Giant Ed Tech
This is the instructional technology blog for HPHS Staff.Tech Tool Tuesday posts can be found here every Tuesday.
Monday, February 24, 2025
Monday, February 17, 2025
Unbiased News Doesn't Exist
@LisaBerghoff
When I was a student, I can remember taking classes that had a recurring current events assignment. We were instructed to find a news article and summarize it at regular intervals. At times, those current events would be shared with the class. The purpose of the assignment was to help us understand the importance of awareness of current events, as well as reading comprehension and making connections. The news came from the newspaper. There was no social media. Nor was there the ability to comment on everything that is put out into the world in a very public way. Today, the way we get our news is very different and we often seem to exist in an echo chamber with the way news feeds and algorithms are filtered to give us more of what we already agree with.
Monday, February 10, 2025
AI:
Which Is Best?
- All generative AI tools come with a disclaimer that their responses may be inaccurate.
- All generative AI tools will require finessing of prompts and iteration to get to a place where you are consistently getting helpful responses.
- All generative AI tools' FREE versions will use your data to help train their models. Free may not cost you money but you will always pay in some way.
Here are the three most important things for educators to know about artificial intelligence:
1. AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement
AI can enhance teaching and learning, but it won’t replace educators. It’s a powerful tool to:
- Personalize instruction (adaptive learning tools)
- Save time with tasks like grading or generating resources
- Support student writing, research, and creativity
Educators remain essential for building relationships, guiding students, and fostering critical thinking and ethical use of AI.
2. Ethics, Equity, and Accuracy Matter
AI can be biased, produce inaccurate information, or exclude certain groups. It's important for educators to:
- Teach students to verify and fact-check AI-generated content.
- Promote equitable access to AI tools.
- Discuss the ethical use of AI, including privacy, bias, and intellectual property.
3. AI Literacy is Key
Educators should develop a basic understanding of how AI works to effectively integrate it into their classrooms. This includes:
- Knowing how to use AI tools for productivity (e.g., generating lesson plans, differentiating instruction).
- Helping students become responsible AI users and creators.
- Staying updated on how AI is evolving and how it affects education and society.
Would you like this framed more specifically for teachers, counselors, or administrators? 😊
Here are 3 important things for educators to know about artificial intelligence:
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AI is rapidly changing education. AI-powered tools can personalize learning, automate tasks, and provide data-driven insights. Educators need to understand how these tools work and how to use them effectively to improve student outcomes.
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AI raises ethical concerns. Bias in AI algorithms can perpetuate inequalities. Educators must be aware of these risks and advocate for the responsible development and use of AI in education.
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AI requires new skills. Students need to develop skills in areas like data literacy, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making to thrive in an AI-driven world. Educators need to adapt their teaching to prepare students for this future.
I think the key takeaway here is to be aware. There are many tools out there and you should be experimenting with multiple tools instead of just using one. Also, an awareness that they are not all the same is helpful when you are choosing which tool to use for various tasks.
Want to talk more about AI?
Come and chat with me!
Monday, February 3, 2025
Emoji Kitchen
There's An Emoji For That!
@LisaBerghoff
It's February. The days are still short, the weather is still unpredictable at best. We are tired. Our students are tired. All around us life feels serious. In an effort to counter balance the weight I feel around me, I like to find a little something that doesn't take much effort but will consistently yield a moment of happy. Often, these are found in obscure corners of the internet. My current go-to has been Google's Emoji Kitchen.
What Is Emoji Kitchen?
Emoji Kitchen is part of Google's dev lab and it allows you to create over 14,000 creative stickers by mixing emojis. You can also search for emojis to remix.
How To Use Emoji Kitchen.
Go to emojikitchen.dev to start searching or search Emoji Kitchen and click where it says "Get Cooking".
From there, choose 2 emojis and click "combine" to get your emoji mashup.
Monday, January 27, 2025
NEW!
Polls And Quiz Questions In Canva
Monday, January 20, 2025
The Magic Of MagicSchoolAI
For STUDENTS!
@LisaBerghoff
Saturday, January 11, 2025
PowerBuddy For 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.
I also tried it in Spanish. The assignment that I created was in Spanish and when I prompted PowerBuddy, it responded in Spanish.