Reflection on Teaching of Artificial Intelligence Course in English

Education Research Frontier June 2016, Volume 6, Issue 2, PP.76-79

Reflection on Teaching of Artificial Intelligence Course in English Wenjun Lu School of Foreign Language and Culture, Beijing Wuzi University, 101149, China luwenjun6210@sohu.com

Abstract The paper analyzes the content, characteristics and problems existed in the teaching of artificial intelligence courses in the process of teaching. The research result shows that the implementation of English into the teaching of the course is not so satisfactory.

Based on the outcome of the research, the paper suggests that bilingual teaching, or the teaching with Chinese and English is more popular among the majority of the learners.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Teaching in English; Teaching in Chinese and English

1 INTRODUCTION The teaching purpose of artificial intelligence course is to cultivate students’ interest in the field of artificial intelligence, broaden the students' knowledge, and lay a good theoretical foundation for the future graduation design and learning. As Zhang (2009) states that artificial intelligence is a subject that uses computer to simulate human intelligence activities which involves many disciplines such as computer science, psychology, philosophy, information science. It has become an important course of computer, automation and other professionals. With the expansion of the scope of application of computer technology, artificial intelligence technology has been developed rapidly in recent years, and there is no doubt that it can bring considerable help for students’ work and learning in the future.

The teaching content of artificial intelligence and the teaching characteristics are as follows: Artificial intelligence mainly introduces the basic methodologies of the knowledge, the state space research, the reasoning of determination and uncertainty, fuzzy reasoning and neural network, genetic algorithm and other intelligent algorithms, with a strong theoretical feature. Han (2010) points out that through the course of learning, it enables students to understand and master the preliminary basic method and technique of artificial intelligence, and improve students’ interest in the discipline of artificial intelligence as well as lay a solid foundation for students’ future working and learning.

However, no one can deny the fact that there are also some problems in the process of learning the artificial intelligence course, especially in the process of classroom teaching of this course.

Artificial intelligence course has a wide range and its contents update rapidly. It has a solid theoretical basis, complicated reasoning, symbolic representation and other characteristics. In addition, the teaching of the course becomes more difficult because the undergraduates’ research capability is relatively weak. How to make students grasp the knowledge of artificial intelligence efficiently and use the artificial intelligence methodology to solve practical problems becomes a very challenging task. Therefore, it is necessary to combine theory with practice in the process of teaching and make full use of students' learning enthusiasm as well. It is essential to make use of various teaching facilities to inspire students' interest in learning and help them to understand the application of various techniques in real life.

2 PROBLEMS EXISTED IN THE TEACHING OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The supreme problem in the teaching of artificial intelligence is that students feel bored while learning the theoretical knowledge of artificial intelligence. The content of artificial intelligence course is abstract and involves in a wide - 76 www.erfrontier.org

range of subjects. It is not easy for students to combine explanation of the basic method with the preliminary knowledge of artificial intelligence in the process of learning. Artificial intelligence course involves reasoning, knowledge representation, so the content is difficult to understand. Students always feel artificial intelligence course is too complicated to understand because the artificial intelligence technology is not mature enough, and textbooks cannot provide the vivid examples for students. Therefore, the teaching of the course cannot give students a deep impression; and students become less and less interested in the learning of the course. Consequently, the teaching effect becomes less and less satisfactory. Then, how to overcome the obstacles emerged in the process of the teaching of artificial intelligence course has become an important issue for Chinese teachers who teach the course.

Based on the study of previous research, we decide to carry out an experimental teaching of the artificial intelligence course in English.

3 NECESSITY OF ATTEMPTING TO TEACH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COURSE IN ENGLISH With the rapid international academic exchanges and active international education development, how to make the most of the ideas to run school and draw lessons from foreign famous universities has become an important issue in the process of running a school in China. No one can deny the fact that international academic exchanges between universities of different countries have become more active, so we should learn from the modern concept of running a school in foreign countries. Only in this way can we train the qualified personnel able to compete in the international market after graduation. Liu (2010) emphasizes that it is necessary to try to implement the teaching of English into artificial intelligence course. It is well known that the development of artificial intelligence in foreign countries is much faster than that in China, so we should use the English textbooks published by foreign high-level universities. The rationale for using English textbooks published by foreign high-level universities are as follows: firstly, English textbooks on artificial intelligence introduce the latest development of artificial technology in the world; secondly, both teachers and students can boost their English levels if they adopt textbooks compiled in English; thirdly, it is helpful to students who have the intention to study abroad in the future. It has some potential benefits for some students.

Artificial Intelligence is the inevitable trend of the development of human technology. Teaching artificial intelligence course in English can not only enable students fully understand the rapid development of artificial intelligence, but can also ensure that the teaching is in line with the international standard, for artificial intelligence content involves computer science, interdisciplinary new theory and researches done by foreign high-level universities are in the leading position. Both teachers and students can keep up with the latest development of artificial intelligence if English textbooks can be utilized in the classroom. Xie (2013) stresses that it is necessary to have an attempt to utilize English textbooks and teach artificial intelligence course in English.

4 THE RESEARCH RESULT AND MAIN PROBLEMS EXISTED IN TEACHING THE COURSE IN ENGLISH In order to find out the result of teaching artificial intelligence course in English, we made an investigation on the experiment which involves in 120 juniors studying artificial intelligence taught in English. The experiment lasted a whole teaching semester. 120 students from three classes and all of them are taught by teachers in English in the classroom. There are six items to be asked. All together 120 questionnaire are collected and the result of the questionnaires is shown in Table 1.

The results of research are shown in Table 1. As for item 1, whether the artificial intelligence course should be taught in English, the survey results show that 84 students (70%) think it necessary, and 24 students (20%) think that it is not necessary, but 12 students (10%) think that they don’t have a clear idea; As for item 2, whether it will have any help to students if teaching artificial intelligence course in English, the result shows that 30 students (25%) believe it is very helpful, 78 students (65%) think it is only of general help, 12 students (10%) think it is not helpful; As for item 3, the classroom teaching language preferred by students, only 18 students (15%) think English is their favorite language, 96 students (80%) think bilingual, or English and Chinese is their favorite language, 6 students - 77 www.erfrontier.org

(5%) think Chinese is their favorite classroom teaching language; As for item 4, the result shows that 24 students (20%) think their favorite forms of PPT should be expressed in English, 90 students (75%) think their favorite forms of PPT should be expressed in Chinese and English, 6 students (5%) think their favorite forms of PPT should be expressed in Chinese; As for item 5, the result shows that only 18 students(15% ) believe that they are very satisfied with the teaching of the course in English, 36 students (30%) believe that they are of general satisfied, and 66 students (55%) think that they are not satisfied with the teaching of the course in English; As for item 6, suggestions to the teaching of artificial intelligence course, the survey result shows that only 18 students (15%) think that English is their favorite language in the classroom, 96 students (80%) think their favorite language is bilingual, or Chinese and English, and only 6 students (5%) believe that Chinese is their favorite language in the teaching of the course. In summary, the majority of the students surveyed believe that teaching artificial intelligence course in English is not their favorite choice.

TABLE 1 THE ITEMS, CONTENTS AND RESULTS OF THE RESEARCH FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COURSE No.

items

1

Necessity of teaching the course in English

2

Help to students if teaching the course in English

3

Teaching language preferred by Students

4

PPT

5

Degree of satisfaction to teaching in English

6

Suggestions to the teaching of the course

contents Very necessary unnecessary Not clear Very helpful Of general help Of Little help English Chinese and English(bilingual) Chinese English Chinese and English(bilingual) Chinese Very satisfied general satisfaction dissatisfied English Chinese and English(bilingual) Chinese

result (%) 84 (70%) 24 (20%) 12 (10%) 30 (25%) 78 (65%) 12 (10%) 18 (15%) 96 (80%) 6 (5%) 24 (20%) 90 (75%) 6 (5%) 18 (15%) 36 (30%) 66 (55%) 18 (15%) 96 (80%) 6 (5%)

5 SUGGESTIONS TO THE TEACHING OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COURSE In summary, how to reform the teaching of artificial intelligence course in English is an issue requiring further investigation. In addition, the teaching content, teaching methodologies and teaching techniques of artificial intelligence course are also worth further investigation. What kind of scientific teaching methods should be employed in the teaching of artificial intelligence course still needs our further consideration if we consider the survey results shown in Table 1. We must face the reality that teaching artificial intelligence course in English is not the best methodology for the majority of students. Then, how to make the most of the teaching of the course and encourage students to learn the course more effectively is very important. Therefore, we will give some suggestions on how to improve the teaching efficiency of artificial intelligence course based on the survey results from Table 1.

The concrete suggestions are as follows: (1) Attempting to explore the relationships among theoretical knowledge, overall comprehensive capabilities and the use of English communication. Then, establishing a new mode of three issues which will be of great significance to the teaching of artificial intelligence course, and at the same time will update the teaching concept and suitable teaching mode for the teaching of the course. (2) Teaching artificial intelligence course in English can enable students to master the most advanced artificial intelligence technology and broaden their international vision, which is beneficial to the training of overall and practical capability of students, and boost students’ international competitiveness simultaneously; (3) Teaching artificial intelligence course in English can promote domestic education and develop into the high-level of international standard.

The establishment of a sound system of teaching artificial intelligence in English is very necessary to the development of teaching system. It is well known that the general teaching hours of artificial intelligence are only 36 - 78 www.erfrontier.org

hours, so we need to consider from what angle the organization of teaching content should be designed, for the purpose of achieving the best teaching outcome. Li (2016) states that compared with the domestic teaching content, teaching artificial intelligence course of foreign high-level universities pay more attention to the analysis of the problem encountered in the process of teaching and the capability of solving the problems, which is of great importance in improving students’ learning interests and innovative capabilities. However, there are also some imperfections in original English textbooks. For example, Chinese students have some difficulties in understanding some contents of the original textbooks because of the lack of cultural background knowledge. Therefore, we should make some alterations about the original textbooks in order that it is easier for Chinese students to learn, digest and absorb the content of English textbooks. Furthermore, it is necessary for teachers to employ bilingual languages, or English and Chinese while teaching the professional technical terms, for the majority of the learners prefer the bilingual languages in the teaching of artificial intelligence.

Teachers teaching artificial intelligence course should not follow the traditional pattern of teaching method, or they cannot achieve a satisfactory teaching result. Furthermore, it is necessary to combine theoretical learning with the actual practice in the process of learning artificial intelligence. If Conditions permit, Chinese universities can establish academic relationship with foreign high-level universities in terms of teaching artificial intelligence. For example, teachers can be sent to study abroad first and master the English language skills before teaching artificial intelligence course.

6 CONCLUSIONS Artificial intelligence is an important course for students majoring in computer science and technology. It is facing the urgent challenge of knowledge updating and teaching reform. In order to improve the learning efficiency of artificial intelligence, the paper puts forward some new ideas on how to teach the course. The research results demonstrate that teaching artificial intelligence in English is not the best choice for the majority of students.

Teaching artificial intelligence course with bilingual language, or English and Chinese is more popular among the majority of the students.

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Zhang Weifeng. Some thoughts on the teaching mode of artificial intelligence. Computer Education. (2009): 139-141.

[2]

Han jieqiong and Yu Yongquan. Research on teaching mode reform of artificial intelligence. Computer Education. 19(2010): 7173.

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Liu Haibo et al. English and Chinese-Bilingual teaching mode of artificial intelligence. Computer Education. 19 (2010): 78-80.

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Xie Rong et al. Teaching reform of artificial intelligence course in English. Computer Education. 19(2013): 62-67.

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Li Shengjun et al. Research on the teaching mode of artificial intelligence. Journal of Higher Education. 3 (2016): 236-238.

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