MAKING IT EASIER TO BE A BETTER TEACHER

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Here’s our weekly roundup of interesting education stories from around the world. Click each link to learn more:

• Check out how this music teacher gets more than half the school to sign up for his band.

• AI is not just for better lesson plans - here’s how it can best help students with disabilities.

• The teacher who quit - and finally found happiness.

TECH TALK

My Students Don’t Know What to Trust

In today’s digital age, students are bombarded with information from countless sources. From Instagram Reels to online articles, it can be overwhelming to decide what’s credible and what’s not. 

Teaching students how to evaluate the reliability of information is an essential skill for critical thinking and lifelong learning.

The Solution: Scite.ai

Scite.ai is a tool designed to help students and teachers evaluate the credibility of research and information they find. 

Its standout feature, “Smart Citations,” allows users to see how a particular article or study has been cited by others—whether it’s been supported, disputed, or mentioned in passing. 

This context empowers students to better understand the reliability and impact of a source.

Scite.ai simplifies the process of identifying credible information by providing:

• Citation Contexts: Shows whether an article has been supported or challenged in subsequent research.

• Search by Claim: Lets users search for articles based on specific claims or topics, making it easier to find evidence-based information.

• Quick Summaries: Automatically generates summaries of articles, helping users grasp the main points without reading the full text.

By introducing students to Scite.ai, teachers can bridge the gap between critical evaluation and efficient research - especially in our upper secondary grades.

How About YOUR Classroom?

Teaching students to critically evaluate information is one of the most important skills in modern education. Scite.ai may be able to help drive this home:

Strategies:

• Evidence-Based Research Projects
  Assign students a research topic and have them use Scite.ai to find sources. Encourage them to evaluate how each source has been cited and whether its claims have been supported or refuted. 

• Debunking Fake News
  Challenge students to investigate viral claims by finding and analyzing the research behind them. The “search by claim” feature helps guide students toward evidence-based conclusions.

• Professional Development for Teachers
  Teachers can use Scite.ai to stay updated on the latest educational research (outside of The PEN Weekly of course 😉), ensuring teachers have credible sources at their fingertips.

The tool starts with a free trial and afterwards will cost up to $20/month, with significant discounts for yearly plans instead.

In a world where more students seem to be learning from ‘TikTok University’, Scite.ai empowers both students and educators to make informed decisions and develop critical thinking skills. 

BRAINY BITS

Should we be trained on AI?

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping industries, but can it help us teachers grow?

This week, we explore a 2024 study on using AI in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for educators.

The Study: Towards an AI Framework for Teacher Training

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 25 recent studies to assess how AI tools can enhance teacher training. The focus? Personalization, confidence-building, and AI literacy.

Key approaches included:

• Simulation-Based Training: Hands-on practice with AI tools in classroom scenarios.

• Adaptive Platforms: Personalized learning pathways tailored to individual teacher needs.

• Big Data Analytics: Insights to guide teacher development and learning outcomes.

The goal was to evaluate how AI could improve teacher preparedness for tech-driven classrooms while addressing challenges like anxiety and ethical considerations.

The Results:

When AI was included in CPD, teachers showed promising benefits to a significant degree:

• Confidence Boost: Teachers trained with AI tools felt more prepared and less anxious about integrating technology into their classrooms.

• Skill Growth: Adaptive systems tailored learning to specific needs, enhancing both AI literacy and teaching practices.

• Holistic Support: Effective CPD frameworks required continuous training, ethical standards, and collaborative infrastructure.

In Your Classroom:

We already know that AI could be a game-changer for teacher development—but studies like this show that it’s not a plug-and-play solution. Here’s what we can take away for teachers who want to be prepared for the classroom of tomorrow:

Strategies

• Adaptable Training: Seek out professional development programs that leverage AI for personalized learning experiences.

• Collaboration is Key: Advocate for district/school-wide AI training to ensure shared knowledge and resources.

• Prepare for the Future: Build your confidence by experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance lessons and streamline workflows.

AI in teacher training isn’t about replacing human connections—it’s about enhancing them.

By embracing these tools thoughtfully, educators can better navigate the challenges of modern classrooms while improving outcomes for students.

REFERENCES

Tech Talk:

scite LLC (2024). AI for Research. Retrieved from https://scite.ai/

Brainy Bits:

Fakhar, H., Lamrabet, M., Echantoufi, N., khattabi, K.E., & Ajana, L. (2024). Towards a New Artificial Intelligence-based Framework for Teachers’ Online Continuous Professional Development Programs: Systematic Review. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications.