Academic Projects

📄 Master Thesis

Fine-tuning for Lesson Planning

Although AI has been in the public eye since the last century, the increasing popularity of generative AI tools has brought about renewed interest in exploring how these technologies can enhance educational practices, including lesson planning. This thesis aims to investigate teachers’ perceptions and use of a fine-tuned AI assistant for lesson planning in comparison to ChatGPT-4.

Main Takeaways

1 Clear preference for fine-tuned AI

The study strengthens the idea that examined teachers preferred preparing lessons with fine-tuned AI assistants in comparison to working with a general-puprose LLM. The implementation of fine-tuned AI especially relieved novice teachers of their workload and scaffolded the lesson preparation process for more experienced teachers by providing inspiration and differentiating content.

2 Fine-tuned AI outperforms general-purpose LLMs

The fine-tuned AI assistants produced more precise suggestions for teachers when lesson planning. In comparison, the teachers perceived the general-purpose model’s generated lesson plans and materials as too superficial and would have to adjust them more extensively to implement them for teaching.

3 Critical evaluation remains important

The analysis uncovered how fine-tuning an LLM reduces its level of hallucinations and produces more concrete results. Nevertheless, it remains essential for teachers to apply their professional knowledge to assess the usability and correctness of generated lesson plans and materials.

📄 Argumentative Paper

Why TikTok is a useful pedagogical tool in higher education

TikTok is a social media platform that has experienced ummatched growth in recent years. This paper explores the idea on how higher education can implement the platform as a pedagogical tool to increase students digital literacy and motivation.

Main Takeaways

1 Development of digital literacy

Especially if implemented for digital media production, the implementation of TikTok in higher education lesson has shown to increase the students digital literacy skills and participation in digital culture.

2 Increased student motivation

Studies examining the utilization of TikTok have shown that students are greatly interested in innovative and relevant tools in lessons. Due to the popularity TikTok has amongst this age group, its implementation results in a highly motivational learning environment.

3 Recommended pedagogical reason

As TikTok is a platform that is designed for engagement rather than educational use, this paper advocates a pedagogical reason behind its implementation that includes a conversation with the students about the ethics and risks behind using the social media platform.

📄 Course Paper

How does the perception of the TikTok algorithm differ in comparison to Facebook?

Facebook and TikTok are both based on an algorithmically curated stream of content. However, whereas TikTok has been gaining popularity in recent years, Facebooks use among younger users is declining. This paper examines to which extent the users perception of both platforms algorithms factors in this development.

Main Takeaways

1 Expected role of the algorithm

Facebook users are more negatively inclined to the algorithmically curated news feed in contrast to TikTok users. Facebook users expect the news feed algorithm to occupy a supporting role to their existing news feed, whereas Tik Tok users are aware that their content is mainly curated by the algorithm.

2 Interaction with the algorithm

Users of both platforms interact consciously with the algorithm to influence content presented to them. TikTok users explain to do so to support the algorithmic activity whereas Facebook users aim to minimize and control the influence the news feed algorithm has on their social media feed.

3 Introduction of the algorithm

TikTok centres its platform around the user interacting with the algorithm whereas Facebook lets the user set its own parameters. Thus, Facebook users experience the algorithm as intrusive if the presented content is not to their liking. Contrastingly, TikTok users aim to have a positive relationship with the algorithm to see interesting content.

📄 BACHELOR THESIS

Use of Digital Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-pandemic confronted schools with an unprecedented situation. For my bachelor thesis I analysed how a family coped with the distance education period and how educational technology was implemented by them during this time.

Main Takeaways

1 Improved digital literacy

During the conversation with the 6th grader it became apparent how greatly improved their media literacy skills have improved during the distance education period. From hardly using digital media before the pandemic, the 5th grader was now well versed with the professional use of several devices and applications.

2 Equal access to support

Furthermore, the analysis shows how access to technical devices alone is not sufficient for younger students to participate successfully in lessons. In this case, the 6th grader relied on their older sibling to receive support on how to handle new devices and applications. However, not all classmates had access to the same amount of support and had difficulties following instructions from the teacher during this time.

3 Variety of communication forms

Lastly, the analysis highlights that the monotone use of educational technology led to decreased motivation of students. During the later part of the distance education period, lessons were mainly conducted via video calls. Thus, this thesis advocates a balanced variety of tasks and communication forms to counteract this dynamic.