^{Themes: Ethical challenges in using AI, How I’ve been using AI, Specific AI Tool(s)
Audience & Subject: General (All Grades); The Arts}

Introduction

This article explores the transformative integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into visual arts education, examining its impact as both a tool and a medium. Reflecting on historical innovations like the camera, which redefined painting, this article delves into how AI reshapes educational techniques and creative processes in the arts. The discussion extends beyond AI’s technical capabilities to its role in enhancing artistic understanding and creativity, including a critical examination of ethical and practical aspects such as copyright and data integrity. This overview sets the stage for a comprehensive exploration of AI’s potential to enrich and expand creative expression and critical engagement with new artistic tools.

General Guidelines

As educators incorporate AI into visual arts education, a balanced approach emphasizing innovation and critical evaluation is vital. Here are some guidelines to assist educators in integrating AI effectively:

1. Familiarize with AI Tools: Before introducing AI into the classroom, educators should familiarize themselves with different AI tools (e.g., Adobe Firefly, DALL-E).
2. Developing Effective Prompts: Enhance skills in crafting detailed prompts that direct AI to achieve specific artistic outputs (e.g., styles, themes, art techniques).
3. Ethical Considerations: Discuss the ethical aspects of AI in art, focusing on authorship, originality, and data use (e.g., reflections, structured discussions).
4. Integration into Curriculum:  Implement AI to complement traditional methods, enriching creative processes and artistic exploration (e.g., generating initial ideas).
5. Custom Data Sets: Encourage students to develop their own data sets, fostering a deeper understanding of AI’s functionality and ethical data use.
6. Showcasing a Range of Artists: Use AI to introduce students to diverse artists, broadening students’ artistic horizons (e.g., contemporary artists).
7. Hands-On Experiments: Incorporate hands-on activities that allow students to interact directly with AI tools (e.g., input different prompts and compare outcomes).
8. Critiques and Reflections: Facilitate discussions on AI’s role in art, enhancing students’ analytical skills (e.g., discuss experiences with AI, what they have learned, etc.).
9. Stay Updated: Educators should stay informed about the latest AI developments.
10. Professional Development and Community Engagement: Engage with professional communities and participate in professional development with other educators who are using AI in their teaching (e.g., support, inspiration, sharing).

Activities for Teachers of Visual Arts

Engage students through activities that foster creative expression and critical thinking.

Activity 1: Reimagining Personal Histories with AI

Overview

This activity uses AI to recreate visual narratives for personal or historical events without documentation, helping connect narrative memory with visual representation.

Description

Inspired by artist Lev Manovich, an artist who used AI to visualize memories from his 1970s childhood in Russia, students select a narrative lacking visual documentation and use AI to generate corresponding imagery. The activity enhances students’ understanding of integrating technology with historical and personal storytelling.

Possible Challenges

It can be challenging to address:

• The accuracy and potential biases of AI-generated visuals and the representation of historical figures and events,
• Ensure data privacy when visualizing personal stories; and
• Manage expectations about the accuracy of AI interpretations.

Activity 2: Creating an Artificial Natural History

Overview

Students use AI to creatively envision nonexistent biological entities, inspired by artist Sophia Crespo’s imaginative renderings of fantastical sea creatures. The educational goal is to blend scientific understanding of real organisms with imaginative speculation.

Description

Applying biological principles, students use AI to design and visualize fictional organisms within imaginary ecosystems (e.g., blending multiple creatures). The goal is to expand students’ ability to integrate scientific knowledge with artistic creativity.

Possible Challenges

AI-generated images may not always accurately reflect the students’ visions, necessitating multiple iterations and refinements of prompts. The activity may raise discussions about biological plausibility or the ethical implications of genetic engineering.

Activity 3: Photographing the Unphotographable

Overview

Students employ AI to create visual representations of historical or mythical figures who have never been photographed, blending meticulous research with digital techniques.

Description

Inspired by artist Granbrood, who created realistic portraits of figures such as George Washington and Aphrodite, this activity utilizes AI to generate realistic portraits from detailed research, showcasing the intersection of history, art, and technology.

Possible Challenges

There might be ethical issues to navigate related to:

• Depicting historical figures,
• Managing inaccuracies in AI-generated images, and
• Addressing biases in student and AI-created depictions.

A Few General Resources to Explore*

• AI4ALL Open Learning offers an open-source curriculum focused on AI and ethics.
• Artbreeder: Allows users to blend and manipulate images using genetic algorithms, ideal for teaching concepts of genetics and creativity through visual formats.
• Crash Course Artificial Intelligence is a YouTube series that provides accessible, comprehensive tutorials on AI concepts, beneficial for educators and students alike.
• DeepArt uses neural networks to transform photos into artworks in the styles of famous artists, serving as a practical tool for discussing AI’s artistic interpretations.
• Google AI Experiments is a platform that provides interactive AI experiments to demonstrate AI’s capabilities in art, offering hands-on experiences to explore AI’s potential.
• Khan Academy Computer Science and AI provides free courses on AI fundamentals (e.g., AI for education | Life skills | Khan Academy)
• RunwayML facilitates the integration of AI into creative projects with tools for image generation, complemented by tutorials and educational content ideal for classroom use.
• Teachable Machine by Google is a tool for creating simple machine learning models.

* Please refer to your school board’s policies regarding the use of websites for educational purposes.

About the author

name: Mervi Salo

Mervi Salo is the Centrally Assigned Principal of Instructional Innovation and Equitable Outcomes at the Toronto District School Board. In her role, she oversees the areas of Arts, Math, Science, STEM, and Robotics. Mervi has previously held several positions, such as a teacher in a CyberARTS Specialized program, the chair of the provincial arts standing committee for ETFO, the Arts Education Officer for the Ministry of Education, and an Arts AQ Instructor at the University of Toronto and York University. She has also served as the past president of the Ontario Art Education Association. Mervi has won numerous awards for her outstanding contribution to teaching, including the ETFO Multimedia Award. She has also presented at the UNESCO World Congress on Arts Education.