Beyond the Bot: Cultivating Critical Writers in the AI Era

Monday, November 10, 2025

9:00 - 4:00 PM HST

At the Hanahau‘oli School Professional Development Center, located at 1922 Makiki Street, Honolulu, HI 96822

$160 per person

In an age where AI can generate essays and feedback at the click of a button, how do we move students from passive AI consumers to analytical thinkers? This hands-on workshop empowers educators to transform generative AI platforms (like ChatGPT and Claude.ai) into tools for developing critical thinking through writing. Rather than simply using AI for basic feedback, participants will learn strategies to engage students in analyzing, questioning, and evaluating AI responses to deepen their thinking and writing skills.

Through guided practice, educators will learn to design writing tasks that require students to compare multiple AI responses, identify potential biases, develop counterarguments, and justify their choices in implementing or rejecting AI suggestions. The workshop emphasizes practical protocols for teaching students to engage critically with AI while developing transferable analytical skills. Special attention will be given to creating scaffolded activities that progressively build students' abilities to question, analyze, and evaluate AI-generated content.

This workshop is highly interactive – participants will practice crafting prompts that spark critical thinking, develop assessment criteria that value analytical skills, and create classroom protocols for thoughtful AI interaction.

Participants should bring a laptop/device and sample writing assignments & rubrics from their practice. Experience with generative AI is helpful but not required. Lunch will be provided.

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to:

Demonstrate prompting strategies that engage students in analyzing AI-generated feedback
Design writing tasks that require students to evaluate and justify AI suggestions
Create protocols for students to compare multiple AI responses critically
Develop rubrics that assess students' reasoning about AI feedback
Plan implementation strategies that prioritize student critical thinking over AI dependence

WORKSHOP AGENDA

9:00 - 9:30 AM: Welcome and Introduction

Pre-survey
Workshop Overview
Critical thinking in the AI era
Defining critical thinking in writing assessment

9:30 - 10:30 AM: AI and Critical Thinking Framework

Moving beyond basic AI feedback
Critical thinking opportunities in AI interactions
Bloom's Taxonomy with AI tools
Modeling analytical dialogue with AI

10:30 - 10:45 AM: Break

10:45 - 12:00 PM: Designing for Critical Thinking

Creating prompts that require analysis
Student protocols for evaluating AI responses
Practice sessions:
- Comparing multiple AI responses
- Identifying AI limitations
- Developing counter-arguments
Small group discussion of critical thinking opportunities

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch Break

1:00 - 2:15 PM: Student Critical Thinking Activities

Protocols for analytical AI interaction
Teaching students to:
- Question AI responses
- Identify potential biases
- Synthesize multiple AI perspectives
- Justify acceptance/rejection of AI suggestions
Practice with real writing scenarios

2:15 - 2:30 PM: Break

2:30 - 3:30 PM: Assessment Design

Creating rubrics that value critical thinking
Developing prompts that require evaluation
Planning scaffolded critical thinking activities
Peer review of assessment plans

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Implementation Planning

Action plan development
Resource sharing
Building support networks

Post-survey

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Robin Dazzeo is a faculty member at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, recognized for developing innovative curriculum integrating AI technology in writing instruction. Her award-winning work focuses on creating inclusive, technology-enhanced learning solutions that benefit all students, particularly in developing crucial skills like writing and self-assessment.

THIS WORKSHOP IS DESIGNED FOR

This workshop is designed for P-12 educators across disciplines, including:

Secondary English/Language Arts teachers
Elementary teachers focusing on writing instruction
Special education teachers
Content area teachers who incorporate writing
Curriculum coordinators and instructional coaches