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We began by exploring whether we're just using generative AI because it's the shiny new thing. We quickly agreed that Gen AI is definitely a massive time saver. But how much time did we each have to invest in learning, setting up, and tweaking generative AI tools to start seeing significant time savings? We discovered that the time ranged from less than 15 minutes to many, many hours, depending on how you approach the technology.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork 

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously was Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches in the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained, and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education and is skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE-certified educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning, technology, and Project-Based Learning.

Errol St.Clair Smith is an Emmy Award-winning correspondent who has written for the Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Reason Magazine, Edutopia and ISTE. He is currently the executive producer at BAM Education Radio Network (BRN) and the BLINDSIDED by AI docuseries premiering in June 2024.

This week, we discuss the need and practical challenges of tracking and assessing student assignments when generative AI is an approved tool. What reliable strategies can we use to see and evaluate students’ processes without increasing our workload?

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources: ChatGPT | AI LABS | School AI

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously was Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches in the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained, and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education and is skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE-certified educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning, technology, and Project-Based Learning.

This week, we talk about an AI tool that enables teachers to create custom chatbots for specific units, provide real-time insights into student progress, level reading material, assist with IEP goals, and create interactive “choose your own adventure” activities. It’s called a “walled garden” for their students, meaning all data and interactions stay within a secure AI environment. The AI tool is FERPA and COPA-compliant, ensuring student data privacy. The educators agree that while AI can greatly assist in lesson planning, it allows teachers to focus more on direct student interaction and support.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources: ChatGPT | AI LABS | School AI

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously was Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches in the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained, and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education and is skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE-certified educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning, technology, and Project-Based Learning.

The number of new artificial intelligence tools available to educators is expanding faster than most of us can follow. This generative AI wave is introducing technologies into the classroom with many unknowns and limited vetting. This week, we explore how we can assess students’ experiences with GAI tools to identify what works. We explored models for making these assessments and uncovered a potential missing link.

Resources Mentioned: Common Sense Media | ISTE | MagicSchool | ChatGPT | Bard| FERPA | COPPA | SAMR | Triple E | TPACK

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously held the position of Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches on the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, MSc in TESOL, MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education. Skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE Certified Educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.

We start the new year by reflecting on our experiences with generative artificial intelligence in 2023 and the lessons we learned. We close by sharing our most useful discoveries and how we plan to use them in the year ahead.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources: ChatGPT  | AI LABS |

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously held the position of Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches on the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, MSc in TESOL, MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education. Skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE Certified Educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.

This week, we dove into AI image generators and how they can be used to engage students in higher-order thinking.  We explored and shared the results of testing and comparing several  AI image tools with real students in real classrooms.  We also exchanged in-class projects and activities that were assigned to students, noting what worked and what we learned from what didn't. We close with a list of 10 creative ways AI  image generators can be used in teaching and learning.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources: ChatGPT  | AI LABS |DALL.E3 |Freepik| Canva |Craiyon | Picsart| Midjourney | Padlet | NightMare AI | Porsche  Transformer |

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously held the position of Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches on the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, MSc in TESOL, MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education. Skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE Certified Educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.