TCAPSLoop Podcast TCAPSLoop

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. This episode dives into the world of AI prompts with guest Pete Milne, REMC Director! We explore best practices for crafting effective prompts, ensuring responsible AI use, and leveraging Pete's expertise to elevate your ed-tech game. Buckle up and get ready to unlock the appropriate use of AI in your practice!
Moment of Zen:
“The power to question is the basis of all human progress.” – Indira Gandhi
 
The Rundown:
Crafting Powerful Prompts: Pete shares key tips for creating clear, concise, and effective prompts that guide AI tools towards your desired outcome.
Reliable Sources & Verification: Learn the importance of including reputable sources in your prompts and double-checking information for accuracy.
Responsible AI Use: We discuss crucial considerations like avoiding PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and verifying sources to ensure ethical and responsible AI integration.
Practice Makes Perfect: Pete emphasizes the importance of practice when crafting prompts. Explore scenarios like those offered by Common Sense Education (https://www.commonsense.org/education/collections/ai-literacy-lessons-for-grades-6-12)) to hone your skills.
AI as Your Partner: AI is best used as an assistant or thought partner, not a replacement for our expertise.
Tech Tool of the Week
REMC 2Central
REMC Association of Michigan
REMC SAVE
Control Alt Achieve: Super Prompt - An AI Prompt to Create AI Prompts
The Prepare Framework – AI Pioneers
Doc for Getting Started with Prompts
Enhancing Efficiency & Effectiveness While Providing Accommodations for All - April (asynchronous)
Sketchnoting - April 17th (noon - 3:30)
PSTL in a Box - May (asynchronous)
 
Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram
Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!
 
Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden
Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden
 
Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Danelle's leveled up after her successful quest through MACUL 2024 and will guide us into the exciting realm of Developmentally Appropriate AI in Education. We know our youngest learners must develop the necessary critical thinking skills to navigate a landscape where AI will be ubiquitous. So, gear-up, fellow ed-tech explorers, as we embark on a journey through bytes, and building blocks.
Moment of Zen:
There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic. - Anais Nin
 
The Rundown:
Thoughts on Access vs. Exposure in regards to AI in schools
Generative AI has potential benefits for education and risks that must be thoughtfully managed.
 
Early Elementary - Bite sized digital citizenship, scaffolding to big ideas
AI is not a human
“Peek under the hood” to see how these things work
Critical Thinking 
AI hallucinations
AI created images

Slow down and self reflect AND Seek facts and evidence (5 core dispositions of digital citizenship)
Not directly on AI systems - under 13
 
Later Elementary
Problem solvers, if we aren’t careful, they will learn to rely on this kind of tech rather than solving their own problems
Ask ChatGPT questions, but the teacher is always in the drivers seat.
Spend a LOT of time thinking critically about the answers
Not directly on AI systems - under 13
 
Middle School 
CAUTION! “Over 13? Let’s get them on AI!” Developmentally what do we know about middle school brains?  They lack impulse control. Set guardrails and limits. 
Exercises in which students ask a generative AI chatbot to answer a question or write an essay and then critique it—looking for factual errors, etc.
“It should be used as a tool to complement and challenge the critical-thinking skills that come online at this age,” 
 
High School
High school students are fast becoming sophisticated users of programs like ChatGPT.
Teachers may feel their main duty at this stage is to police students and make sure they’re not using ChatGPT, Photomath, and similar technologies to do their assignments. But experts say that educators have a more important role to play: primarily, to teach students the limitations of the technology. The text and images created by generative AI programs, for example, can be plagued with biases, stereotypes, and inaccuracies.
“Exercise your natural suspicions. Doubt the machine. Don’t take answers at face value”
AI is an important component of their education, but it still needs boundaries and guidance. 
AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6–12 | Common Sense Education
 
Tech Tool of the Week
AI Literacy Lessons for Grades 6–12 | Common Sense Education
 
Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy. 
 
Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram
Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!
 
Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden
Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden
 
Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful, From the Desk of the Director, episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Evan O’branovic is already back up for a second helping at the Edtech Buffett. In todays episode, we'll talk trends and tips to leverage technology for enhancing student engagement, streamlining administrative tasks, and fostering a collaborative learning environment while attempting to avoid rambling incoherently for 20 minutes.
Moment of Zen:

“We shape clay into a pot, but it’s the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want - Tao Te Ching

 
The Rundown:
What's the difference between an Learning Management System (LMS) and a Classroom Management System (CMS)?
What questions are you asking when looking at these solutions?
What outcomes are you hoping for? How are you planning to measure success?
What’s next?
 

Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram
Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!
 
Hosts: Evan Obranovic, Larry Burden
Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden
 
Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another "Potentially Useful" episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. We are excited to be joined by Amber Wade, Wayne RESA’s Assistive Technology Consultant to follow up on our NETP conversations concerning Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Accessibility and provide some potentially useful tips for educators attempting to implement UDL in their practice.
Moment of Zen:
“Let’s stop ‘tolerating’ or ‘accepting’ difference, as if we’re so much better for not being different in the first place. Instead, let’s celebrate difference, because in this world it takes a lot of guts to be different.”― Kate Bornstein
 
The Rundown:
Key Goals of the Podcast:
Increase understanding of UDL
Increase depth of understanding around accessibility
Offer practical tips for educators regarding UDL/Accessibility
 
Audience for the Podcast:
K-12 educators
Administrators
 
General Accessibility Questions:
For educators unfamiliar with accessibility, what's the simplest way to explain its importance in education?
What are some common accessibility barriers educators might be overlooking?
Are there free or low-cost resources educators can use to make their classrooms more accessible?
 
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Questions:
Can you explain the core principles of UDL in a way that educators can easily understand?
How can UDL benefit all learners, not just those with disabilities?
What practical strategies can educators use to implement UDL in their classrooms?
How can UDL be used to promote a more inclusive and equitable learning environment?
 
Implementation and Challenge Questions:
What are some of the biggest challenges educators face when implementing UDL?
What advice would you give educators who are just starting to explore UDL?
Looking towards the future, what are your predictions for the role of accessibility and UDL in education?
 
Tech Tool of the Week
Alt+Shift: Every Learner Has Special Needs. Learners do not need to be “ready” to be included.  Programs need to be ready to support all learners.
Digital Promise Edtech Pilot Framework: The Edtech Pilot Framework provides a step-by-step process to help education leaders and technology developers run successful educational technology (edtech) pilots.
 
Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy. 
Thanks for listening and inspiring!
 
Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram
Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!
 
Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden
Special Guest: Amber Wade
Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden
 
Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful, From the Desk of the Director, episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. It’s part 3 of our NETP series so strap in as we uncover the gap between those with tech access and those without, and explore how it shapes learning. We'll dive into impacts and share possible solutions to bridge this divide.
Moment of Zen:
“We are greater than, and greater for, the sum of us.” – Heather McGhee
 
The Rundown:
Follow along by downloading the National EdTech Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design, and Use Divides
 
Some Key Points:
Digital Infrastructure and Devices (inside and outside of school)Availability
Affordability
Adoption (this is where we see edtech working with families on digcit)

Note that this section also includes info on making sure your data is accurate about the haves and have-nots.
AccessibilityAccessibility
Assistive Technology
Accessible Educational Materials (AEM)

Digital Health, Safety, and Citizenship (Focus on both in school AND OUT)Digital Health - mindful tech use, setting digital boundaries, healthy sleep routines
Digital Safety - Privacy, Cybersecurity, Cyberbullying, Online Harassment
Digital Citizenship - responsible online behavior, digital footprint, copyright, algorithmic literacy (love that phrase)

Cultural Responsiveness and Educator Support and Training are also a part of this!
All while keeping in mind a lens of equity and potential unintended consequences.
NETP Recommendations for Closing the Access Divide  

Develop a “Portrait of a Learning Environment” to set expectations around habits and abilities no matter what the space. (States, District) 
Establish and maintain a cabinet-level edtech director to ensure the wise and effective spending of edtech funds. (States, Districts) 
Conduct regular needs assessments to ensure technology properly supports learning. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Develop model processes and guidelines for device refresh policies based on local funding structures. (States, Districts) 
Leverage state purchasing power or regional buying consortia when purchasing edtech hardware, software, and services. (States, Districts) 
Develop learning technology plans in consultation with a broad group of stakeholders and according to established review cycles. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Leverage public/private partnerships and community collaboration to bring broadband internet access to previously under-connected areas and ensure student access to “everywhere, all-the-time learning.” (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Develop processes and structures that ensure the inclusion of accessibility as a component of procurement processes. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Plan for and incorporate skills and expectations across all grade levels and subject areas for Digital Health, Safety, and Citizenship, and Media Literacy. (States, Districts, BuildingLevel Administrators)

 
Tech Tool of the Week
Professional Learning on the go. You likely know this if you are a listener of ours… podcasts are a great place to get digestible chunks of professional development. 
One of my recent favorites is: 
AEM Center: The Accessible Learning Experience Podcast
 
Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy. 
Thanks for listening and inspiring!
 
Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram
Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!
 
Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden, Evan Obranovic
Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden
 
Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.

Greetings and Welcome to another Potentially Useful episode of the TCAPSLoop Podcast. Today, we embark on an ambitious mission to bridge the Digital Design Divide. Part 2 of our NETP series aims to dismantle barriers and explore the implications and envisioning a future where every educator, regardless of circumstance, has equitable access to the tools and resources they need to embody this weeks TCAPS Loop Moment of Zen:
Moment of Zen:
The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious. - Marcus Aurelius
 
The Rundown:
Follow along by downloading the National EdTech Plan (NETP): A Call to Action for Closing the Digital Access, Design, and Use Divides
 
Some Key Points:
What is the Digital Design Divide and why is Danelle the solution?
Importance of the Profile of an Educator as well as connecting it to the Portrait of a Graduate
Incorporate the Design Process: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Deliver, and Test
NETP Recommendations for Closing the Design Divide 
Develop a “Portrait of an Educator” outlining the cognitive, personal, and interpersonal competencies educators should have to design learning experiences that help students develop the skills and attributes outlined in the profile of a graduate. (States, Districts) 
Design and sustain systems that support ongoing learning for new and veteran teachers and administrators, providing them with the time and space needed to design learning opportunities aligned with the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Framework. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Implement feedback mechanisms that empower educators to become leaders and codesigners of professional learning experiences. (Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Provide educators and administrators with professional learning that supports the development of digital literacy skills so that they can model these skills for students and the broader school community. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Develop processes for evaluating the potential effectiveness of digital tools before purchase, including the use of research and evidence. (State, District, Building-Level Administrators) 
Foster an inclusive technology ecosystem that solicits input from diverse stakeholders to collaborate on decision-making for technology purchases, learning space design, and curriculum planning. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Support and facilitate a systemic culture that builds trust and empowers educators to enhance and grow their professional practice to meet the needs of each student. (States, Districts, Building-Level Administrators) 
Regularly solicit educator feedback and evaluate professional learning efforts to ensure alignment with the Portrait of an Educator. (District, Building-Level Administrators)
 
Tech Tool of the Week
Professional Learning on the go. You likely know this if you are a listener of ours… podcasts are a great place to get digestible chunks of professional development. 
One of my recent favorites is: 
AEM Center: The Accessible Learning Experience Podcast
 
Rate, Review and Subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcast, Podbean, Castbox, Overcast, Bullhorn, or wherever else you get your ear candy. 
Thanks for listening and inspiring!
 
Please rate and review the podcast on your app of choice and leave us a comment on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram
Thank you so much for listening and inspiring!
 
Hosts: Danelle Brostrom, Larry Burden
Um and Ramble Editing: Larry Burden
 
Cover art created with help from Adobe Firefly.