Module 1: Introduction to AI and Design Thinking

    When I began this specialization course in Artificial Intelligence Applied to English Teaching, I had high expectations, but also some uncertainty due to my limited knowledge of AI. I was curious, somewhat skeptical, and excited to understand how these technologies could improve my teaching practice. Although I had previously put them into practice, my use of them was basic; thinking about the new possibilities and uses I could learn by taking the course was something I greatly anticipated. Module 1 opened the doors to a new world for me: a world where innovation, pedagogy, and technology intertwine to create meaningful, adaptive, and student-centered learning experiences, thereby greatly benefiting teachers.

    One of the most important things I learned from Module 1 was understanding what AI really is and all the things that work and function around it. I learned about concepts such as machine learning, large language models (LLM), prompt engineering, and phenomena like hallucinations that can occur in AI outputs. These concepts helped me see AI not just as a tool, but as a dynamic contributor to the teaching and learning process.

    What really challenged my thinking was the introduction to design thinking. Previously, I had approached lesson planning from a linear perspective, focusing on objectives, activities, and assessment. However, design thinking taught me to be learner-centered, deeply empathize with their needs, and constantly prototype and test new ideas. This process aligns perfectly with communicative language teaching, and from my perspective, this promotes better class management and environment. 

    Creating a project using design thinking helped me ground this theory in concrete practice. Going through all the phases was very useful, not only as an exercise, but also as a framework I can replicate in my future planning. This module provided me with a much clearer vision of how AI and design thinking can be used to adapt content, innovate strategies, and focus learning differently while maintaining high quality. Understanding and knowing how to use the tools that AI offers today provides a great advantage for anyone who wishes to use them, whether they are teachers or not

The certifications in AI for Educators, Design Thinking, and others that I completed during this module were beneficial. They provided both the theoretical foundation and practical strategies for implementation in real-life classrooms, while helping us prepare and train for the future.