental skills due to the perception that AI will simply do the work for them. “As a future of partnering humans with GenAI becomes inevitable, supporting mindful engagement in the partnership is crucial. Such mindful engagement needs to be reflective, effortful, and metacognitive, and demands new competencies of humans as well as guardrails to minimize undesired consequences” (Chen, Zhu, & Díaz del Castillo 2023). Although valid concerns about AI do exist (false or misleading information, deep fakes, and ethical concerns) Khanmigo follows more of an exploration and coaching model. The generative AI chatbots will help learners find a solution to their problem without simply offering an answer.

In k-12 education writing is often a source of great frustration for learners. Khanmigo offers writing coaching for students needing help starting a writing assignment, prompts, grammar, and can even help by writing alongside the student to reduce frustration and workload (Khanmigo, 2023). “Motivation to learn is promoted when learners believe they can succeed in mastering the learning task (Keller & Deimann, 2018).

This scaffolding technique is often used in a face-to-face classroom and can help students gain confidence in their work and learn foundational writing skills to help them with future assignments. “Writing and brainstorming support GenAI technologies, can also be used as writing assistants. Sometimes, students find it difficult to generate ideas or find inspiration” (Chan, & Hu, 2023).

Meaningful Learning

“Motivation to learn is promoted when the knowledge to be learned is perceived to be meaningfully related to one's goals” (Keller & Deimann, 2018). Khanmigo does an incredible job of making learning meaningful and authentic. When students ask questions such as “Why do I have to learn this?” the generative AI chatbot can ask the learner what interests them and relate the content back to their goals and career dreams. (Khanmigo, 2023). When a learner sees value and meaning in their learning they are more motivated to give it their time and effort.

The idea of generative AI in education is a very new and unique concept, but, most likely will remain part of our lives for generations to come. Young learners especially see value in learning new technology and this platform may encourage learners to explore deeper than they would with just their textbook at their disposal. “Generative AI has emerged as a potent tool for educators, enabling personalized learning experiences that cater to the requirements and preferences of each student. The adaptability and interactivity of AI-generated content increase learner motivation, engagement, and comprehension of complex concepts. In addition, adaptive assessments powered by Generative AI provide fair and accurate evaluations, reducing test anxiety and encouraging students to reach their utmost potential” (Kadaruddin, 2023).

Conclusion

Khanmigo provides users and educators with several unique and valuable resources and tools to motivate, engage, and teach users in a meaningful and authentic way. It is important to note that generative AI and courses on Khan Academy are extremely useful but should be used to supplement education and enrich students, not be the sole source of instruction. Many classrooms are overcrowded and underfunded from my experience, a tool like Khanmigo would assist learners to engage in content, ask deep questions, and receive additional writing, math, and science tutoring all while the teacher is working in small groups with students providing another level of support. These are valuable resources that will not only help students with their current academic work but teach them AI literacy for the workforce of the future.

References:

Big Think. (2021). Sal Khan’s Plan to Educate the World . YouTube. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9i5i1Xnemw.

Bodong Chen, Xinran Zhu, & Fernando Díaz del Castillo H. (2023). Integrating generative AI in knowledge building. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 5(100184-). https://doi-org.oclc.fullsail.edu/10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100184

Cecilia Ka Yuk Chan, & Wenjie Hu. (2023). Students’ voices on generative AI: perceptions, benefits, and challenges in higher education. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1), 1–18. https://doi-org.oclc.fullsail.edu/10.1186/s41239-023-00411-8

Kadaruddin. (2023). Empowering education through generative AI: innovative instructional strategies for tomorrow’s learners. International Journal of Business, Law, and Education, 4(2), 618–625. https://doi-org.oclc.fullsail.edu/10.56442/ijble.v4i2.215

Keller, J.M. & Deimann, M. (2018). Motivation, volition, and performance. In R.A. Reiser, & J.V Dempsey (Eds.), Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (4th ed.) (pp. 78-86). New York, NY: Pearson

Khan Academy. (2023). Khanmigo Education Ai Guide. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/khan-labs#:~:text=Khanmigo%20mimics%20a%20writing%20coach,collaborate%20in%20exciting%20new%20ways.&text=Learning%20to%20code%20has%20never,hone%20their%20computer%20science%20skills.

YouTube. (2023). Ted Talk- How AI Could Save Not Destroy Education. YouTube. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJP5GqnTrNo&t=9s.