Problem

In today's digital era, engaging tech-savvy students aged 14–18 in storytelling and world-building presents a unique challenge. Traditional teaching methods in literature classes often fall short of captivating students' interest. Recognizing this gap, we identified the need for an innovative educational approach that not only resonates with their technological fluency but also nurtures their process-oriented learning, critical thinking, and creativity. This led to the conceptualization of Mr. Miyazaki, a specialized AI-powered tutor!

You can view the following presentation to learn more about the tool.

This image representing Mr. Hayao Miyazaki has been created using Imagine.art, a generative AI tool.

Solution

Introducing "Mr. Miyazaki," an AI-powered tutor who drew inspiration from the renowned filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. This innovative tool is designed to captivate students aged 14–18 by blending the imaginative storytelling of Studio Ghibli with cutting-edge pedagogical techniques. Here's how "Mr. Miyazaki" stands out:

Constructionism Approach: Rooted in Seymour Papert's principles, "Mr. Miyazaki" encourages students to learn by actively creating. This approach is pivotal in storytelling and world-building, where learning through making and iterative production are central.
Socratic Method: The AI tutor employs this technique to foster critical thinking and deeper understanding. By asking open-ended questions, it challenges students to use their knowledge in a reflective and analytical manner, enhancing their engagement with storytelling concepts.
Cultural Integration: Emphasizing Japanese values such as harmony, respect, gaman (perseverance), and modesty, "Mr. Miyazaki" weaves these into the narrative and world-building exercises. This not only teaches the mechanics of storytelling but also infuses lessons with cultural depth and ethical considerations.
Personalized Learning Journey: Through tailored content delivery, "Mr. Miyazaki" adapts lessons to each student's interests, experiences, and storytelling preferences. This personalization ensures that each learner's journey is unique and resonates with their individual style and storyline.
Creative and Interactive Exercises: Students engage in activities such as character development, storyboarding, and collaborative artwork creation using tools like ChatGPT and Leonardo.ai. These exercises are designed to be playful and enigmatic, nurturing creativity and a sense of discovery.
Ghibli-Inspired Artwork: In the final stages, students use Leonardo.ai to bring their storyboards to life with artwork, guided by "Mr. Miyazaki" to incorporate Ghibli-inspired aesthetics, ensuring a visually appealing and cohesive project.

"Mr. Miyazaki" is more than an AI tutor; it's a gateway to a world where storytelling and education converge in an enriching, engaging, and culturally aware manner.

Impact

According to the feedback from both students and educators, the introduction of the "Mr. Miyazaki" AI Tutor into the educational landscape has produced remarkable results:

Enhanced Student Engagement: The interactive and culturally rich content of "Mr. Miyazaki" has revolutionized the way students approach storytelling and world-building. Its unique blend of Ghibli-inspired narratives and interactive AI-driven exercises has transformed learning into an immersive and enjoyable experience. Students report higher levels of interest and participation, making learning feel less like a chore and more like an explorative journey.
Cultivating Critical Thinking and Creativity: By employing the Socratic method and constructionist approaches, "Mr. Miyazaki" has significantly improved students' critical thinking and creativity. Students are not just passive receivers of information but active creators, exploring and developing their own stories and worlds. This hands-on approach fosters a deeper understanding and retention of storytelling concepts.
Global Cultural Appreciation: The AI tutor's emphasis on Japanese cultural values and aesthetics has broadened students' global perspectives. It encourages an appreciation for cultural diversity, helping students develop a more inclusive worldview and a deeper understanding of storytelling as a universal art form.
Initial Testing Success: Preliminary tests with experienced teachers have validated the positive impact of "Mr. Miyazaki." These tests have shown promising results in terms of student engagement, understanding, and creativity in storytelling and world-building.

"Mr. Miyazaki" is not just an educational tool; it's a catalyst for igniting passion for storytelling, fostering creativity, and building a bridge between traditional literature and modern technology in the classroom.

Positive Educator Feedback: Educators, such as Taylor True, have praised "Mr. Miyazaki" for its innovative approach to teaching storytelling. Their testimonials highlight the AI tutor's effectiveness in engaging students and enhancing their learning experiences.

"Mr. Miyazaki is an incredible tool that can definitely support the way we teach storytelling to our students." - Taylor True, HGSE Student and English Teacher (USA)

How can you get access to the AI Tutor?

ChatGPT Plus: We invite you to access the Mr.MiyazakiGPT AI Tutor via the ChatGPT Plus subscription at the following link.

ChatGPT3.5 (Free): Feel free to send an email with a request for access to aleksandar_lazovski@gse.harvard.edu, subject title [Mr. Miyazaki: AI Tutor Access Request]. We will provide you with a detailed prompt for the AI tutor that works well for the free ChatGPT3.5 version.

Please take note that there is also a complementary lesson plan that is available for educators who would like to facilitate a workshop using the AI Tutor. You can find out more about the workshop structure at the following link.

Acknowledgments

This project, involving the creation of an AI tutor and associated lesson plans, deeply appreciates the cultural and philosophical richness of the Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli trademarks. These brands, along with their copyrighted movies and creative content, have been diligently referenced in our work. They serve as a fundamental inspiration, bridging the gap between traditional storytelling and modern educational techniques, particularly for younger audiences. This utilization is strictly for educational purposes. We urge anyone concerned about copyright issues to contact the author promptly.

In the development of this educational tool, we extensively utilized several advanced technologies and platforms, including ChatGPT, ChatGPT Plus, Imagine.art, Leonardo.ai, Midjourney, and DALL-E. These tools played an indispensable role in shaping the interactive and immersive aspects of our lesson plans and materials.

Special acknowledgment is extended to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, particularly the EDU T554: Artificial Intelligence in Education course. Under the expert guidance of Prof. Seiji Isotani, this project was able to take shape and reach fruition. His insights and support were invaluable in integrating AI with educational strategies effectively. Furthermore, special acknowledgment goes to Mrinmoy Saha, TF for EDU T554, without whose insightful feedback and recommendations this project would not be possible.

Finally, we extend our gratitude to the numerous authors and researchers whose works have inspired and informed this project. Their contributions, listed in the references section below, have been fundamental in grounding our work in both theoretical and practical aspects of artificial intelligence in education.

References:

Kafai, Y. B., & Resnick, M. (1996). Constructionism in Practice: Designing, Thinking, and Learning in a Digital World. In Constructionism in Practice. Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from https://hollis.harvard.edu/permalink/f/1mdq5o5/TN_cdi_proquest_ebookcentralchapters_1074828_2_4 .
Lam, R. (2007). The Socratic Method: What it is and How to Use it in the Classroom. Education, 128(3), 422-431. Retrieved from https://kilthub.cmu.edu/articles/thesis/The_Socratic_Method_as_an_Approach_to_Learning_and_Its_Benefits/6686570 .
Li, S., & Gu, X. (2023). A risk framework for human-centered artificial intelligence in education: Based on literature review and Delphi–AHP method. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1377937
Mollick, E. R., & Mollick, L. (2023). Assigning AI: Seven Approaches for Students, with Prompts. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4475995.
Personality at Work. (n.d.). Hayao Miyazaki Personality Profile. Retrieved from https://personalityatwork.co/celebrity/profile/hayao-miyazaki.
Smith, P. (2020). Episode 19 - Storyboarding with Studio Ghibli. SAD HILL MEDIA. Retrieved from https://sadhillmedia.com/filmformally/2020/5/3/episode-19-storyboarding-with-ghibli .
L., & Dede, C. (2023, July 28). Navigating A World of Generative AI: Suggestions for Educators. Retrieved from https://nextlevellab.gse.harvard.edu/2023/07/28/navigating-a-world-of-generative-ai-suggestions-for-educators/

Team

Aleksandar Lazovski - Project Lead & Designer

Mr. Miyazaki (AI Tutor): A Modern Approach to Learning about Storytelling