PowerBuddy For STUDENTS!

@LisaBerghoff

I have seen so many technology folks touting the time teachers will get back by using artificial intelligence tools. I'm not completely convinced that will be the case. I'm dating myself but I remember when email first came out and it seemed like we were going to have hours of our day back because we wouldn't be opening and reading letters any more. We all know how that's going. I do think AI can be used for efficiency and to help with automated tasks that are cumbersome and mind numbing. 

However, what I'm truly interested in is the power of AI to provide a more personalized experience in the classroom. One of my favorite Ted talks is from David Rose and it's called The Myth Of The Average. Check it out here. He talks about how in education we talk about "age appropriate" and "grade level" but those are really just constructs that are designed for the average learner. The catch is that there is no such thing as an average learner. We need to lean into the notion that personalized learning is necessary if we are really going to ensure that every student is able to make progress and thrive in our ever changing world.

It is this capability of AI that I am most curious about. How might we leverage the power of technology and artificial intelligence to give students a place where they can ask questions without being embarrassed, give them in the moment feedback, and practice utilizing critical thinking skills when presented with difficult text? 

What Is PowerBuddy?

PowerBuddy is an artificial intelligence tool that is built into Schoology. It is available for teachers to use for content creation and lesson design (see last week's post). Teachers also have the ability to turn it on for students on an assignment by assignment basis. Since PowerBuddy is in Schoology, there is no need to log in or go to an external site. There are no codes to enter or links to share. It already knows the student's name and what they are working on. In addition, PowerBuddy has access to the assignment and so the tool is geared for assisting students without the need for intricate prompting. There is also the ability to make the chatbot transcript available to students for future use. What a wonderful review tool. 

How Do I Use PowerBuddy?

As an administrator in your course, you have the ability to turn on PowerBuddy for your students. 

• When you create an assignment or a discussion question, you will see the little PowerBuddy icon in the "options" section. When it is gray, it is not turned on. Click it to toggle it on and you will see it turn into a blue color.
• You have 2 options: "Research Mode" Which provides direct explanations to students' questions about the topic, or "Socratic Mode" Which provides questions to guide and challenge students on the topic.
  
• You can also check the box to make the chat history accessible for students.

How Do My Students Use PowerBuddy?

Once you have enabled PowerBuddy for an assignment, the PowerBuddy icon will appear in the lower right hand corner of the students' screens. It's way at the bottom. All they need to do is click the icon to open the chat. PowerBuddy will take it from there!

Here is what it looks like:

I also tried it in Spanish. The assignment that I created was in Spanish and when I prompted PowerBuddy, it responded in Spanish.

Ready to give PowerBuddy a try? I will be so curious to hear what your students think. Remember, this is something new and trying it just once is not going to give you good data on its impact. Want someone to walk through it with you? I thought you'd never ask! Please feel free to reach out to me and I can help you get set up and also get your students up and running.

 

 Meet PowerBuddy!

PowerSchool's AI Assistant Built Into Schoology

Part 1

@LisaBerghoff

It is impossible to talk about technology these days without AI jumping into the conversation. It is at the same time exciting, concerning, and confusing. For me, I am energized by the possibilities that AI can potentially bring to both teachers and learners. While there are many, many, standalone AI tools, there are even more that are built into the tools we already use. The benefits of "less clicks" are already felt in classrooms. A few years ago, while talking with a group of juniors, they told me- "once you get past three clicks you've lost us". I think the same is true for most of us. While I admittedly have a higher tolerance for technology-related frustration than most, I have come to appreciate when a tool is right where I need it. 

That is why I am so excited to share PowerSchool's PowerBuddy, the AI assistant that lives within Schoology. PowerBuddy is an AI assistant for educators and also for students. Next week I will share a post focusing on the student interface but for now, let's see how PowerBuddy can help you will lesson planning.

What is PowerBuddy?

PowerBuddy is an AI assistant that can be accessed when creating assignments and discussion questions within Schoology. It is a content creator that lives right in the Schoology ecosystem.

You can use PowerBuddy to create assignments, questions, writing prompts, and more. Once PowerBuddy generates based on your prompt, you can add it to your materials page. Everything that PowerBuddy creates can be modified by you.

Why use PowerBuddy?

This can be a wonderful tool to help you craft assignments that are different than what you have been giving your students. Sometimes a fresh perspective can spark new ideas and using PowerBuddy can do that for you. If you are already using a generative AI tool, like ChatGPT, this can help you by saving a step since PowerBuddy is already in Schoology so there is no need to cut and paste. You can use this tool to generate content, which can save you time searching or creating by yourself. 

How do I use PowerBuddy?

1. When you are logged into Schoology, navigate to a course materials page and click Add Materials

2. Choose Add Assignment or Add Discussion

3. On the edit toolbar, you will see the PowerBuddy icon, click to use PowerBuddy

4. A new screen will appear that says Generate Content. Enter your prompt here. You can also click to view example prompts.

5. Enter the format/length, reading level, and language. 

6. Click Generate

Your new content will appear in the box on the right. You can click to edit on this screen or you can click Add To Editor and it will add the text to your assignment where you can edit and share with students.

Here is what it looks like:

Ready to give PowerBuddy a try?

Reach out if you want some help.

Stay tuned for next week's post where we will take a look at how PowerBuddy can interact with students. 

 2024 HP EdTech 

WRAPPED 

A Look At The Year In Review

@LisaBerghoff

Wow! 2024 is coming to an end and while I am someone who really enjoys looking ahead to the future, I also know that it is so important to see where we've been and reflect on how far we have come.  I am always trying to make sure that the work that I do has purpose and these metrics help me determine how effective my strategies are. Let's look at where we've been in terms of instructional technology, where we are headed, and what we need to keep our focus on. 

Where We've Been-

Thank you for tuning in! There were 15,700 views on this blog over the past 12 months. Last year the number was 13,000 so it is encouraging to me that the numbers are going up. Thank you for reading! The most popular post was the one called What's Different About Diffit. You can check it out here.  The most surprising piece of information that I can glean from the analytics provided relates to how many views there are over the summer. I know that you all are planning but it really pleases me to know that you are using these posts as a resource.  Also, try not to work too much over the summer please. 

Where We Are Headed-

You can't have a conversation about instructional technology without having AI pop in at some point. I'm interested in what this means for educators and how teaching and learning will change as a result. Here is what I have found in my research with regards to AI in schools.

Potential Benefits-

1. Ability to get personalized feedback to students very quickly

2. Ability to meet the varied needs of students more easily

3. Ability to automate some of the more mundane, time consuming tasks

Potential Concerns-

1. Who is doing the thinking when students use AI?

2. Will there be a culture shift around the stigma associated with AI use?

3. What is considered acceptable vs unacceptable use of AI in schools?

There will be so much learning, growing, discussing, and thinking about artificial intelligence and technology as it intersects with learning and I am looking forward to watching this story unfold for us as well as for our students. 

As is my tradition, here is the Google 2024 Year In Search Video. It's a wonderful reminder of what we looked for the most in 2024.

 

I'm looking forward to learning, growing, searching, and sharing with you in 2025.

Happy Holidays.

Lisa

Stay On Top Of Things

With Google Keep

@LisaBerghoff

It's the season of absurdly packed days, lightning paced activities, and overwhelmingly long to-do lists. When you are a high school educator with your eyes on a break for the holidays but also shepherding your students through end of the semester assessments, it can feel like these last two weeks are actually two months. I also worry during busy times like this that I am likely to drop the ball on something and that does not feel great. I have found that list making is a strategy that generally works well for me. Also, I LOVE sticky notes. They are perfect when the list is mine alone and I am looking to tackle all of the items in one or two days. 

The hard part is when my lists need to be shared or collaborative. Also, sometimes I need to make lists that need to withstand the test of time. I'm talking long long term projects. Or I need a note so I won't forget something and I will need that information days, weeks, or even months later.

That's when I jump to Google Keep.

What Is Google Keep?

Google Keep is a free note taking app. It allows you to capture notes in many formats, share with others, and access from a computer, phone, or tablet. It will sync across all devices making it the perfect solution for decluttering and organizing your thoughts, ideas, lists, and more. 

How To Access Google Keep:

Google keep can be found online by using the waffle menu in Chrome or going to keep.google.com. You can also install the Google Keep app on your mobile device. You will notice that Google Keep is integrated within the side panel you see when you are using Google apps. You can access it while in gmail, calendar, docs, sheets, and slides. This is handy because you may want to click and drag elements from whatever you're working on into a Google Keep note. Or conversely, you may want to use information from a note while working on a Google application.  If you are working in a Google doc and open a Google Keep note, the doc will automatically be linked to your note.

How To Use Google Keep

Just click the plus where it says Take A Note... and start typing. You can create a title which is then searchable. You will see a small toolbar at the bottom of your note. Hover over each icon to see what it does. There is also a three vertical dot "more" menu.

• The little bell icon is for setting reminders. You will get a notification based on the date and time that you enter.
• The person with a plus sign is the collaborator icon. Click here to add other people who will be able to read and edit your note.
• The paint palette allows you to customize your note. This may seem a little silly but once you have many notes, it's nice to be able to color code them or add header images.
• The image icon allows you to add images. You can use Canva to create colorful headers for your Google Keep notes. 
• The file icon is for archiving a note. This is a nice option when you want to get a note off  your dashboard but you are not ready to delete it completely.

Here is what is in the more menu:

The Google Keep mobile app has a few additional features, including the ability to take a voice note and a pen/drawing tool. 

Can Students Use Google Keep?

Yes! Students also have access to Google Keep and many of them don't know about it. This can be a wonderful option for groups who need to assign tasks for projects. Consider students creating shared lists with their case managers or counselors. Google Keep is a simple tool that has a lot of potential for those of us who need a list, or just a place to collect digital things like links, images, videos, and more.

What will you do with Google Keep?

Want help getting started? Reach out to me for more.

 

From Jamboard To FigJam

For Those Who Procrastinate!

@LisaBerghoff

Once upon a time Google announced that Jamboard would be sunsetting in December of 2024. Many were sad, some were panicked, and others decided that December of 2024 was a long way away. For those of us who delay, no judgement here, there are simple instructions to follow to bring your (now view-only) Jamboards into FigJam. The immediacy is here and the time is now. Let's do this!

*If you prefer a quick video tutorial, scroll down to the bottom of this post. I've got a one minute video that shows you how to do the import from Jamboard to FigJam. 

Even if you think you never used Jamboard, now is a good time to check.

Go to jamboard.google.com and take a look at what is in your account. All of your jams are now view-only and any work that is not exported before December 31st will be gone. While I am a fan of purging what you haven't used, at least go in there and take inventory of what you have. 

1. Log In To Figma.com

Figjam is owned by a company called Figma. Go ahead and log in or create an account using your school Google credentials at figma.com. 

There, you will see that FigJam is an interactive collaborative whiteboard tool. There are a bunch of great templates there but don't get distracted. You are here with a purpose. Import now, play around later.

2. Click Where It Says Create New And Select Import

It's in the upper right corner. When you click on the Create New button, a dropdown window opens and Import is listed there.

3. Select Add Jamboard Files

You also have the ability to import images and files from other collaborative tools like Lucid and Miro.

4. Click Connect Google Drive To FigJam 

I know, this is obvious, but it took us a whole year to bother to do it so I'm not taking any chances.

5. Select Your Files To Import

Want to take all of them? Hold down the shift key and select them all. 

When you select them, you will see the import progress. A purple pencil icon will indicate that each of your files has been imported. You can continue working while this is happening by opening a new tab. Leave the one that is working on the import alone. 

6. Move To Project

You have the ability to move those files into an existing "project". This is a good idea. It will take them out of the drafts folder and make them usable. It will also be easier to find them later.  Depending on how many files you have, this might take some time. I moved 19 files and it took several minutes. I began to panic because it seemed like it was taking so long.

Don't panic, just let it do its thing.

You Did It! 

Now you can finish out 2024 knowing that when Jamboard takes its last breath, you have your files safe and secure. If you're like me, this is also the time when we swear we aren't going to wait to the last minute in the future. 

But we probably will.

Like a quick video tutorial? Here is a 1 minute video showing you how to import your Jamboard files to FigJam. Enjoy!

Want some help using FigJam? Or do you need an emotional support human to help you move your files over? 

I'm here for you. Feel free to reach out.

Take Students Anywhere!

Talking Tours: Google Arts And Culture

@LisaBerghoff

Have you ever wished you could take students on a field trip somewhere wild, like the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland, Australia? Or maybe there is a famous landmark, cultural institution, or even an archeological site that you would love for your students to experience. Sure, we probably have some students who are fortunate enough to have traveled the world and seen some of these places, but for most of our students, these locations might as well be works of fiction.

So, it's not in the budget to fly our students all over the world for field trips, but you can give them a 360 bespoke experience with the newly featured Google Arts And Culture "experiment" called Talking Tours.

What Is Talking Tours?

Talking Tours was created by one of Google Arts & Culture Lab's artists in residence. Gael Hugo combines generative AI audio and street view on Google Arts & Culture. You select a location on the map or from the list. Explore the 360 street view and press the snapshot button to hear your AI guide give you insights into what you are seeing. At any time, you can click on the "ask a question" button which will generate three questions based on your Street View. You may also speak your own question and the AI guide will respond. A transcript of the interaction is also available. There are many options already loaded, with more sites are set to be added in the future. 

How Do I Use Talking Tours?

1. Navigate to Google Arts & Culture and click PLAY.

2. Click on TALKING TOURS and click LAUNCH EXPERIMENT.

3. Make sure your volume is turned on and click START.

4. Choose your category from the top and then click on a location. 

5. Once you are in your location, you can navigate around the area in 360 view. Click on the snapshot button to hear your AI guide give you information about what you are looking at.

6. Click the icon in the lower right to ask a question. Click on the Google link in the lower left to go to the website associated with the location.

Where Can We Go?

There are currently four main categories, with subcategories under each one. You can choose from the map, list view, or search for what you are looking for. 

• Cultural Institutions: Library, museum, theater (158 locations)
• Landmarks: Famous landmark, stadium (55 locations)
• Nature: Cave, desert, forest, garden, seaworld (67 locations)
• Archeology: Sites (45 locations)

Watch a 2 minute demo below. 

Here I am at the Art Institute of Chicago. Make sure your volume is on so you can hear the guide's commentary.

When Should I Use Talking Tours?

This is a wonderful resource for students who are doing research. The 360 degree images combined with the audio tour guide makes this tool interactive and interesting. Here is a list of other times when it would be appropriate to use Talking Tours.

• At the start of a lesson to give students some baseline background knowledge.
• As an enrichment tool to help keep students engaged in learning during a lesson.
• As part of a jigsaw activity. Talking Tours could be one of the tools used for students to acquire information to then teach to their peers.
• As a whole class activity. You could project to the class and have students give suggestions about where to go and what to ask. They can also help fact check the AI guide. 

Please remember: AI generated content can be incorrect, or give biased information. This is a wonderful opportunity to have students use an AI tool with a critical lens.

Where will you go first? I can't wait to hear.  Let me know if you want some help getting started. 

 

Let Them Show What They Know! 

Annotations Assignments In Schoology

@LisaBerghoff

We are nearing the end of the semester! It feels far away but it will be here soon. This is a very important time to be formatively assessing our students' learning in order to inform what the next few weeks will look like. Formative assessment, assessment in general really, can be exhausting when you have multiple sections and only a finite amount of time with them. This is where it becomes increasingly important to leverage technology to streamline things and make the workflow clear and simple for everyone.  This is also an opportune time to put accessibility at the forefront the goal should always be to remove barriers to learning, not to create barriers. 

What Are Annotations Assignments?

Annotation assignments in Schoology allow educators to provide any document type and have students annotate directly on their own copy of the document. Students can write, draw, and highlight.  The students have the ability to add a text box to type, add basic shapes, highlight parts of the document, or use the pen tool for drawing and writing using the touchscreen or trackpad. After they submit, educators are able to review the students' work, add their own notes or comments, even request that students resubmit. 

Once the assignment is created, all the students need to do is click START ASSIGNMENT. It will automatically open the document and the tools they need to complete the assignment. when they are finished, they just need to click SUBMIT.

Here is what it looks like as a student:

How Do I Create An Annotations Assignment In Schoology?

Step1: From your course materials page, click ADD MATERIALS

Step 2: Click ADD ASSIGNMENT

Step 3: Under format options, click ANNOTATIONS ASSIGMENT

Step 4: Upload a file from your device.

 (Docx,HTML,JPG,PDF,PNG,PPTX,RTF,TXT,XLS,XLSX,XML)

Step5: Finish adding the details to your assignment and click CREATE

What Does It Look Like When I Am Grading?

In the submissions area, when you click NEEDS GRADING, you will see the students' responses. You can enter a grade in the grade box that will go to the Schoology gradebook. You can also enter notes and comments and then submit or post. 

You AND your students have the ability to print or download submissions. You can also view revision notes if there are any. 

When Would I Use Annotations Assignments In Schoology?

There are many obvious applications for this tool. Here are a few that you may or many not have thought of.

• Filling in a map
• Completing or creating a diagram
• Highlighting and annotating a section of text
• Students reviewing and assessing exemplars
• Permission slips or other forms that need to be signed

Since these annotations assignments are all housed within Schoology, students won't lose track of them and neither will you. The immersive reader that is housed within Schoology will be available to your students to use on anything that you have in the instructions. 

Have you used Annotations Assignments in Schoology?

I would love to hear your other uses!