Use metaphor workshops to surface stakeholder assumptions about GenAI in assessment redesign, policy development and professional development¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 qualitative), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The article recommends a structured, social workshop format in which participants generate, display and critique metaphors for GenAI using sticky notes, a metaphor gallery, and ticks, crosses and question marks for agreement, disagreement and curiosity. It "provides educators a social, structured way to engage critically with GenAI that assumes no technical expertise". Suggested uses include helping a teaching team surface assumptions before redesigning assessments, gathering diverse stakeholder perspectives when developing AI policies, and addressing specific fears surfaced through metaphors in professional development.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Facilitation with semi-structured co-design thinking activities; deliberately excludes hands-on GenAI use and prompt engineering to keep focus on reflection

Constraints¶

• The authors note time constraints limited analysis and discussion, and that longer or sequential workshops would allow deeper sensemaking

Target Learners¶

• higher education students
• academics
• learning designers
• educational support staff

Target Learning Goals¶

• critical reflection on GenAI's ethical and societal dimensions
• collective sensemaking about emerging technologies

Claims¶

• Agency metaphors expressed fear that GenAI steals human agency and threatens jobs, reflecting a binary human-versus-machine model [+W]

Related Strategies¶

• Provide accessible guidelines, training materials, or workshops to help students understand responsible GenAI use

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Carmen Vallis, Stephanie Wilson, Alison Casey. (2025). Fear and Awe: Making Sense of Generative AI Through Metaphor. Journal of Interactive Media Education. https://doi.org/10.5334/jime.972