TAIPING, Sept 23 – A CikguLearnAI workshop was conducted at the District Education Offices (PPD) of Larut Matang dan Selama, Perak. The workshop aimed to equip the School Improvement Specialist Coaches Plus (SISC+) officers with generative AI tools for educational enhancement. Dr. Nurhasmiza Abu Hasan Sazalli led the workshop, with assistance from Dr. Nuraqilah Nadjwa Miskam and Noradzlina Adzhar, a PhD student specializing in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The three-hour session focused on introducing district coaches to artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can streamline teaching and administrative tasks.
The main goal of the CikguLearnAI workshop was to train the SISC+ officers, who provide in-service support to teachers in Taiping, Perak, on effectively utilizing AI tools. These tools are accessible through the Digital Educational Learning Initiative Malaysia (DELIMa), a digital learning platform by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to enhance teaching and learning practices in schools.
AI Tools for Easing Teachers’ Workload
During the hands-on workshop, participants delved into various AI applications designed to simplify teachers’ workloads. These applications can assist in creating daily and weekly lesson plans that incorporate 21st-century teaching skills, drafting paperwork for school activities, documenting meeting minutes, and developing quizzes, exams, and teaching materials.
Here are ten generative AI tools that were introduced:
1. ChatGPT: for idea generation, student feedback, and content creation.
2. Gemini: to assist with automating documents and managing schedules.
3. Conker: for generating quizzes and educational games quickly.
4. DALL.E: to create visual aids and illustrations to enhance lessons.
5. Gamma: for transforming text into engaging presentations and infographics.
6. Notta.AI: to transcribe voice to text for note-taking and lesson recaps.
7. Lumen: for developing high-quality video content for classroom use.
8. Perplexity: to aid in researching content and gathering information for lesson preparation.
9. MS Co-Pilot: to automate document tasks within Microsoft Office applications.
10. Docs: for efficient document management and organizing teaching resources.
These tools enable teachers to minimize the time spent on repetitive and time-consuming tasks, allowing them to focus on more impactful aspects of teaching, such as student interaction and lesson delivery.
Positive Feedback from Engaged Participants
The workshop was well-received by the SISC+ officers, who appreciated the interactive and practical approach to learning AI tools. The knowledgeable facilitators provided hands-on guidance, making the session engaging and ensuring that participants could immediately apply the skills learned. Covering 10 AI tools in just three hours, the workshop was well-structured to maximize learning within a short timeframe.
Norhaili Mohd Kassim, Deputy District Education Officer of the Learning Sector, remarked, “The facilitators were very helpful and knowledgeable, and we were able to cover so many practical tools efficiently in this 3-hour workshop. I could see that all my SISC+ officers are excited to share these with teachers in Taiping.”
Strengthening Collaboration in Education
The workshop ended with a significant achievement: signing a Letter of Collaboration between the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) at UTM and PPD Larut Matang dan Selama, Perak. This collaboration aims to provide more support for educators in Taiping and promote the use of generative AI tools to enhance teaching and learning practices.
The CikguLearnAI workshop is a crucial step in modernizing teaching through technology. It equips educators with the skills and tools to improve efficiency, enhance student learning experiences, and transform classroom practices for the future.
