AI-Enhanced Storytelling & World-building Workshop

Problem

The writing and storytelling skills of high school students in the United States are a significant concern, as demonstrated by the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report. This report highlights that only 35% of 12th graders are proficient in writing. The increasing influence of digital technology on communication further exacerbates the need for improved writing and storytelling skills among students.

Solution

Mr. Miyazaki's Enchanted Storytelling and World-Building Workshop offers an innovative solution. It combines traditional educational methods with AI technology to enhance the creative capabilities of high school students. Drawing inspiration from Studio Ghibli's storytelling style, the workshop utilizes AI tools like Leonardo.ai for artwork creation and an AI tutor, modeled after Mr. Miyazaki, for personalized guidance.

Images created using Imagine.art, Generative AI artwork tool.

Overview: The innovative workshop aims to enhance the creative writing and storytelling abilities of high school students (ages 14–18) by blending traditional educational methods with advanced AI tools. Inspired by the storytelling style of Studio Ghibli, the workshop incorporates AI technologies like Leonardo.ai and an AI tutor modeled after Mr. Miyazaki.

Agenda and Flow:

Introduction and Student Sharing (1 hour): Facilitators introduce the workshop theme and objectives. Students share their experiences and expectations to build a collaborative learning atmosphere.
Drafting a Ghibli-Inspired Story Outline (1 hour): Guided activities to help students create story outlines, emphasizing hands-on learning and creativity
World Building Session (1 hour): Interactive exercises focusing on crafting immersive story environments
Character Development Workshop (1 hour): Activities and discussions to aid in the creation of complex, compelling characters
Storyboard Creation (1 hour): Students convert their narratives into visual storyboards, learning the essentials of visual storytelling.
Crafting and Refining Story Prompts (1 hour): Using AI tools like Leonardo.ai, students refine their stories and create accompanying artwork.
Presentation and Feedback Session (1 hour): Students present their stories and artworks, receiving feedback from peers and facilitators.
Closure and Reflections (30 minutes): A reflective session where students consider their learning journey, discussing challenges and successes.

Participants and Facilitators:

The workshop is designed for groups of 15-20 students, ensuring personalized attention and a collaborative environment.
Optimally, two facilitators lead the workshop, one focusing on the storytelling aspect and the other specializing in AI tools and digital literacy.

Key Features:

Age & Developmental Focus: The workshop is tailored for students aged 14-18, supporting their cognitive and emotional development during late adolescence.
Learning Setting & Approach: A collaborative and informal setting is adopted, focusing on constructionism and reflective learning. The workshop is intended to use the Interactive, hands-on learning approach.
Technological Integration: Students interact with platforms like Leonardo.ai, enhancing their digital literacy and experience with AI-supported education. It's a blend of traditional storytelling and modern technology.
Cultural Appreciation: Inspired by Studio Ghibli, the workshop fosters an appreciation for aesthetics and introduces themes prevalent in Japanese culture and global narratives.

Duration: The workshop spans approximately 7 hours, including breaks and interactive sessions.

Images created using Imagine.art, Generative AI artwork tool.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

Create coherent narratives with key story elements.
Design detailed, immersive story worlds.
Develop well-rounded characters.
Convert narratives into visual storyboards.
Utilize AI tools for feedback and artwork creation.
Enhance presentation skills.
Engage in self-reflection to identify storytelling strengths and areas for growth.

As one teacher put it:

"This workshop would not only fostered a deeper appreciation for aesthetics, enhanced digital literacy, and promote identity exploration through storytelling but it will also provide students with the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and global narratives in a fun and engaging way." - Liam Stanton, HGSE Student and Elementary School Teacher

Images created using Imagine.art, Generative AI artwork tool.

How can you get access to the AI Tutor?

Lesson Plan and Associated Materials and Sheets: Feel free to send an email with a request for access to aleksandar_lazovski@gse.harvard.edu, subject title [Mr. Miyazaki: Workshop Materials Request]. We will provide you with a Google Drive folder with all of the necessary materials.

Acknowledgments

This project, involving the creation of an AI tutor and associated workshop 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:

Horn E. (2023). Prompts for lesson planning with ChatGPT, Tech Notes. Retrieved from: https://blog.tcea.org/prompts-for-lesson-planning-with-chatgpt/
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
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/

Lesson Planning:

Strategies for effective lesson planning - https://crlt.umich.edu/gsis/p2_5
Learning objectives and activities - https://ablconnect.harvard.edu/learning-objectives-landing-page & https://ablconnect.harvard.edu/activity-types

Prompt engineering:

Prompts for Education: Enhancing Productivity & Learning - https://github.com/microsoft/prompts-for-edu
PromptoMANIA - Prompt Builder - https://promptomania.com/

Team

Aleksandar Lazovski - Project Lead & Designer

Example of a Short-Story

Mr. Miyazaki's Enchanted Storytelling and World-building Workshop