1700+ educators from around the world joined the Back to School AI Webinar 2024 last week.
It was a privilege to host the event and explore how artificial intelligence is transforming teaching practices around the world. I brought together five presenters who are outstanding educators and leading the charge in AI-driven education:
- Sabba Quidwai, the CEO of Designing Schools from California
- Jason Gulya, an English professor at Berkeley College from New Jersey
- Aileen Wallace, a high school teacher from Scotland
- Eric Curts, an edtech specialist from Ohio
- Matthew Wemyss, a school leader from Romania
The presenters demonstrated unique ways AI tools are being used to address educational challenges.
Enhancing Collaboration
Sabba Quidwai began with an insightful presentation on using ChatGPT and Canva for collaborative idea generation. She emphasized the importance of balancing human creativity with AI assistance. Sabba explained that, “It is really important when looking at AI to be intentional about the role of the human that is involved.” She illustrated how teachers can make classroom conversations visible using Canva’s whiteboard feature. This can allow for more dynamic and interactive brainstorming sessions.
Sabba showcased a Canva whiteboard where educators brainstormed ideas for using AI. She demonstrated how ChatGPT can sort these ideas by topic. “The AI sorted, but one of the big themes you’ll notice is that the human is the ultimate decision-maker,” explained Sabba. This approach ensures that the final decisions remain human-driven.
Creating Engaging Learning Games
Jason Gulya shared his innovative use of ChatGPT and the AI tool Perplexity to develop interactive learning games. In his work, Jason faces the challenge of creating effective icebreakers and engaging activities.
Jason generated creative game ideas with ChatGPT, like “Visual Essays,” where students showcase their understanding through creative projects. He demonstrated how Perplexity can be used to research and validate these ideas, ensuring they are both feasible and educationally sound. “The real magic happens when we can take the idea and turn it into impact for something that we’re able to do right away,” Jason explained. His method highlights how AI can save time while enhancing the quality of educational activities.
Engaging Quiet Students
Aileen Wallace shared the AI learning platform Curipod. She uses it to engage quieter students in her classroom. Aileen emphasized the platform’s ability to create a safe and inclusive environment where student can feel empowered to participate. “When students log into Curipod, their names do not appear on the screen,” Aileen explained. This feature encourages her students to contribute without the fear of judgment.
Aileen highlighted the platform’s moderation and voting features. She explained that these features can build student confidence and promote collaborative learning. Aileen shared that, “Students have said that they enjoy voting on others’ ideas because they can see that someone else thinks the same as them.” This peer validation can boost participation and cultivate a sense of community.
Streamlining Teaching
Eric Curts presented on the Chrome extension Brisk Teaching. Brisk serves as an AI assistant for educators. Brisk Teaching offers functionalities such as creating content, providing feedback, inspecting writing, changing reading levels, and boosting activities. Eric demonstrated how the tool can generate quizzes, lesson plans and presentations directly from web content, significantly streamlining the resource creation process.
He emphasized the tool’s capability to differentiate instructions. “Brisk Teaching’s ability to relevel texts and provide personalized feedback makes it an invaluable asset for supporting diverse learning needs,” Eric explained. It can automate administrative tasks and tailor educational materials to individual students. Eric showed us that Brisk Teaching can empower educators to focus more on teaching and less on preparation.
Resource Planning
Matthew Wemyss shared his strategies for using AI in resource planning and professional development. He used ChatGPT and Office 365’s Copilot to demonstrate how AI can swiftly generate lesson plans and group work strategies. “I’ve started to use AI as a way to get ideas and bring them into the classroom,” he explained.
Matthew emphasized the practicality of AI in supporting educators under time constraints. “Using AI tools allows me to adapt swiftly to classroom needs, ensuring that my teaching remains dynamic and responsive,” he stated. His approach underscores AI’s potential to enhance teaching efficiency and effectiveness in fast-paced educational environments.
Data Privacy and Accessibility
During audience Q&A we discussed concerns about student data privacy and accessibility. We covered the importance of selecting AI tools that comply with privacy regulations. Jason highlighted the importance of educating students about safe AI usage and data privacy practices.
Hosting the Back to School AI Webinar 2024 was a profound reminder of the incredible potential AI holds for education. Educators can create more engaging, inclusive and efficient classrooms. The presenters provided practical strategies that teachers can implement immediately to enhance their teaching practices and better support their students.
As AI continues to evolve, the collaborative efforts of educators, supported by comprehensive resources and vibrant communities, will be essential in shaping the future of education.
Together, we are paving the way for a more innovative future in education.
