More Human: On Science Fairs, Artificial Intelligence, and Educational Experiments
More Human: On Science Fairs, Artificial Intelligence, and Educational Experiments
Publish Date: 2026-02-09 12:55:00
Source Domain: therumpus.net
- The author’s childhood interest in AI, sparked by a science fair project in 6th grade.
- The landing of Mars rovers “Opportunity” and “Spirit” and their unforeseen long-lasting impact.
- The author’s confusion with the term “scholasticity” and the realization that they likely misremembered “stochasticity.”
- Reflections on teaching writing and the challenge of incorporating AI into the classroom.
- An experiment where the author juxtaposed an essay he wrote against one generated by an AI model, revealing students’ preferences and underlying educational influences.
- Comparison of AI-generated content with human writing and students’ evolving perceptions and use of AI.
- A fifth-grade science fair project involving a homemade lava lamp that showcased their approach to learning through trial and error.
- The author’s experiences and learning from designing open-ended experiments with AI in their writing classes and the challenges of guiding students.
- A third-grade science project about creating aesthetically pleasing ice crystals using food coloring, reflecting a systematic approach to problem-solving.
- The importance of the author’s teaching philosophy to foster more human and unpredictable forms of writing in students.
- The analogy of teaching to scientific experimentation with an ongoing commitment to questioning and adapting.
- The author’s intention to create an authentic connection with students through their writing, rather than rigid adherence to established norms.
