Beyond the Bot: Cultivating Critical Writers in the AI Era

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:

1. Demonstrate prompting strategies that engage students in analyzing AI-generated feedback
2. Design writing tasks that require students to evaluate and justify AI suggestions
3. Create protocols for students to compare multiple AI responses critically
4. Develop rubrics that assess students' reasoning about AI feedback
5. 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