What did you learn at GAETC? Let's blog about that!
So let’s continue to share, expand, and learn from each other by responding to (through Blog OR Vlog) any one of the following prompts:
What have you learned this month that promotes the Empowerment of our students? How are you applying it?
What have you learned that you are curious about but presents challenges in practical application? What are the obstacles?
In what ways have you integrated technology or AI tools into your classroom to enhance student empowerment? What successes or challenges have you encountered?
How are you balancing the implementation of new learning strategies or materials with maintaining consistency for your students? What advice would you give to colleagues struggling with this balance?
What aspect of recent professional learning has challenged your previous assumptions about teaching or learning? How has this shift in perspective affected your approach to student empowerment?
GaETC, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Actually, I would switch the order of those two thoughts from Charles Dickens because many of the sessions, including the opening session, finally put my mind at ease with regards to students using AI in the classroom. If we teach students to use thinking routines with regards to AI, I think students will be able to navigate AI successfully and learn while doing so. Ayo Jones was instrumental with regards to my mindshift as she shared ideas about how to "amplify thinking resources to promote critical thinking" in the classroom. Our role as educators is to continue to promote thinking routines that will empower students to think and search for information. For example, we teach students to use the 5 W's - who-what-when-where-why to help them comprehend and synthesize their learning. Take those very same words and teach students how to use them when writing a prompt for AI. The thought of students using AI shifted from "It was the worst of times" to "It could be the best of times".
ReplyDeleteI was also excited about ways students can use AI to level the playing field, as well as, inspire student thinking. I loved the red light/yellow light/green light guide for students but I am concerned about how much we can really allow students to use. Is CCSS only a red light district? LoL
DeleteI agree, there was an abundant amount of sessions covering AI and the inclusion of their students. It seemed as if the students did well using some components of AI with teacher directives. I would love to see how that worked in my classroom. I wonder would it open up a new way of learning and not necessarily using it for "cheating purposes", but more as an assistant.
DeleteI'm glad several speakers talked about students using AI. Getting more information and ideas is helping me to shift my perspective and thinking on how teachers, and now students, could use AI. I also loved how Mrs. Dalman put it - AI can help to "level the playing field". This is a great way to reframe thinking from students using AI as "cheating".
DeleteThere was SO much for collaborative writing that many of us enjoyed, and plan to use with our students. I learned more about small group instruction, Canva, website design, Adobe Express, and of course, AI, through it all! One thing I intend to use at least once a week with my ESL students comes from Google Labs (which Leslie Fisher helped me to appreciate more): Say What You See. My students will collaboratively describe what they see with a goal of mimicking the picture through (teacher run) AI. I really think they will really enjoy this while improving their vocabulary. :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great lesson even for non ESL kids! I think mimicking the picture is a great way to help the students remember the vocabulary term - kinda like Charades. Will the students know that you are running AI?
ReplyDeleteYes, ma'am! I run it live in front of them using the words they give me, and then they get the anticipation! :)
DeleteMonelle, I also love the anticipation of watching Claude generate material for me. I love that your students see this in real time, it is like magic!
DeleteI enjoyed all of the sessions, and I learned so much!! It was AI infiltrated!! One lesson that I enjoyed was Empowering Educators by Harnessing the Power of AI with Magic School. I had never looked in the student platform to see what activities were available for them - only the teacher side. The instructor at Woodward Academy, Tammy Felton, said that students were allowed to use this AI (student), but she assigned them to their dashboards. I thought this was pretty cool, because I could see launching the student component was very effective. Assignments would be given, and the students would respond through their usage of AI to help them in class. It was very interesting to see it from the students' perspective!
ReplyDeleteI also learned that Magic School allowed teachers what they wanted to push our to students and really control what students were able to do with AI. I think this is a great feature and really lends Magic School to being a nice tool to use when introducing students to AI in the future.
DeleteSchoolAI is very similar and I saw it from the student perspective. I like how their student chat bot didn't directly give answers but prompted kids to think more by asking targeted questions. Definitely something that will be a good resource in the future!
DeleteDespite using AI tools daily, I'm constantly surprised by new ways to use them that make me think, "How did I not think of that before?" At GAETC, I picked up some clever prompting tricks like asking an AI to explain the Roman Empire to a dinosaur-obsessed 7-year-old, or just telling the chatbot to "hear me out before responding." These small changes can make a huge difference in getting better responses.
ReplyDeleteExploring AI image generation was something new and fascinating for me. I haven't played around with it a lot. Tony Vincent's session really opened my eyes. The environmental impact numbers he shared were startling. Each AI image uses about the same energy as fully charging your phone, generating 1,000 images equals driving 4.1 miles, and every single image needs a bottle's worth of water just to cool the data center. This changed how I think about using AI. Instead of generating multiple versions of something just because I can, I'm focusing on writing better prompts to get it right the first time. And even using AI to help me create better image prompts! It's about being smart with our AI use and getting the most value while keeping our environmental impact in mind.
I love this part. I didn't go to a lot of AI sessions but use AI frequently. I have never considered the environmental impact and definately see the need for targeted or better prompting.
DeleteThis is SO scary! When we drive around our area and see all the new warehouses being built for data facilities alone...added to what you've shared...aye, aye, aye. :(
DeleteI will definitely keep this in mind, moving forward.
While watching the evening news a few weeks ago, I learned that many communities do not want data centers in their area because of the environmental impact and cost which goes right along with the information you shared. This information will be important to share with students when they begin using AI.
DeleteI agree! I think I know how to use an AI tool or AI to it's fullest and someone else has a better idea! It is a constantly changing field for sure!
DeleteWow! AI is something I frequently use and think I know it well! I had no idea the environmental impacts or even considered what the impacts might be! This was an eye opener to me and makes me think more intentionally about how I use it!
DeleteMy first time at GAETC was a whirlwind of information! One session I enjoyed was all about getting students to think more critically using thinking routines from Project Zero, which was created by Harvard University. I have been trying over the past few weeks to get my students to just stop and think about the content they are learning through the questions I ask them, discussions we have in class, and activities and assignments that I create. I’m looking forward to including some of these thinking routines. In social studies, it is so important for students to understand that there are two sides to conflicts, wars, etc. in history and to be able to understand what each side's point of view is and how this led to disagreements or wars, amendments and other legislation, etc.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that! I will have to talk to you about that! Maybe I can incorporate it somehow through my ACE Projects OR quick small-groups... :)
DeleteProject Zero was one of my favorite parts this year! I have heard of it- but in that "Oh, I'll look later" kind of way. The sessions I saw with PZ have shown me little ways I can integrate thinking routines into the daily classroom without making a production out of it!! My favorite is the question "what makes you say so?"
DeleteGaETC is always AMAZING! This year I decided to dive deeper into some of the resources we already have. I went to a class about Kami and learned some simple tricks to help my students who rush. Have you ever thought about using the shape tool - filling in the square - and covering parts of an assignment? Teachers can do this in class view on individual assignments. Imagine using this for your students who speed through assignments. Maybe you uncover two paragraphs at a time and they answer questions, look at vocab, summarize, or annotate as they go. When they have checked in with you or you see they are ready to move on, you slide the shape down. I immediately thought of several students I could use this with. I also fell in love with NotebookLM. On the last day of GaETC, I copied my notes into a notebook and asked it to find ways to use the information with students with IEPs - just to see what it would come up with. The resulting information outlined several ways to use the resources. It's a great way to quickly sort through information! I will be learning more about it in the coming weeks.
ReplyDeleteThat is AMAZING! And should be a great time saver for you! :)
DeleteGaETC is one of my favorite weeks of the year! There are always so many resources or tips that I can bring back and use right away! There are resources that I use daily that I learned more about and immediately used in my classroom! Differentiation is always an area that I continue to try to learn more about in the virtual world. Learning new tips and tricks to making it easier in the special education setting is always sessions I try to attend throughout GaETC. This year I attended a Kami session that ended up being my biggest bring back from the conference! I immediately started using some of the new features in my classroom. This week I used a kami assignment for some of my younger grades and was able to insert a video with instructions and add color markers to the assignment to explain how to do each step. I was able to use the shape tool and take away items that I did not want them to see or complete. Another feature I have been playing with is the questions feature. I like how you can flag questions throughout the passages to allow students to answer questions as they go. This will be a great tool while working on reading comprehension skills with my students. I also like how the questions feature allows you to have the questions autograded and allows you to take away questions you do not like and customize the questions that are being ask. It has been great learning the new features in a resource I already loved!
ReplyDeleteI also saw that new question feature! Dr. Askew and I were experimenting with it yesterday. I was wondering if could change the DOK of the question. Have you tried that yet?
DeleteGAETC is always an overwhelming but amazing time! This year, I went to a couple of sessions on how to utilize podcasts. Adobe Podcast was one of them. The presenter suggested several examples on ways to use this tool. Her students had done debates, completed argumentative writing pieces, and used it to collaborate on projects. I was thinking about ways we could use it with our students during science and social studies units. Students might get in groups and each take an event, paragraph, or a step in a process and then put it together to create one podcast. Also, in Literature students could take parts of a drama or play to create a podcast. Can't wait to use this tool in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteI think having students create podcasts would be pretty amazing in science and social studies. I also have thought a lot about using podcasts to summarize the content for our students that need the extra review - or the information broken down a little more. It would be cool if they could listen to other students podcasts. We could also use NotebookLM to develop ones students can listen to.
DeleteI learned a lot about what Adobe could do.... and what we currently do not have access to in that program. I have reached out to the Central Office Technology department to ask about accessing the AI tools in this app. They are aware that we do not have it and are working with the company. I will share as I get more details!
ReplyDeleteMagicSchool has a "Character Chatbox" that can be pushed out to students that would work great for asynchronous ACE projects. Students can chat "directly" with historical figures to get "first hand" information. Would I be allowed to use this feature with my students? I think it would be very engaging and inspirational.
DeleteOne of the more interesting sessions was one presented by the Modern Classroom Project. In the session they discussed aligning your life to your values by understanding what brings you joy and purpose, fostering authentic relationships, and empowering students with a self-paced, mastery-based approach that includes flexible progress tracking, transparent goals, collaborative learning, and diverse pathways for demonstrating mastery. I loved the emphasis first on being your authentic self as a teacher and fostering strong relationships. They went on to show a self paced classroom model- where students have leveled assignment with teacher facilitation. This allows teachers to spend more time pulling small groups instruction and working on individual skills instead of the more traditional sit and get models. It is all about having the right materials and pacing. She explained that in her classroom she scheduled M-W as self-paced days where students would be reminded of where they should be in the work. This allowed her to help students who needed it and allowed students who could expand their thinking the freedom to do so without waiting on peer readiness. On Thursday there would be a mastery check and group discussion that would lead to Friday enrichment activity or remediation as needed. This model seems to foster intrinsic motivation and lends perfectly to differentiation on multiple levels. There is a free course on their website for those who want to learn more without paying for the coaching sessions!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the session about using Suno AI for creating songs. I am excited about it, though hesitant in that the actual "application" will have to be used by me. I think that part of the spark, magic, and creative excitement comes from entering your ideas into AI and then seeing it automatically take shape. With that in mind, I have gathered some thoughts about my plan to use what I have learned. I shared my thoughts with MagicSchool and here is what we came up with:
ReplyDeleteExploring AI in Education: Suno AI and Creative Writing
• Suno AI: A tool for AI-powered song creation
• Combines artificial intelligence with music composition
• Allows users to input lyrics and generate customized songs
• Potential for cross-curricular applications beyond music classes
Creative Writing Enhancement
• Transforms traditional writing assignments into engaging musical projects
• Students write lyrics or poems based on curriculum topics
• Encourages expression through diverse musical styles
• Promotes personalization by allowing students to choose their preferred genre
Implementation Challenges
• Website access: Currently blocked for student use
• Time management: Teacher must input songs on behalf of students
• Learning curve: Familiarizing with the Suno AI interface and capabilities
• Curriculum integration: Aligning song creation with learning objectives
Pilot Implementation Plan
1.Select one class for initial trial
2.Develop a lesson plan incorporating Suno AI
3.Prepare clear instructions for lyric/poem writing
4.Allocate time for teacher input of student work
5.Gather feedback from students and assess time investment
6.Evaluate effectiveness and consider broader implementation
Conclusion: Bridging Technology and Creativity
• Suno AI offers innovative approach to engage students
• Combines writing skills with musical expression
• Potential to make learning more relevant and enjoyable
• Requires careful planning and resource management
• Exciting opportunity to explore AI's role in education
Don't forget to use the teacher form to get 5, 000 song credits! I am hoping that Suno branches out with a safe educational site, so when students do get the approval to use AI-Suno will be one of the first I use with them.
DeleteWow, what did I learn? There was so much information and I am still processing it all! One of the first things I used from GAETC was Quizziz. I had some of idea of what Quizziz was a general idea of how to use it. Then at GAETC I attended a session. It gave me the push to use it. So far I have created ones for CVC words and S blends that I am going to use this week. I
ReplyDeleteI look forward to GaETC each year, but as many of you have stated, it's a lot to process! One of my favorite sessions taught a simple strategy that I tried out right away when we got back. Using a Google Doc (or Slide) and setting up a collaborative writing. There are ways to scaffold this and change it up, but I started with the basics. Each student had their own box in a table with their name already on it. They had to respond to the prompt IN THEIR BOX ONLY. When time was up, I turned off editing rights. Think of it as a digital ticket out the door. I was pleased. It was nice to see all responses on one page. It was nice to be able to see who struggled more in comparison to the others. With a little more training, I will use this in more ways!
ReplyDeleteI loved this, too! I can't wait to see how this works with ACE...giving it a try on my very next projects with all grade levels! :)
DeleteGaETC is a wealth of information and getting overwhelmed is the norm. One of the biggest things I learned is that I CAN present and show others some of the cool things that we use everyday. Some have never even heard of the program or what to do with it. One little "thank you, that was great-I learned a lot of new things" made it worth the stress.
ReplyDeleteI learned in some sessions that simple things make a big difference. I felt that Ayo Jones' session on Thinking Routines is not something so phenomenally new, but it takes a simple thing like a graphic organizer, use some of the same strategies we already use and BOOM--add something small to generate further questioning(and answers). One thing you must follow from her session is to take ONE routine and start with that. There are many to choose from-one I'm definitely am going to try is the "Headline Routine". Take a look!
https://www.noodlenook.net/visible-thinking-routines/