The Repurposing Revolution is Here

What to expect this week:

5 min read

• ClassPoint - the ultimate quiz (re)master

• Save me Turing Teacher, SAVE ME!

• Come sit with the cool kids, join our community!

Tech Talk

If your goal is to save prep time without sacrificing quality, then have we got a tech tool for you!

This is the year teachers take back AI, right? If saving time and maximizing quality is what you thrive on, then ClassPoint is worth a serious look. As always, Tech Talk is not sponsored in any way shape or form by the tech covered - but my gosh we cannot stop talking about ClassPoint! 

ClassPoint is the PowerPoint companion that's revolutionizing classroom engagement. If you've ever struggled with creating interactive quizzes or engaging multiple-choice tests, ClassPoint's AI-powered features may be just what you need to add some minutes back to your prep time.

ClassPoint seamlessly integrates with PowerPoint to transform your static slides into dynamic quizzes, complete with interactive question styles like multiple choice, short answer, slide drawing, and word clouds. This not only saves you time but also enhances student learning by promoting higher-order thinking skills. Here’s what you need to know about this week’s tool:

• The real magic of ClassPoint lies in its AI quiz generator, which analyzes your slides and generates questions based on Bloom's Taxonomy levels. Whether you need questions focused on remembering facts or creating new ideas, ClassPoint can tailor them to your lesson's learning goals. 🧠

• Another standout feature is ClassPoint's support for multiple languages, ensuring that language barriers don't hinder your students' learning experiences. This inclusive approach makes ClassPoint a valuable tool for diverse classrooms. 🌍

As for pricing, ClassPoint offers a free version for up to 25 students, with a maximum of 5 questions per slide. The Pro version, priced at just under $100 USD/year, offers more extensive features, including support for up to 200 students, 500 AI quiz questions, and unlimited questions per slide. Additionally, the Pro version includes advanced gamification elements and comprehensive student reports, making it a worthwhile investment for teachers looking to enhance their teaching materials and save time on assessment design.

Overall, ClassPoint empowers teachers to create engaging and effective assessments effortlessly. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting out, ClassPoint can revolutionize your classroom activities and enhance student engagement. Let's embrace AI in education and make learning more interactive and enjoyable for everyone!

Brainy Bits

Using AI technology tools to give you that extra edge

In this week's Brainy Bits, we're diving into how AI can help teachers save time and boost quality in their lessons without the hassle. 🚀 As education undergoes a digital transformation, we're flooded with edTech promises, but not all deliver. This newsletter aims to be your guide in navigating the tools and research that truly enhance teaching and learning experiences.

Pelaez, A. et al. (2022) shed light on identifying core attributes for AI tools that benefit the K-12 space, using solid research principles to gauge their impact on teachers, parents, and students. They aimed to define a 'Turing Teacher,' a concept from Alan Turing's test to distinguish between real and simulated teaching materials. The researchers focused on psychology, education, business, and technology, recognizing these as key areas of operation for K-12 teachers. They emphasized the need for AI tools to adapt easily to individual students' needs and learning styles, recognizing the uniqueness of each learner.

Although conducted before the release of ChatGPT 3.5, the study remains relevant due to the significant shift to online learning prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With most classes moving online, teachers, students, and parents were exposed to new learning technologies, highlighting the importance of adaptable AI tools. The study utilized a small private school on Long Island, New York, where surveys were deployed to gather insights from students, parents, and teachers, supplemented by additional research.

From the perspective of teachers, a successful 'Turing Teacher' must balance technological tools like Natural Language Processing and facial recognition with human interaction. It should involve real or simulated teachers in situations where AI falls short, mirroring the guidance sought by new or student teachers from more experienced colleagues when faced with challenges beyond their capabilities.

Parents and students echoed similar sentiments, with additional concerns about stress, lack of technology knowledge, and negative perceptions of remote and AI-based learning environments. This highlights the importance of a caring approach from the AI tool, coupled with ease of operation from a technological standpoint, to alleviate stress and ensure effectiveness.

The study concludes that any AI education tool cannot be considered a 'Turing Teacher' and is not worth the investment unless it excels in three categories:

• Adaptation to Environment: Helping students adapt to the learning environment, promoting self-efficacy in both students and teachers.

• Oversight and Support: Enabling oversight functions for teachers and parents, identifying and addressing issues like falling behind in material and executive functioning challenges.

• Group Collaboration: Assisting students in group settings and projects, assessing collaboration methods, and providing support or alerts for improvement.

Papers like this serve as a reminder that not all tech tools with AI are worth the investment. Look for tools that focus on repurposing existing materials rather than creating new ones, as these are usually safer bets and aim to save time without requiring extensive learning of new technologies. AI is meant to enhance, not replace, the teacher, and finding tools that work harmoniously with existing practices is key to leveraging its full potential in education. Keep exploring, innovating, and making a difference in your classrooms! 🍎✨

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References

This week’s issue adapts information from the following sources:

ClassPoint. (2024).Get Started with ClassPoint. Retrieved from https://classpoint.io/get-started

Pelaez, P.m Jacobson, A., Trias, K, Winston, E. (2022). The Turing teacher: identifying core attributes for AI learning in K-12. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/frai.2022.1031450