EdutrAIl – Thoughts on AI in Education

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Let’s continue to have open conversations, sharing and questions about AI infiltrating our educational environments. AI has opened doors for learning and teaching that we did not even know existed.

My title using the word “edutrAIl” contains a huge amount of significance – education, which is near and dear to me and my professional station, trail which envisions a journey into the new experiences and the AI being the centre of this post.

No matter what resources, tools or experiences that either I have had access to or created myself, ethical uses and efficient means have been part of the screening and choosing of which of these should be used and why. Purpose, relevancy to the curriculum and a safe, engaging learning opportunity should be part of these screening questions. Not just because it is the newest product making waves throughout the educational environment. Let’s think about value, easy of use, privacy, terms of use and reliability.

The ethics of those “edutools” that are found within classroom walls, devices and portables need to be part of this conversation/screening. And it’s much bigger than educators ‘choosing’ to use it.

1. The UNESCO Guidelines on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence provide a framework of ethical principles that should guide the development, deployment, and use of AI technologies.
2. The guidelines highlight the potential benefits and risks of AI, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that AI systems align with human values and promote human dignity.
3. The guidelines also emphasize the need for transparency, accountability, and international cooperation to address the ethical challenges posed by AI.

Educators can follow these guidelines via incorporating cross-curricular Digital Citizenship activities not just with a lens of looking at Artificial Intelligence but all edtech tools and resources. While OpenAI systems are rapidly changing the society we live in, it is important to create conversations and delve into research and resources and question their impact on daily life, local communities, the nation and beyond. One must hold vendors, organizations and the like in high regard as to how they are developing and using AI to enable learners and educators to do things in more efficient ways, to ask even more critical questions, or to get responses and research that were out of reach beforehand.

Staying informed of AI developments in education, continued improvement of teaching practices will allow teachers to showcase the productive sides of AI while also keeping a critical eye on policies, regulatory measures and even ethical considerations. Ensuring that learners are shown how to question AI content that is presented to them or even created by them in order to understand this great digital world that is ever-changing at an unprecedented pace.

Take a few moments to peruse these posts about what some of the larger edtech companies are saying about AI in their own situations.

• Why AI – Google
• Putting Principles into Practice – Microsoft
• What is Artificial Intelligence? – IBM
• AI/ML Education Community Forum – Apple
• AI in the Classroom – Pros and Cons – Forbes
• ChatGPT and Beyond: How to Handle AI in Schools – Common Sense Education

Follow my blog as I delve into actual tools and resources using AI for educators, administrators and in general.

What are your initial thoughts in regards to AI? What are you noticing about all the AI announcements and products and services?

 

#oneword2023 – NURTURE

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It’s great to have a word in mind to focus on for the new year! At the beginning of the calendar year, I like to find a new WORD that will inspire me for the rest of the year and connect to my current teacher growth plan. It can also influence or be influenced by my personal life.

Past onewords for me have been:

• 2022 – REIMAGINE
• 2021 – RECONNECT
• 2020 – BALANCE
• 2019 – MAKE
• 2017 – SPARK
• 2016 – CREATIVE

Over the past few days I have had two words bounding about in my thoughts – nourish and nurture. Could it be all the interesting winter foods that I have been surrounded with that have influenced my thinking? Unsure but I did talk it out a lot before deciding which one of these words I’d hang on the 2023 year.

NURTURE

Nurture means to care for and support the development of someone or something. As mentioned above, a #oneword can be applied to many different areas of life, such as personal relationships, career goals, and personal growth. I’m looking to nurture something (or anything??) in the new year (I know this is sooooo broad but that’s where my thoughts are at the moment). I do need to remember that progress often happens gradually, so I’ll need to be patient (sometimes hard for me to do) and keep working towards my goals. 

Here are a few tips for nurturing goals:

1. Make a plan: Break your goals down into smaller, more achievable steps. Having a clear plan can help you stay focused and motivated.
   • For work, I have several projects on the go and I try to timeline these out so that I have a plan to work with. Plus, weekly check-ins with my Director keep me focused.
   • For my health, I have 10 week phases of weight training and 2 week photo check-ups set up. This allows me to adjust in bi-monthly increments. I also like to meal plan one week at a time (makes it easier to grocery shop and keep track of macros).
2. Set deadlines: Having a timeline can help you stay on track and ensure that you make progress towards your goals.
3. Seek support: Surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you. This can include friends, family, or a mentor.
   • This is important. You can be your own cheerleader but having both in-person and online family and friends allow you to “check in” and be inspired too! 
4. Stay motivated: It’s normal for motivation to ebb and flow, but it’s important to keep pushing forward. Try to stay positive and focus on the progress you’re making, no matter how small.
   • Sometimes I need more meditation time or a motivational Spotify playlist, just depends on my mood. I also take time daily in the afternoon to add a photo and a few things I am grateful for in my Gratitude Journal app.
5. Stay flexible: It’s okay if things don’t go exactly as planned. Be open to making adjustments and trying new approaches if necessary.
   • I am lucky to work in such a collaborative work environment that when I share my projects, they become better through discussions.
6. Celebrate your successes: Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments along the way. This can help keep you motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment.
   • Mini-celebrations are key – an extra moment outside in fresh air, a great cup of tea, a text to family members, new workout gear….whatever it is, let the celebration make you smile both inside and outside!

Share your #oneword2023!

 

Thinking Routines for Science – Synectics

This PD series will showcase ONE Thinking Routine per session based on Harvard Education’s Project Zero work on Visible Thinking. These routines are simple structures, for example a set of questions or a short sequence of steps. What makes them routines is that they get used over and over again in the classroom so that they become part of the fabric of classroom’ culture.

The routines were designed by PZ researchers to become one of the regular ways students go about the process of learning. Routines are patterns of action that can be integrated and used in a variety of contexts. Teachers might even use more than one routine in teaching a single lesson. Routines don’t take time away from anything else educators are doing; instead, they enhance learning in the classroom.

Specific Science examples will be shared during this event. The link to the Synectics Handout that is referenced and shared in the above video is https://bit.ly/THINKSynectics.

 

#oneword2022 REIMAGINE

Every year at the beginning of January, I take time to reflect on my professional life. In education, teachers create a growth plan in September and revisit it throughout the year. Six year ago, my Twitter PLN also introduced me to the #oneword concept and I really liked the idea of rechecking my focus with one single word.

As 2022 commences and the world is still in chaos due to the pandemic, I find that it took me longer to decide on this specific word. I looked at other colleagues and Twitter pals #oneword2022, I reviewed some of the books and ideas that had been percolating during the first half of this school year and I came up with REIMAGINE. As a prefix, re-, as displayed in the dictionary can mean once more, afresh, anew. I look at the ongoing educational work to structure the learning environment for student success, the ever challenging professional development and collective efforts to continue effective learning as my way into REIMAGINING a better way to teach, to lead, to learn while being smart about our supports, and our health and growth.

With this REIMAGINING comes some questions of what is the research saying? what ways can I get into the classroom to support teachers? (while my own government is not supporting the educational cause).

 

FOODS: Gingerbread House Design Challenge

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As part of Christmas traditions, many families build gingerbread houses.  Have you ever built a gingerbread house from scratch? From a kit?  Have you ever felt pride from building something from conceptual design to the actual finished product? What about the pride of altering a design and adding your own “personal touches” to a project?

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment. Also a great small group project with early years or even Grade 3 (Alberta) Science Structures unit.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Now, for more in-depth information from a Teacher standpoint, please check out the Google Doc that has the overview.

Gingerbread House Design Challenge TEACHER

And there is a Rubric as well if you would like to associate an assessment with this particular Challenge.

Gingerbread House Design Challenge Rubric

If you have judges or peers also as part of this challenge, use the Gingerbread House Evaluation Rubric.

As well the teacher slide deck is available HERE.

Finally, if you would like to show off your students artwork, cc me on Twitter @nlakusta or in the comments section. Enjoy all the unique and scrumptious designs! 🏘️

 

CSEdWeek 2021 Resources

Computer Science Education Week falls in December. This a great time to have students involved in some interesting coding activities both unplugged and plugged. Check out the video tutorial below:

Once you’ve watched this video, get into the actual resources found HERE.

You do not need to be an expert coder to have students experience these resources. Get them to persevere and show YOU what they have learned and done in a particular coding session.

 

STEAM: Make a Tiny Home Challenge

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Can you invent a tiny home that is practical?

Take the Maker Challenge set by designer-maker Ellie Birkhead and try five different activities along the way to get your creativity flowing and help you build up to designing an ingenious invention.

This Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet…you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment.

The introductory video below is what would you would show to students (or have them view it themselves) first.

Now, for more in-depth information from a Teacher standpoint, please check out the Google Doc that has the overview.

Make a Tiny Home Challenge TEACHER

And there is a Rubric as well if you would like to associate an assessment with this particular Challenge.

Make a Tiny Home Challenge Rubric

Although the next few documents are directly linked into the TEACHER item, here they are:

Make a Tiny Home Interior Decor Design Board Planning – STUDENT

Make a Tiny Home Project Components – STUDENT

Make a Tiny Home Floor Plan Graph Paper – STUDENT

And the Activities mentioned in the TEACHER document are:

Ellie Birkhead Maker Challenge – all Activities

Finally, if you would like to show off your students Tiny Homes, cc me on Twitter or in the comments section. Enjoy all the fantastic architectural designs! 🏘️

 

STEAM: Car Design Challenge

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It’s time to get those engineering and creative juices flowing! This Car Design Challenge has been designed using Alberta’s Career and Technology Foundations template and was originally made for grades 7-9 virtual learning students. Yet….you can use this with grades 5-9 easily in the classroom environment. Check out the introductory video that explains the challenge (this is what you would show students to get them excited about the Challenge). Then check out both the Teacher lesson/activities that can be posted in an online LMS (like Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams) and finally there is a Rubric.

Here is the Teacher Overview GDoc which has all the explanations that can be easily copied into your LMS for students to access.

Car Design Challenge TEACHER

And then here is the Rubric if you would like to have some kind of assessment associated with this Challenge.

Car Design Challenge Rubric

Finally, if you want to show off your students Car Designs on Twitter @nlakusta or in the comments section, please do! Have fun creating 😁!

 

Remote Learning: French

Resources for French Immersion and French as a Second Language.

GENERAL

• ACPI:  https://www.acpi.ca/ressources

• AlloProf: http://www.alloprof.qc.ca/

• CASLT:  https://www.caslt.org/en/pedagogical-resources/resources/caslt-resources and https://www.caslt.org/en/pedagogical-resources/resources/other-resources

• The Consortium Provincial Francophone has been given the mandate to commence supporting French immersion teachers as well as the ongoing support of the Francophone ones.  Watch https://app.cyberimpact.com/newsletter-view-online?ct=Wswa936BowoQa6E-CidvxfFa0lIvRVKx1te4HQl6M1Ug2tbA22u4YoJzDjBjnogF56jaJPU1F6dmGUGbR7lAsQ~~ for regular updates and new sessions.  They also have a great Moodle resource page which is divided into grade levels – https://moodle.frab.ca/course/index.php?categoryid=27 .

• CouCou: https://www.lepointdufle.net/

• L’Ecole Ouverte: Provenant du gouvernement de Québec et créée pour la crise de Covid pour les ressources en ligne https://ecoleouverte.ca/fr/?

• FNCSF:  https://fncsf.ca/notre-reseau/liens-utiles/

• The French Experiment – Free French lessons for elementary

• French Immersion home activities: Grande Erie webpage with lots of great ideas for French Immersion students to do at home. Organized by week and by day.

• FSL 4-6 GSite – created by ERLC region, provides resources, lesson ideas and links.

• Idello: La référence canadienne de contenus en français https://www.idello.org/fr

• Infos-Jeunes: https://www.infos-jeunes.com/

• Jeux et exercices en ligne: https://www.jeuxmaths.fr

• L’immersion en Alberta – un programme vivant GSite, created by ERLC region for K-12 French Immersion teachers, filled with many resources.

• Le Point du FLE: https://www.lepointdufle.net/

LITERACY

• Actualites: https://www.1jour1actu.com/ , http://www.tv5monde.com/

• Aquila K-12 French read-aloud books – LOGIN, Username: aquilafrench Password: Mike845! Scroll down and click the VIEW button beside the book you want to read

• Boukili: Application et site web, jeux et lecture https://app.boukili.ca/

• Chanter avec Mini: https://chanteravecmini.tfo.org/

• Edmonton Catholic School Division remote learning resources for French Language Arts: https://sites.google.com/ecsd.net/flaecsdonline/home

• FNAC – Amateurs de lecture, venez découvrir la sélection d’ebooks gratuits en français de la Fnac ! Disponibles aux formats epub ou pdf, vous trouverez des romans, de la fantasy, des polars, des classiques et mêmes des exclusivités

• FrancoLab: http://francolab.ca/

• FrancoLab Junior: http://francolabjunior.ca/

• Guide de mise en œuvre pour l’étude du roman – grades 4-9

• Je lis, je lis, litteratie: online levelled reading program designed especially for Canadian French Immersion students. Free until June 30, 2020. To create a Teacher Account: https://jelis-free.rkpublishing.com/create-account

• Lecture: Fou de Lire, Airtable, Bibiliotheque des Ameriques, ShortEdition

• Lire Avec Bidule: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/lire-avec-bidule/id564966979

• Radio Canada: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/

• Tele-Quebec TV – videos – https://www.telequebec.tv/jeunesse-famille/

NUMERACY

• Banque de problèmes récréatifs et d’outils mathématiques: http://www.recreomath.qc.ca/banque_prob.htm

• Bonjour de France: http://www.bonjourdefrance.com/liste-des-numeros.html

• Contenu varié (Fr) : https://www.maths-et-tiques.fr

• Énigmes : https://www.semainedesmaths.ulaval.ca/enseignants-du-secondaire/enigmes

• NetMath: https://www.netmath.ca/fr-ab/

• Problèmes ouverts : https://www.openmiddle.com/fr/accueil

• Wonderville: STEAM activities in French

 

Remote Learning: K-12 Music

A number of music organizations are showcasing a variety of music styles for K-12 students to experience and appreciate:

• Berliner Philharmoniker – There are over 600 orchestral concerts in the Digital Concert Hall (must register by March 30 to access). Bonus videos from behind the scenes: documentaries on the history of the orchestra, portraits of conductors and orchestra members.

• Chrome Music Lab – play with music through a variety of experiments.

• Daily Motion – Watch Broadway Musicals online for FREE.

• Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids – site gives students a great introduction to music history, the opportunity to hear and learn about the instruments of the orchestra, and tips on how to practice.

• Drawing to Music lesson – 30-60 minutes, elementary-based

• Edmonton Catholic Remote Learning Resources (Art and Drama): https://sites.google.com/ecsd.net/artanddrama/home

• Edmonton Catholic Remote Learning Resources (Music): https://sites.google.com/ecsd.net/lsi-remote-learning/home/music

• Incredibox – create your own hip-hop music, record it. Use the web version.

• K-12 Music Resources – GSite

• Metropolitan Opera – offering nightly open streams of performances.

• Music Teachers – student projects, music technology links, quizzes, resources and information for all music teachers interested in using technology to enhance music instruction.

• Seattle Symphony will continue sharing performances that provide strength, comfort and joy. The musicians of the Seattle Symphony have generously volunteered to share free broadcasts with everyone.

• SmartMusic – web-based music education platform. Teachers have access to a library of music from which to create individualized assignments for every student. Free until June 30.

• Songmaker – create your own music, basic.

• The New York Philharmonic KidZone – packed with super funny games and activities, information about composers, performers, and instruments, and ideas for composition projects.

• TrueFire Studios Extends Free Music Education Program to K–12 (guitar lessons)

• Youtube Playlists – Musicians such as Diplo are bringing the concerts to you. In this Jam With Me playlist, you’ll have access to some of this week’s popular livestreams. Canada Together Playlist presented by TD.