In this episode of ChatEDU (Tool Time - Our Fall AI Tool Review), Matt and Liz welcome special guest Abbe Waldron to explore the landscape of AI tools in education. They discuss what's working, what's challenging, and what might be coming next.
Getting Started:
Matt humorously arrives late to the podcast recording, leading to a playful exchange about using ChatGPT to role-play difficult conversations.
In the News:
Study finds ChatGPT eases students’ cognitive load, but at the expense of critical thinking
Recent research comparing Google vs. ChatGPT for student research tasks
Students using ChatGPT reported lower cognitive load
Google users produced more detailed and thorough arguments
Discussion of three types of cognitive load:
Extraneous (filtering unnecessary information)
Intrinsic (complexity of material)
Germane (mental effort for processing information)
Beneath the Surface: Popular AI Tools in Education
Special guest Abbe Waldron shares insights on trending educational AI tools:
Magic School AI:
Offers pre-designed prompts for teachers
Suite of tools for various educational tasks
Designed with teacher feedback in mind
School AI:
Features "Spaces" for student conversations with historical figures
Provides tutorials for standardized tests
Offers accessibility features like voice input
DiffIt:
Quickly creates differentiated materials
Allows adjustment by grade level
Generates supplementary exercises and resources
Key Discussion Points:
Teacher adoption varies widely
Most use seen in high school, some in middle school
Free features available despite paywalls
Discussion of teacher guilt around AI use
Need for critical thinking when using AI outputs
The state of “student-facing” AI
Looking Ahead:
Abbe shares her vision for future AI tools including integration with published academic content
Short Stack Chat Back:
Dr. Spock offers a logical perspective on the cognitive load study, emphasizing the need to balance technological assistance with maintaining necessary cognitive challenges for learning.
Have a question or comment? Please email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org
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