After an enriching Day of AI and Week of AI, I’m excited to provide you with a comprehensive recap of essential information, valuable resources, and practical materials designed to support AI integration in your district, school, or classroom.
- Week of AI: Adventurers from all corners of the globe gathered in a quest to share their AI knowledge. Watch the recorded sessions from the Week of AI to "Level Up Your AI Knowledge!"
- Day of AI: This curriculum was developed by a team of researchers at MIT RAISE and is designed to be taught by educators like you, even those with little to no technology background.
Field Announcements
- Canva announced that their revolutionary AI tools got an upgrade.
- Google launched LearnLM, a suite of tools that infuse learning into every Google surface including Search, Youtube, and Android. They also integrated generative AI directly into the Google search engine results, which has caused quite some controversy: Google’s AI Overview Appears To Produce Misleading Answers.
- Khan Academy: Thanks to Microsoft, Khanmigo is now free for educators!
- Microsoft announced Copilot + PCs! These PCs have built-in AI that includes a recall feature, which turns your PC into a photographic memory. You can also co-create with AI-powered image creation and editing, built directly into Windows.
- OpenAI released their latest version: GPT - 4o. Highlights include real-time translation, interaction with audio and images, and a realistic/natural voice chat, which has caused quite some controversy. Scarlett Johansson says she was 'shocked, angered' when she heard OpenAI's voice that sounded like her.
Spotlight 🔦
Student Voice: In case you missed it, check out Week of AI's Student Town Hall! Listen to the voices of our future – students aged 8 to 18 - from across the country (including three of my eight-year-olds)! They'll discuss AI's impact on education, explore its transformative potential in classrooms, and navigate ethical challenges
Watch edWeb's AI in Education: Steering Towards Equity and Empowerment where we addressed the pressing challenge of identifying and mitigating biases that may be embedded in AI algorithms and how education leaders can help ensure that digital learning solutions serve to support equitable educational outcomes. We also shared strategies for demystifying AI for teaching staff, alleviating apprehension, and championing the adoption of these tools as a means to augment—not replace—their instructional impact.
In Part 1 of this 2-part series, Tech & Learning, in partnership with PowerSchool, brings together school district experts to share advice about how they have successfully implemented AI guidelines and best practices, as well as communicate the facts and myths about how the right AI tools can be used to support teaching and learning.
In case you missed it, check out the Week of AI's Leadership Panel for insights on how you can integrate AI into your school/district.
Looking for fresh ideas? Check out this list of 12 must-read books for teachers, featuring my book and many other inspiring reads! Thank you Monica Burns for including me in your summer reading list!
Speaking and Customized PD 🗓️
I'm now booking summer engagements and have some availability! If you're interested in having me work with your administration or teachers, please reach out. Here are some of the topics I've been booked for recently:
- Breaking Bias: Addressing AI bias and discrimination
- Debugging Creativity and Imagination: The intersection of AI and creative writing.
- Empowering Leaders to Adapt to the AI-Driven Future: Exploring the role of AI in education, its applications in administrative tasks, and methods for evaluating AI use in teacher observations.
- The Future of Teaching, Learning, and Assessments: Adapting to a world with AI in education.
- ...and much more!
Feel free to contact me to discuss how I can support your team!
Catch me if you can 🗓️
- 6/4 - Enhance Your Lessons and Lift Student Voice Through Podcasting - Learn how integrating WeVideo's podcasting tools into the elementary school curriculum fostered motivated learners, empowered students to share their voices, and equipped them with valuable technology and real-world communication skills.
- 6/13 @ 1 pm EST - PART 2: Implementing an AI Roadmap Framework: Preparing Staff & Students - The rapid growth of AI in schools has caused both excitement and concern from school district communities. In Part 2 of this 2-part series, Tech & Learning, in partnership with PowerSchool, brings together school district experts to share advice about how they trained their staff to be comfortable with the integration of AI tools, as well as support students with using the AI tools that can help with their success.
-
6/24 -6/26: ISTE Live - 2024!
- 6/24 - The Generative Age: An AI Symposium
- 6/24 - Debugging Creativity and Imagination
- 6/26 - Empowering Leaders: Promoting Academic Integrity and Adapting to the AI-Driven Future
- 6/26 - Breaking Bias: AI/Media Literacy in The Generative Age
- ...and more!
- 8/1 (8:30-1:00) - NYSCATE's Integrating AI for Success: Transforming Education Through AI - Featured speakers include Ken Shelton, Holly Clark, and more!
Catch up on recent episodes:
- Student-Facing AI in the (Elementary) Classroom with Holly Clark
- AI Bias and Discrimination with Ken Shelton
-
In the Field:
- Bias and Discrimination
- Debugging Creativity and Imagination
The Generative Age Book 📚
My book The Generative Age: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Education is now available on Amazon! If you've already bought a copy, thank you! If you're interested in a bulk discount, email me directly by replying to this email.
Until next time!
Alana Winnick