ChatEDU: AI in Education

Darron Vigliotti, a middle school principal and former high school science teacher, shares insights on balancing technology in classrooms. He discusses the benefits of tech-free spaces, which enhance student engagement and attention. Darron also addresses distractions in 1:1 Chromebook settings and offers strategies for using traditional journals to foster deeper learning. The conversation explores the SAMR model for effective tech integration and the evolving role of AI in education, alongside his experiences with innovative tools like NotebookLM.

In this conversation, Abbe Waldron, a staff member at EdAdvance known for her engaging workshops on AI tools, joins to discuss the evolving landscape of educational technology. They dive into popular AI tools like Magic School AI, which provides tailored prompts, and School AI, designed for interactive learning experiences. The group also examines an intriguing study highlighting ChatGPT's role in easing student cognitive load while sparking conversations about critical thinking. It's a blend of humor, insight, and practical applications for today's classrooms.

In this live episode of ChatEDU (Live Comp Sci - AI in Computer Science Education), Matt and Liz dive into the future of computer science education in an age dominated by AI, The episode was recorded in front of a live audience with the Connecticut Computer Science Teachers Association and features discussions on AI's impact on teaching and learning in computer science, insights from a new Teach AI and CSTA report, and live Q&A with educators. Getting Started:Matt and Liz kick off the episode by thanking the Connecticut Computer Science Teachers Association team for hosting their first live recording. They joke about the large crowd and share their excitement about the evening's discussions on AI in education.Matt introduced Google’s Notebook LM, a tool that transforms PDFs into engaging NPR-style interviews. Matt uploaded the evening’s feature story on AI and CS which became a short podcast. He joked that they could now retire (which Liz objected to streneously).  Beneath the Surface: AI is Changing Computer Science Education:Matt and Liz explore the shifting landscape of computer science education, including the controversial idea that coding may become obsolete as AI advances. They discuss the Teach AI and CSTA report, "Guidance on the Future of Computer Science Education in an Age of AI," which outlines how computer science teaching must adapt to new AI technologies in the following briefs:  Whether kids still need to learn to code. How AI can support teachers in teaching and feedback. How to teach students to be ethical, critical consumers of AI. The Importance of "Code Sense":The episode unpacks the Teach AI report's emphasis on "code sense"—the foundational understanding of programming that remains crucial despite AI’s capabilities. They discuss the need for students to learn coding to understand, debug, and critically assess AI-generated outputs. Live Audience Q&A: AI and Ethical Use:The audience engages with the topic of ethics in AI education, including the role of middle school educators in teaching students to use AI responsibly. Liz highlights the importance of starting these conversations early to help students develop critical thinking skills around technology. AI in Assessment:Discussion on Code.org’s AI Teaching Assistant, designed to support computer science teachers with real-time feedback and assessment. Teachers share their experiences and the potential benefits of integrating AI into the classroom. Short Stack Chat Back:Matt and Liz end the episode with their "Short Stack Chat Back," featuring an imagined response from Alan Turing on the importance of learning to code, emphasizing that students must be creators, not just consumers, of intelligent systems. Announcements:Matt and Liz announce upcoming live ChatEDU sessions with other organizations and tease future episodes focusing on AI in various educational settings. They invite listeners to join the conversation by emailing their thoughts and questions at chatedu@edadvance.org  Related Links: Teach AI and CSTA Report on the Future of Computer Science Education.https://www.teachai.org/cs  Google’s Notebook LM: https://research.google.com/notebook-lm/  Code.org AI Teaching Assistant: https://code.org/ai  Netflix Documentary "Coded Bias" https://www.netflix.com/title/81328723  Contact Us:Have questions or comments? Email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org. Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to ChatEDU on your favorite podcast platform!

The discussion starts with alarming insights from a Surgeon General report on parental stress in modern society. They delve into exciting advancements like Google's new AI tools to enhance education and the results of a Harvard study showing dramatic learning gains with AI tutors. The show tackles the intriguing challenges of detecting AI-generated content and addresses the ethical implications surrounding these technologies. Finally, they mix humor with a thoughtful perspective on global warming, promoting kindness and community engagement throughout.

Matt and Liz dive into the fascinating collaboration between AI and humans in creative problem-solving, revealing insights from a Harvard study. They discuss the intriguing results of AI as an assignment evaluator, where students expressed a mix of approval and concerns about AI grading. The conversation shifts to a London private school's groundbreaking 'teacherless' AI classroom, highlighting its challenges. Tune in for a fun demo of AI-generated sound effects and to explore how technology can reshape education!

Matt and Liz dive into the need for holistic AI training in schools, moving beyond just teacher learning. They discuss the innovative capabilities of Ideogram 2.0, revealing its impact on educational imagery. Insights into generative AI highlight its benefits for students with executive functioning challenges. The conversation also sheds light on transformative investments like Yale's $150 million in AI, showcasing how this technology can innovate projects and streamline educational processes. Emphasizing systemic approaches is key for future advancements.

Jonathan Costa, Executive Director of EdAdvance, shares his insights on the dynamic role of AI in education. He advocates for reducing curriculum content to focus on 'durable' skills that withstand automation. Costa emphasizes the importance of adapting assessments to align with future success and encourages educators to embrace AI as a tool for innovation. He also reflects on how AI enhances personal pursuits like fitness and golf. This thought-provoking conversation is a call to rethink education for a rapidly changing world.

In this episode of ChatEDU (Simulated Minds - Using AI to Deepen Research Insights), Matt and Liz explore the use of AI in social science research, focusing on a study from NYU and Stanford about using large language models to simulate research participants. First in our Intro: Matt and Liz discuss a trend of women using AI to fact-check men's height claims on dating apps. They then explore contrasting organizational approaches to AI adoption: AI Bans in Organizations: Matt shares an anecdote about a friend's workplace banning all access to generative AI, while Liz discusses similar bans in various organizations. Moderna's AI Adoption: Liz highlights Moderna's extensive use of custom GPTs across their organization, with 750 custom GPTs created and 40% of users actively using them weekly. Then in the News: Grok2 Image Generation Tool: Matt introduces Elon Musk's new AI model, Grok2 which lacks typical content filters. They discuss its potential misuse in school settings and the challenges it presents for educators and parents. Student Attitudes Toward AI in Education: Liz shares findings from a global AI student survey by the Digital Education Council, revealing that many students believe overuse of AI in teaching devalues education and negatively impacts academic performance. Beneath the Surface: Matt and Liz examine a research paper on using large language models to predict results of social science experiments: Discussion of the study's methodology using AI to simulate research participants based on demographic profiles Exploration of potential applications in cost-effective pilot studies and augmenting traditional research methods Demonstration of the approach using Liz's doctoral dissertation on student self-efficacy in high school mathematics Simulation of a research participant named Amber and comparison of AI-generated responses to actual research data Short Stack Chat Back: A simulated Charles Darwin summarizes this week’s Beneath the Surface in three short sentences. Have a question or comment? Please email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org  Related Links: Digital Education Council Global AI Student Survey: https://www.digitaleducationcouncil.com/post/digital-education-council-global-ai-student-survey-2024  NYU and Stanford Research Paper: https://docsend.com/view/ity6yf2dansesucf#  EdAdvance AI Resources: skills21.org/AI  Grok2 Image Woes: https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/14/24220173/xai-grok-image-generator-misinformation-offensive-imges 

Matt and Liz dive into the intriguing world of AI in education, beginning with highlights from the Olympics. They explore groundbreaking achievements, like DeepMind's success in the Math Olympiad, and discuss the implications of AI tools like STORM from Stanford. This tool promises to revolutionize research skills, raising questions about efficiency versus the value of learning through struggle. They also tackle the ethical dilemmas surrounding AI-assisted college essays and the necessity for critical evaluation of AI-generated content.

In this special summer episode of ChatEDU (Crash Course - Building Your AI Professional Learning Plan), Matt and Liz explore strategies for developing effective AI professional learning plans for educators. Intro Matt welcomes Liz back and then quizzes her with a paragraph full of “AI tell words” to see how many she can identify.  Liz puts Matt in the “hotseat”, as she inquires about how he approaches AI professional learning for back-to-school and beyond. They discuss a range of issues including: Foundation and Baseline Understanding Matt unpacks his approach to establishing a baseline understanding of AI for educators Covers the "great everything making machine" concept and demonstrates AI capabilities Addresses how teachers have responded to AI in the past year Differentiated Learning Approaches Elementary school focus: Productivity tools and building AI literacy foundations Middle and high school: Durable and vulnerable assessments, potential student-facing AI pilots Advanced users: Exploring Leon Furze’s AI assessment scale Academic Integrity and Guidelines Importance of consistent, district-wide guidelines for AI use Implementing guidelines: Human steps and procedures for addressing potential misuse Engaging Professional Learning Techniques Matt shares his approach to making AI professional learning engaging and relevant Emphasizes the importance of humanity, humor, and vulnerability in presentations Ongoing Professional Learning Strategies Connecting AI to district priorities and ongoing initiatives Suggestions for embedding AI learning into regular school activities (faculty meetings, lunch and learns) Importance of continuous learning due to rapidly evolving AI landscape Special Populations and AI Brief discussion on AI tools for students with special needs and multilingual learners Mention of translation tools and their ease of use Skills21.org/prompts - Prompt library Skills21.org/AI - AI resources page AI student scenarios document Professional learning survey (Google Form) AI policy/guideline examples AI literacy resources for K-12 Have a question or comment? Please email Matt and Liz at chatedu@edadvance.org UDIO.com - AI music generation tool Suno.ai - Another AI music tool mentioned Skills21.org/ai - Destination for Matt’s AI tools, resources and contact for PL support