Generative AI Lessons Plans
Today I asked chatGPT (a generative AI program) this question: can you write me a lesson plan explaining abstract art
This is the answer it gave (click in images to enlarge – then click the back button):
Which is all well and good but where am I supposed to get the handout with the history of abstract art?
Why, of course, chatGPT can write that also.
If I kept going I’m sure I could have it create an entire course for me.
Yikes!!!
Next up was to asked it about a current class I teach (I actually do have a course called Abstraction and I’m in the process of updating it to teach later this year.)
Working in a Series
This is my bread and butter – teaching Working in a Series. So I thought I’d ask chatGPT how to teach the class.
It did a pretty good job.
This is indeed how it works – you brainstorm ideas then you make the work. And you think about how the works are related.
And none of this is very surprising or new. What I teach is much more nuanced than these basics.
And more importantly – giving feedback and critiquing the students work is something the computer can’t do (yet.)
Nor is encouragement and understanding from a computer on the same level as working with a group of humans.
This is actually the hardest part of what I do – to both encourage students to continue their quest and also provide them with the information they need to do better the next time.
The number one feedback I get about my Working in a Series course is that students come out of the class with more confidence as a result of my feedback. And a computer can’t do that (yet.)
So for now, I’m not too worried that I am going to lose my job.
And this exercise has made me realize that it would be pretty easy for someone that has never taught an online class to have a generative AI program create an entire workshop for them.
Humans > AI
Which means it’s time to up my marketing game.
I’ve been doing this (online teaching) a long time. Coupled that with my personal experiences as a practicing artist and the mindsets from my coaching certification – I think the computer is no match for what happens in my courses.
I have a passion for helping artists. The computer – has no passion and doesn’t care if you succeed. I care deeply.
It is super easy to say “just go make another piece that is related” – it is not always so easy to go and do it. And then do it again.
As one of my recent Working in a Series students said:
“Thank you Lisa for creating this course, it is evident through the content that you have been in the arena, I’m thinking what Brene Brown says here.
You know experientially what it is to persevere through all the obstacles and you’ve cleverly worked all this experience into a course. A course that teaches and encourages artists to bring out the gold in them.
It doesn’t take much talent to be a critic but it’s a true skill to do what you do and develop emerging artists.”
Cherie Gurney
Generative AI is not in the arena. And I seriously doubt it ever will be.
Instead it’s really good at plagiarizing all the content it finds on the web to learn all that it “knows”.
And a final lesson from this… if you are taking classes – it is probably time to do a bit of research into teachers to find out where they got the content, how much personal experience they have with the subject and how much human interaction you will receive.
With chatGPT you could easily generate an entire art class with a heap of stolen content and then answer all your students questions with chatGPT answers. Never knowing anything about the subject matter at all. Given that chatGPT is often wrong – this sort of class might not have a lot of value. So best to make sure you aren’t taking one.
Classes Starting in January
And finally – maybe a bit latter than I should be announcing (and that is a story for another blog post) – I have 3 classes starting this month!!!
The first is, indeed, working in a series. This class is a hands-on guided journey through the joys of making a body of work. For artists working in all media and levels.
I’m starting to get a repeat students as they find taking this class gives them a huge creative boost – either mid series or when they are ready to start a new series. So if you’ve taken the course before – you are welcome to take it again.
And if you’ve never joined in – welcome welcome!
(this session has just 3 more seats available)
Learn More and Enroll in Working in a Series
Need more ideas? Looking to develop a sketching practice this year?
I’ve expanded the sketchbook challenge this session by adding a weekly exercise / prompts to help you use your sketchbook to generate ideas for your chosen media.
You can create your own challenge or do the weekly prompts. Or both.
This challenge is great for all levels. Just starting out sketching? Already have a strong practice but want to move it up a level? All are welcome.
Learn More and Join the Sketchbook Challenge
This program is part mastermind and part coaching.
I asked chatGPT why you might want to join this program and it said:
And it is exactly perfectly correct.
In short – it’s about GROWTH.
And with the MakeBigArt Incubator and Mastermind – in addition to the group mastermind calls – you receive individual private calls with me. And access to a vast amount of course material on how to build a foundation for exhibiting and selling your art.
And you get to see the real inside story of my art practice as I am one of the participants of the mastermind and I share each month during our calls and you can see how I set goals week by week.
The mastermind is limited to just six artists.
Learn More and Join the Incubator
Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the programs!