Computational Literacies Lab

Schedule

Week Date Topic
1 1/26 1. (Snow day).

Class canceled.

2 2/2 2. Introductions.

We will meet each other, sketch out the course, and lay down some frameworks for thinking about the potential role of AI in education.

Assigned: A. Initial conjectures

3 2/9 3. How do LLMs work?.

A conceptual and hands-on overview of how large language models work.

Due: A. Initial conjectures

4 2/16 4. Designing AI tools.

Design frameworks and introduction to how AI works.

Assigned: B. User research

5 2/23 5. Activity systems: Designing for/in context.

Decontextualized designs are a major reason computer-based interventions have failed to substantially shift classroom practice. We use activity theory to scope our designs and to frame the context for which we are designing.

6 3/2 6. Prototyping.

Prototyping; methods of quickly iterating

Usability testing,

Assigned: B. Prototype

7 3/9 7. Needfinding.

Guest speaker. In-class needfinding and concept iteration. Note: Needfinding was originally scheduled for Week 5, but we decided to take more time with user research.

Due: B. User research

Assigned: D. Field study

8 3/23 8. Planning a field study.

Theorizing user needs in your domain. UI/UX and usability. Field study methods. App instrumentation. Preparation for critiques.

Assigned: E. Demo , F. Conference paper

9 3/30 9. Qualitative data analysis.

Workshop initial qualitative field study data. Introduce final paper assignment

Due: B. Prototype

10 4/6 10. Critiques.

Present prototypes to external critics for feedback. Reception with experts after critiques.

11 4/13 11. Quantitative data analysis.

Workshop initial quantitative data analysis.

12 4/20 12. Data analysis workshop.
  • Data analysis workshop (bring field study data)
  • Discussion: Learning Machines

Due: D. Field study

13 4/27 13. Writing workshop.

Workshop final papers. (Bring drafts.) Share projects with each other. Prepare for expo. Futures for projects as research projects and commercial products.

14 5/4 14. LLMs in Education Expo.

Presentation of final projects, open to the public.

Due: E. Demo , F. Conference paper