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Quickly Access Leveled Texts and Resources with Diffit

by Peggy Reimers
written by Peggy Reimers

I recently discovered Diffit. Have you heard of it? It’s a brand new, AI-based tool for teachers that allows one to easily convert any content to all reading levels. Diffit promises to give you leveled texts and resources for any lesson for 2nd to 11th grade and higher. You also have the option of receiving the leveled text in 50 languages! Right now, Diffit is free for educators, and the company promises to keep a free version and will also offer an affordable premium version for teachers and schools.

What does Diffit do?

Once you’ve created an account through Google, you can to the following:

  1. Adapt any text or article for any reading level.
  2. Provide a summary, key vocabulary words, and questions.
  3. Modify and edit all copy to your liking.
  4. Easily copy resources or open with Google Docs.

What does Diffit generate?

To test Diffit, I typed in the topic: Mae Jemison. The website generated an adapted reading passage with seven paragraphs of leveled text. The passage included a chronological timeline of events in Jemison’s life. Paragraph topics included background, early interests, education, becoming an astronaut, and accomplishments. Besides the reading passage, the following were provided:

  • Three Sentence Summary
  • Key Vocabulary Words 
  • Multiple Choice Questions
  • Short Answer Questions
  • Open-ended Prompts

I also had the ability to edit, copy, and generate more for each section! You can check out my 2nd, 5th, and 9th grade side-by-sde comparisons here.

What about online privacy?

The FAQ’s state that Diffit will never sell your data or anyone else’s. They don’t collect student data, and they don’t market other products or services to you. And, if you have questions about privacy, you can contact them. 

How to Get Started with Diffit

It’s pretty simple. Go to https://web.diffit.me/ and:

  1. Enter a topic, term, or question, provide the link to an article, or provide any text.
  2. Choose an approximate reading level and language output.
  3. Click “Generate Resources.”

How accurate are the reading levels?

This was my first question. Just how true are the reading levels for the adapted reading passage? I used a couple of free readability websites to check the leveled texts, and the results were not consistent. For my “official test,” I used the Hemingway Editor app to test the readability levels first four paragraphs for the 2nd, 5th, and 9th grade passages.

Here are the Hemingway Editor’s results:

  • 2nd grade passage: 4th grade readability
  • 5th grade passage: 6th grade readability
  • 9th grade passage: 8th grade readability

Ideas for using Diffit in the Classroom

  • Kesey Halfen used DiffitApp to create a Taylor Swift economics lesson!
  • Incorporate current event articles to make real-world tie-ins.
  • Generate a leveled reading of the latest science/history news to add more current events
  • Create leveled readings and questions on science/history concepts to help build background knowledge for students.

If I were to “grade” Diffit, I would give this AI tool a solid A. It can save teachers a whole bunch of time by giving you instantly leveled resources for almost any topic. I tried Watergate, photosynthesis, apple pie, and the TV show “Friends”. The information was all correct. So, to channel Chandler Bing, I would say, “Could you be any happier with an AI tool for differentiation?” Follow @DiffitApp as teachers and the company are posting helpful content all the time. 

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Quiz feature image by author
AI/VR

Using AI to Create Quizzes for Videos

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

“I want to create a quiz for a video using AI or something. How do I do that?” That question comes up from time to time. Luckily, there are several free tools you can take advantage of. Most of those tools are for YouTube, but what about other video sources, such as Vimeo? In this blog entry, I’ll share a roundup of solutions you can use for different video sources. I’ll also share a process you can use with any video, no matter the source. So, here’s your guide on using AI to create quizzes for videos!

Source #1: YouTube Videos

Need to create quiz questions for YouTube videos? Doing so has gotten much easier with AI tools available. EdPuzzle is an old favorite, so I won’t spend any time on it except to remind you that it is available.

Here’s a short list of some of the newer solutions available:

ToolDescriptionLimitations and Cost (if any)
Brisk TeachingUse the AI Quiz Maker to create questions aligned to standards from a video sourceFree with paid options available
ChatGPT Custom GPTsUse a custom GPT to create questions. A few to try include GeneralMind’s Video Summarizer, VideoSummarizer, Chat-Prompt’s YouTube Video SummarizerFree account creation but a little clunky compared to the other tools
DiffitDrop in a YouTube video link and get differentiated resources aligned to standardsFree with Premium options available
MagicSchoolCreate grade-leveled questions for any YouTube video, including multiple choice questions, free response questions, and specify total number of questions (3-10)Free such as 5-min input limit on video and less than 10 uses per month
QuizalizeCreate questions for any YouTube video, including multiple choice questions, open-ended questions, and/or True/False Statements, as well as generate vocabularyQuizalize Basic is free but there are other options available for individuals, schools, and districts ranging in price. Did not work for me with videos provided
TweeCreate questions for any YouTube video, including multiple choice questions, open-ended questions, and/or True/False Statements, as well as generate vocabularyFree but with limitations such as 5-min input limit on video and less than 10 uses per month
UnstuckCreate a study guide for any YouTube video by adding https://study.new in front of the YouTube video URL (e.g. https://study.new/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyBv88tkrzc )Free account creation but a little clunky compared to the other tools

You can probably find a lot of other AI tools to do the same, including ChatTube, Redmenta, TeachMate.ai, and Quizizz. These are all powerful tools to use and work well most of the time. There may be situations when they do not, or YouTube restricts access. It is worth mentioning that, if you have ChatGPT account, you can get a different result.

Use ChatGPT to Generate a Quiz

Using AI to create quizzes is easy to do. If you’re a fan of ChatGPT, try using the TCEA Prompt Guide Educator to assist you in crafting a prompt that generates a quiz for a YouTube video. Or give the prompt below a spin. Simply copy-n-paste it as is then let ChatGPT take it from there.

Prompt Example

Copy-n-paste the AI prompt below
Follow these instructions and begin:

AI Custom Instructions for Interactive Quiz Creation:

1. Start by Greeting and Offering Assistance: “Hi! I can help you create a quiz based on a video. Are you ready to get started? Just type ‘yes’ when you’re ready!”
2. Ask for the Video Link: Once the user responds with ‘yes’: “Great! Please provide the link to the video you’d like to base the quiz on (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo).”
3. Ask for the Grade Level: After the user provides the video link: “What grade level is this quiz for? (e.g., 3rd grade, 8th grade)”
4. Ask for the Question Types: After the grade level is given: “Which types of questions would you like to include in the quiz? You can select more than one:
– True/False
– Multiple Choice (with 3-4 options)
– Short Answer
– Open-ended Questions”
5. Ask for Key Concepts: After the user chooses the question types: “What key concepts or topics from the video should the quiz focus on? (e.g., gravity, motion, force, or specific topics covered in the video)” 6. Ask for Learning Outcomes: After key concepts are provided: “What is the desired learning outcome? Describe what you want students to understand or demonstrate after completing the quiz.”
7. Confirm and Offer Quiz Creation: After gathering all the details: “Thanks for all the information! I’ll now create the quiz based on your preferences. Would you like me to format the quiz in any particular way (e.g., numbered, categorized by question type)?”
8. Create and Display Quiz: Once the user confirms preferences: “Here’s the quiz based on your input! Let me know if you’d like any changes.”
Please note that you can use the prompt above with a variety of AI chatbots. In those cases, you will need another option. And, it may not always work.

Grabbing Videos from Other Sources

While AI tools can summarize and generate quiz questions for YouTube videos, it’s a little tougher with videos hosted on other websites, like the one pictured below:

To get the audio for videos hosted on other websites, you will need to follow a three-step process.

Source #2: Other Video Sources

If videos are hosted in locations that would prefer you NOT get a copy of the video, it can be difficult to generate quizzes. You would have to watch the video, then come up with the quiz questions and responses yourself. What if you could find an easier way?

That easier way is this three-step process outlined below. Please be sure to verify you are permitted by the copyright holder to obtain a copy of audio from a video.

Quiz Question Creation: Three Easy Steps

The three-step process relies on the venerable Video Download Helper extension. It is a browser extension you can get for Firefox, Chrome, and/or MS Edge browsers. The Chrome version does not allow download of YouTube video content (a Google restriction).

With Video Download Helper on Firefox browser, and the premium version of the extension (approximately $29), you can extract audio from videos. With that audio file, you can use an AI tool to generate a transcript of the video. Then, you can drop the transcript into any AI tool you like and generate quiz questions. You can purchase the Premium version of the extension to extract media in a variety of formats, including audio.

Don’t want to pay $29 for the premium version? There are two other ways to get the audio. The first is to use Audacity, a free open source audio recorder. Set Audacity to record your computer’s audio (read about that here). The second is to get aTube Catcher, which will allow you to record audio playing on your Windows computer, as shown below:

Screenshot by author of aTube Catcher
Screenshot by author of aTube Catcher. It also allows you to save video/audio from YouTube to your computer.

The premium version of Video Download Helper, a lifetime license, is well-worth the investment. That’s because many AI audio to text transcription tools are available at no charge (see list in Step 2 below). To generate a transcript for a video can get quite expensive and there are limits to video length. The process can also take longer.

Let’s outline the step by step process below.

Step 1: Get the Audio from a Video

After installing Video Download Helper and purchasing the Premium version, use it to extract the audio from an online video. The main advantage of VIdeo Download Helper? It makes it easy to extract the audio and save it as a file on your computer. Again, remember, instead of buying Video Download Helper, you could play the video and record the audio using the free Audacity or aTube Catcher.

A tip? Play the video at 2x the speed so you can finish twice as fast. The audio transcription tool can transcribe at a faster rate than we can listen to the audio.

Screenshot by author of Video Download Helper

Again, while you could save the video to your device, then use an AI to generate a transcript, that could be time consuming. The reason why is that video files are larger. You want the audio because your goal isn’t to get a copy of the video, only to generate a text transcript. That’s why you are going to get the audio from the video and work with that instead of the video itself.

Screenshot by author
Screenshot by author of Veed audio transcription

Step 2: Use an AI Service to Create a Transcript

There are several AI services you can use to create a transcript of an audio file. Here are four tools you can start with:

ToolDescription
FlixierTranscribe audio to text in your web browser, no account required
Kapwing Audio to Text ConverterAllows you to convert audio to text with no credit card, subscription for free
ReStream.io Transcribe Audio to TextA free tool (no account creation required) that allows you to transcribe audio to text
VeedTranscribe audio to text automatically, using AI. Over +120 languages supported

For the purposes of my example, I relied on ReStream.io. It worked super fast, and did a great job.

Screenshot by author of Restream.io

For example, here’s an excerpt of the transcript of a video played at 2x speed and recorded using aTube Catcher, then running the audio file through Restream.io Audio Transcribe to Text tool:

Portion of audio transcript from a TCEA online course on Brain-Based Learning
Portion of audio transcript from a TCEA online course video on Brain-Based Learning

Step 3: Upload Text Transcript of Audio

Got your audio transcript? You are now ready to drop it into an AI. At this point, you can make it into a study guide. Or, if you prefer, a quiz. You can also extract vocabulary terms and generate a glossary. You will see I provide specific examples of the types of questions I want to see:

Prompt Example

Review the attached text transcript of the video, [name of video goes here]. Generate a quiz at [grade level desired] with [number] questions in a variety of question types. See examples below. Ask me before generating what format I want the quiz in, such as markdown, markdown table, comma-delimited or CSV, or plain text.

Question #Question TypeQuestion/Prompt
1Multiple ChoiceWhat is the main topic of the video?
a) Animals b) Space c) Plants d) Recycling
2True/FalseTrue or False: The video shows how to protect the environment.
3Short AnswerName one way you can help the environment according to the video.
4Fill in the Blank“The video says we should always _ plastic bottles.”
5Multiple ChoiceWhich color bin is for recycling plastic?
a) Red b) Blue c) Green d) Yellow
6True/FalseTrue or False: Recycling is not important for the planet.
7Short AnswerWhat should you do if you see trash on the ground?
8Multiple ChoiceWhat is one material mentioned in the video that can be recycled?
a) Glass b) Wood c) Metal d) Paper
9Fill in the Blank“We need to take care of the Earth because it is our __.”

In the screen below, you can see ChatGPT generating a quiz similar to the example in the prompt above. The quiz is in markdown format (convert Markdown to HTML with this free tool, then paste into your word processor of choice):

Screenshot of ChatGPT 4o
Screenshot of ChatGPT 4o

Using AI to Create Quizzes for Videos

With this three-step process, using AI to create quizzes from any video you find online is easy (if you have the $29 Video Download Helper Premium version, free, open source Audacity or no-cost aTube Catcher). You now have a handy list of tools you can use to generate quizzes.

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Created by author, adapted from Mike Bell (2021) The Six Steps.
Artificial Intelligence

The LEARNS Cycle: Putting AI in Instruction, Part 2

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

In the part 1 of this blog series, we discovered how AI tools can be integrated into the first step of the LEARNS Cycle, “Locate.” This stage is where learners identify their current knowledge and skills related to a topic or learning objective. In this second installment of the series, you will read more about the next step, “Explore”. This stage is all about discovering and engaging with new information, concepts, and resources to expand your knowledge and skills. For those familiar with the SOLO Taxonomy, we will also dig into Surface Learning.

Exploring is Critical

As educators, we know that exploration is a crucial component of the learning process. It’s where students go beyond their existing understanding. They dig into fresh ideas, perspectives, and materials. So, then, how can AI support this essential step in the LEARNS Cycle?

Once again, I’ve turned to the work of Mike Bell, author of The Fundamentals of Teaching, who connects AI tools with evidence-driven, research-based instructional strategies to make certain technology enhances the learning experience.

Let’s take a look at how AI could help out during the “Explore” stage.

Explore

Explore is composed of the following concepts:

  • Organize Your Thoughts: Use charts and outlines.
  • Use Your Senses: See, hear, and do to learn better.
  • Make It Real: Use real-life examples.
  • Draw It Out: Use pictures to help understand.
Instructional StrategyAI Tool ExampleDescription
Graphic OrganizersCanva for Educators, CreatelyCreately offers premade templates and drag-and-drop tools to create Venn diagrams, concept maps, and flow charts, helping students organize information visually
Structured Note-TakingNotion AINotion AI assists in organizing notes using methods like the Cornell method or mind mapping, enhancing the structure and clarity of students’ notes
Multisensory InstructionNearpodNearpod integrates multimedia content, including visuals, audio, and interactive activities, to engage multiple senses and enhance learning retention. No AI tools, however
Demonstrations and ExperimentsCuripodCuripod allows teachers to create interactive lessons and experiments, helping students experience concepts firsthand through engaging activities
PBL, Case StudiesChatGPT, ClaudeGenerate real-world problems and scenarios for students to solve, making learning more relevant and authentic. Or present case studies for collaborative analysis.
Sketchnoting and StoryboardingBoardmix, Canva Magic WriteSketchnoting works by allowing students to create visual notes with text, images, and symbols, enhancing understanding and recall. Create storyboards to visually represent processes, sequences of events, or narratives, aiding in the breakdown and understanding of complex information

Presenting New Materials

AI can be a powerful ally in the “Explore” phase of the LEARNS Cycle. One way to ensure that is explore suggested uses that facilitate presentation of new materials. In the chart below, you will find links to various AI tools for each concept. Relevant strategy research is also included for each line item.

ConceptSuggested UseInstructional StrategyStrategy Research
Organize Your ThoughtsUse an AI tool to create a concept map of the key ideas when presenting a new topic, like photosynthesis.Concept MappingLearn more
Organize Your ThoughtsUse an AI diagramming tool to create comparative visuals when presenting new information about animal species, like mammals and reptiles.Comparing and ContrastingLearn more
Use Your SensesUtilize an AI-powered virtual lab to demonstrate experiments when introducing new scientific concepts, like states of matter.ExperimentsLearn more
Use Your SensesIntegrate AI-generated music and art to create multi-sensory experiences when introducing new concepts in the arts.Multi-sensory LearningLearn more
Make It RealIncorporate AI-generated, real-life examples when teaching persuasive writing techniques for topics like environmental issues.Authentic Learning ExperiencesLearn more
Make It RealUse an AI-powered adaptive learning platform to provide real-world context when introducing new math skills, like budgeting and personal finance.Problem-based LearningLearn more
Draw It OutEmploy an AI storyboarding tool to visually present the sequence of events when introducing historical narratives, like the American Revolution.VisualizationLearn more
Draw It OutUtilize an AI comic strip generator to visually present new information about processes, like the water cycle.VisualizationLearn more

As you can see, there are ample AI tools available today. Whether you choose to use them in the classroom or not is your choice, however, these curated lists will assist you in digging deeper into how the EXPLORE phase of the LEARNS Cycle can leverage AI tools.

But Wait, There’s More from Diffit AI

Screenshot of Diffit by author.
Screenshot of Diffit by author.

If you use school-focused AI tools, you may notice that these are not mentioned specifically in the chart for Explore stage in the cycle. You can, however, find many of the activities for instructional strategies in these multi-purpose school AI tools.

Here are what these look like in only one of the tools, Diffit for Teachers. In other blog entries in this series, other school AI specific solutions are shared.

How could EXPLORE be enhanced with tools like Diffit AI, you ask? When I took the prompt from the “Draw It Out” that focuses on visually presenting new information, here is what Diffit came up with:

What I found most interesting were the activity templates that Diffit is able to generate to summarize learning, learn vocabulary, reading and writing strategies, text analysis (including CER), and collaboration. There’s a ton more, as well.

Have you used any of these tools? Let us know about your experience in the comments.

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Explore three tools to quickly and effectively differentiate and personalize literacy instruction for all readers.
AccessibilityArtificial IntelligenceELARESL/ELLReading

Three AI Tools for Literacy Instruction

by Holly Taylor
written by Holly Taylor

In today’s rapidly changing educational landscape, using artificial intelligence (AI) tools holds great promise for transforming classrooms. As educators, we find ourselves at the forefront of this exciting shift. Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking empowers students to access information, express their thoughts, and engage with the world. However, the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to literacy often falls short of meeting the diverse needs of our students. Enter AI, a tool that can help teachers differentiate learning experiences, identify learning gaps, and provide targeted support to students.

Will AI Replace Educators?

Before exploring AI tools that have the potential to revolutionize literacy classrooms, it is important to highlight one of the major concerns surrounding AI: the idea that it may eliminate the need for teachers in the future. The fear of AI replacing teachers entirely is a valid concern, but AI must be viewed as a valuable ally instead of a substitute. The need for human touch in designing and developing quality lessons can not be underscored. As we delve into the capabilities of various AI tools, we must keep our pedagogical practices at the forefront. Now, let’s look at three AI tools you can use to boost literacy.

1. Magic School AI

With over 60 AI generators featured on their website, MagicSchool has the capability of transforming classrooms and saving teachers time in the process. As literacy teachers, it is crucial to provide students with engaging and grade-appropriate texts. However, finding relevant materials can be a challenge. That’s where MagicSchool’s “Informational Text” generator comes in handy.

MagicSchool AI's Informational Texts Generator offers literacy teachers a quick way to accommodate learners' needs when it comes to reading.
Screenshot by Holly Taylor | MagicSchool | Informational Texts Generator

Imagine this: You’re teaching a unit during Women’s History Month, and you want your 5th grade students to learn about the remarkable Maya Angelou. Instead of spending hours searching for suitable texts, you can simply use the Informational Texts Generator. It can instantly create a grade-level appropriate text about this influential writer and activist. Now, your students can dive into Maya Angelou’s inspiring journey without spending hours creating, adapting, or searching for a supplemental resource. 

2. Diffit

Diffit provides literacy teachers with a way to differentiate texts by changing the reading levels.
Screenshot by Holly Taylor | Diffit | “Get Resources” Page

As educators, we’re always seeking ways to meet the diverse needs of our students. Diffit is an AI tool designed specifically for creating leveled activities. Imagine being a 4th grade teacher who wants to differentiate an article about Lewis and Clark. You need to make it accessible for struggling readers or ESL students. With Diffit, you can level up or down any article to match the needs of your students. The Lewis and Clark article can be uploaded directly to the Diffit platform and adjusted to a 3rd-grade level. Now, struggling readers can engage with the content effectively.

Diffit doesn’t stop at adjusting the text. It goes the extra mile by generating a vocabulary list, multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and more. These resources empower literacy teachers to seamlessly differentiate instruction based on individual student needs. Using Diffit, teachers can ensure that all students can access the same text at a level that suits them. Whether a struggling reader or an advanced learner, everyone benefits from personalized content.

3. Twee

Screenshot by Emily Horn | Twee | Tools Page

In the context of K-12 education, AI tools like Twee offer exciting possibilities for enhancing literacy instruction. One of Twee’s standout features is its dialogue-based “Create a dialogue on any topic” tool. With Twee, you can input any subject, generating an original conversation between characters or historical figures. For instance, I used this tool to create a dialogue centered around Lewis and Clark, the famous explorers. Here’s an example of the conversation that was generated:  

Lewis:  Hey, Clark. Are you awake? Thought I’d check out the map one last time before we hit the trail.

Clark: Yeah, just sittin’ here boiling up our coffee water and trying to get warm in front of this fire. Brrr…it’s colder than yesterday!

Lewis: Looks like we’re gonna have another tough day sloggin’ through these hills again with all that underbrush slowing us down. During breakfast I may break open a pouch containing ten grains of dried peas which has been sweetened with molasses. What do you think?

Clark: Sounds yummy. What about dinner?

Students can read this dialogue in groups or even transform it into a Readers’ Theater script for an interactive experience. By exploring dialogues generated by Twee, students gain insights into historical context and character perspectives. It’s a powerful way to foster critical thinking and make learning come alive.

In our literacy classrooms, integrating AI with the educator’s touch holds great promise. As we explore AI tools like MagicSchool, Diffit, and Twee, we unlock pathways to enriching student learning experiences with AI as a trusted co-pilot. From leveling articles to generating dialogues, these tools save time and enhance our teaching. They’re not here to replace us but can amplify our impact. Take what’s generated, personalize, adapt, and tailor it to your students’ needs. Or use it as a springboard for discussions, projects, or collaborative activities. Let your imagination soar and weave your unique touch into your students’ learning experiences.

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Five Stages of EdTech Adoption blog header
Digital Literacy

Five Stages of K-12 Ed Tech Adoption: Part 1

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Feeling tired and burned out by all the ed tech and AI-based news finding its way into your life? Take a moment to step back from all the chaos and reflect on the big picture. The Five Stages of K-12 Ed Tech Adoption will give you some context for understanding what you are going through. You will also get practical tips to help you harness the power of technology to create an engaging, effective student learning environment. Let’s take a look at:

  • The five stages of ed tech adoption and how to navigate them with success
  • Actionable strategies to integrate technology into your daily routine
  • The latest trends in educational technology and how you can use them

Ready? Let’s review each of the stages.

Stage #1: Exploration and Awareness

Whether you are a new teacher, or someone new to using digital tools in the classroom, it’s easy to adopt a spirit of openness when it comes to ed tech. As a classroom teacher, curiosity and eagerness to see how technology can improve teaching and learning are your focus. This first stage may be described in the following way:

People first learn about new technology. They explore it. Maybe they're curious. Maybe their friends or leaders told them to try it. They're open to learning. They start to see how it could help them teach.

It’s a time for exploration. Digital tools such as virtual reality, gamification, and artificial intelligence start to paint a picture of a more engaging, personalized, and efficient approach to education. Here are some ways you can get started with ed tech in your classroom:

  • Build yourself a choice board of learning. Explore workshops and resources that focus on improving reading comprehension, using project-based learning, or effective classroom instructional strategies.
  • Showcase your learning. Use tools like Blogger, WordPress, Google Sites, and/or Wakelet to create free portfolios of your learning. Showcase your teaching philosophy, resume, lesson plans, and videos of mini-lessons. Take the time to reflect on what you’re learning as you’re learning it.
  • Conduct a self-assessment. Assess your teaching and learning environment, reflecting on classroom arrangement, media tools available, instructional strategies, and your comfort level with digital tools.
  • Engage in knowledge sharing. Take field trips to meet with other educators to learn how they are using technology, and/or share how you are using it to impact teaching and learning. This can help build a strong sense of respect among you and your colleagues as well as a community of lifelong learners.
  • Walk and talk. Encourage your colleagues at work to allow Walk and Talks to pair up and discuss topics relevant to blending technology into the classroom.

Remember that TCEA can assist you with all of this. TCEA’s Annual Convention & Exposition and focused events are an invaluable resource. These events offer a plethora of learning opportunities. You get to see other educators present on the latest educational technologies and walk the exhibit hall floor where new products are showcased. What’s more, the TCEA TechNotes blog offers practical tips, teaching strategies, and resources that align ed tech with high-effect size instructional strategies and technologies.

Stage #2: Adoption and Experimentation

Characterized by teachers starting to use new ed tech to teach, there is experimentation and trying to see how tools work. Some reject the idea that teachers should experiment in the classroom, but where else should they attempt this work? Every lesson is an experiment. Digital tools involve a hands-on approach where both teachers and students become co-learners. They try out different technologies, learn how they work, and then assess their effectiveness in facilitating learning. This suggests that students have agency, choice, and the ability to self-regulate their own learning.

An example of levels of spoken feedback when it comes to ed tech.
Adapted from David Perkins’s (2003) The Ladder of Feedback and John Hattie’s (2014) The Power of Feedback. | Get Your Own Copy in Google Slides format

Some ed tech tools and technologies that are often considered for experimentation in the classroom include:

Assess ed tech tools in the context of back-and-forth conversations with students. Consider the suggestions in the “Assess K-12 Classroom Technology Usage” infographic as you work to implement new tools in your classroom.

Stage #3: Integration and Application

In this stage, technology is used routinely in the classroom. You may describe this stage in this way:

Technology is part of the classroom. Teachers and students use it daily. It supports learning goals. It fosters student feedback. It helps with everyday tasks. What’s more, it gives students choices in how they learn. It promotes student discussion and collaboration. It's a tool for success.

At this stage, ed tech is a core element of the classroom. It scaffolds learning, encourages feedback, and makes teamwork at a distance possible. It makes tasks for teachers and students alike easier to complete. What’s more, it blends into lessons and activities and provides students with a variety of ways to interact with curricular materials to show what they know. It also provides the timely feedback students need to gauge their distance from target learning objectives.

Some examples in addition to those mentioned above include:

More to Come

You may have figured out that only three out of the five stages were addressed! Stay tuned for more content in part two. In the meantime, here’s an infographic of the Five Stages of Ed Tech Adoption in K-12:

Five Stages of EdTech Adoption - https://www.canva.com/design/DAF-7iMpYnk/hKcjLpsU_yBlKkmCE-gicg/view?utm_content=DAF-7iMpYnk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=editor
Five Stages of EdTech Adoption – View the Five Stages of Classroom Ed Tech Adoption in K-12

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An animated chatbot shows the article title "AI-Powered Brain Breaks"
AI/VRArtificial IntelligenceAssessment

AI-Powered Brain Breaks

by Miguel Guhlin
written by Miguel Guhlin

Brain breaks are short breaks during lessons that usually incorporate physical activities or movement. Brain breaks are proven to increase student focus, engagement, and learning. Research shows that on-task behavior tends to decline the longer the lesson, and brain breaks can help curb that decline. Take a look at the research represented in this graph:

Image created by author

Four Facts About Brain Breaks

Yes, elementary children are less attentive as lessons increase from ten to thirty minutes. One way to trick our brains into paying more attention? Incorporate short brain breaks! Let’s consider these four facts:

  • Mixing in brief bouts of physical activity can keep children on-task and focused.
  • Brain waves indicative of mental fatigue increase during bouts of sustained attention. They decrease during breaks.
  • Breaks improve our focus by reducing boredom and restoring energy. They kindle motivation “…to resume on-task activity.”
  • Short chunks of time for learning are better than cramming learning into one block.

But how does AI come into play when incorporating these “brief bouts of physical activity?”

Where Do You Stand?

Let’s take a moment to consider the implications of AI and chatbots for classroom use when it comes to brain breaks. Place yourself on a continuum of agreement. I list five statements. Put the number of each statement in a place on the continuum that reflects your thoughts, agreement, or disagreement.

Continuum of agreement with a line graph showing end points labeled from left to right "strongly disagree, disagree, unsure, agree, strongly agree."
Image created by the author.
  • Statement #1: Relying on AI for brain breaks can dehumanize the classroom. It will diminish the teacher’s role in creating meaningful connections with students.
  • Statement #2: Brain breaks are a waste of valuable instructional time. They should be eliminated from the classroom.
  • Statement #3: Brain breaks cater to students with shorter attention spans. They hinder the development of focus and concentration.
  • Statement #4: Using AI for brain breaks can save teachers time, allowing them to focus on more critical aspects of instruction. It may lead to a one-size-fits-all approach that neglects individual needs.
  • Statement #5: AI-generated brain breaks may perpetuate biases present in the algorithms, leading to unfair or discriminatory content.

Here are my choices for where the statements should appear on the continuum. Do you agree or disagree? Share your reasoning in the comments.

Author completed continuum of agreement showing whether he agrees or disagrees with statements about AI in the classroom.

If AI-powered tools can assist with saving time, make my job as a teacher easier, and boost student learning, why not take advantage of them? This suggests another question: How should we, as teachers, use new AI-powered chatbots to make that work easier? Let’s explore one way.

AI Chatbots for Generating Brain Breaks

There are many chatbots available to help educators complete a variety of tasks. Some chatbots are available for free while others cost money, but most offer a free or trial account. Some of my favorite chatbots include:

Tips for Prompting AI

When providing prompts for AI, it’s important to be clear, precise, and directive in order to get the response that best meets your needs. Here are three tips that can help ensure you get the results you want from your prompts:

  1. Ask the AI to assume a role.
  2. Feed the AI source info.
  3. Provide the AI with feedback to hone the response.

Learn more via this 3-2-1 blog on prompt engineering!

3 ideas for promting AI Chatbots: 1. Ask the AI to assume a role. 2. Feed the AI source info. 3. Provide the AI with feedback to hone the response.
Get this infographic!

Example Prompts for Brain Breaks

Here is an example prompt for you to try. This prompt incorporates the three tips above. Linked below it, you can click to view the text prompt and several different AI responses to the prompt. Feel free to copy and paste the prompt and edit it to meet your needs.

Screenshot by author of his slide deck presentation

Here is one example response generated by Perplexity, which includes citations:

Perplexity AI-generated brain break
View the Results
More Ideas for Brain Breaks and When to Use Them!

Bonus: Bell Ringer AI Prompt!

Screenshot by author of his slide deck presentation
View the Results

What are some other ways you can use chatbots to advance teaching and learning in your classroom? Now that you’ve had a moment to explore AI-powered brain breaks, what are your takeaways? Let us know in the comments!

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5 AI Tools to Try October blog feature image
Artificial Intelligence

Five AI Tools to Try (October 2023)

by Emily Horn
written by Emily Horn

Fall has officially arrived, and so has a new batch of AI tools to try. Let’s explore this month’s eclectic mix of AI innovations! Some are meant to enhance productivity, helping with presentation and assessment creation, while others may be for both work and play, like Bored Human’s clickable list of 100+ tools. Let’s take a look!

1. Canva’s Magic Media App

Canva is an irreplaceable design tool that I use daily. And they are really beefing up their AI tools and apps these days! One of my new favorites is an app called Magic Media. To add it to your Canva menu, click Apps in the menu on the left, search Magic Media, and it will be the first tile that appears.

Canva Magic Media App
Screenshot by author: Canva Apps Search for “Magic Media”

Once you add and open it, you’ll see:

  • the option to generate images or videos
  • a text box for you to describe what you want to generate
  • a few styles to choose from (watercolor, filmic, photo, etc.)

Once you’ve made your selections and added your prompt, enjoy the results! If there is an option you like, but it’s not quite right, you can click the three dots in the top right corner to “Generate more like this,” or you can click “Generate again” to produce additional results from the same prompt. It’s pretty incredible! Tweak your prompt to yield different results, but, take note that the results can be biased as in the example below.

Canva Magic Media app example AI image generation of a girl on a bike in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Screenshot by author: Canva’s “Magic Media” App in Action

Remember, verified educators qualify for a FREE Canva for Education (Pro) account! If you’re interested, go ahead and take advantage of this amazing tool at no cost.

2. Formative AI

Formative AI sign up page showing various roles for educators to choose from.
Screenshot by author: Formative Signup Page

Formative AI has accounts for various roles in education! Pick your role and sign in with an email address or a Google, Clever, or Microsoft account. Once you’re in, you can generate lessons, assignments, and assessments. Plus, with this AI tool, you can track students and create classes – for free! Now you can also generate standards-based questions and include hints for learners. There are Bronze (free), Silver ($15/month), and Gold (quotes by request) accounts to choose from. Check out Formative’s Resources for webinars, a training center, and an inspiration library!

Formative AI Library showing various activities to choose from.
Screenshot by author: Formative Library

3. SlidesAI

SlidesAI is an AI tool that can be downloaded from Google Workspace Marketplace. Install the extension, open Google Slides, and find it under Extensions in the Slides toolbar. Click on Generate Slides, and a box will open for you to add your own text and customize your theme. You can also choose the presentation type, number of slides, and whether or not you’d like a title and thank you slide. Once all that’s set, click Create Slides and be amazed!

4. Speaker Coach

Microsoft Speaker Coach example report
Screenshot by author: Microsoft Support, Rehease Your Slide Show with Speaker Coach

Microsoft’s Speaker Coach (previously Presenter Coach) can help you or your students enhance your presentation skills! This AI tool gives a report on pacing, pitch, filler words, speech, and more after you rehearse it. It’s available for PowerPoint on the web, Android, Windows, iOS, and MacOS. To use Speaker Coach, you will need a Microsoft account, but you don’t have to have a paid version of PowerPoint. It’s “available to everyone in free preview.” In order to be most successful, have a good microphone, a solid internet connection, and a quiet place to rehearse, and get presenting!

5. Bored Humans

Bored Humans is a treasure trove of 100+ AI tools. Choose a tool from their list and it appears at the top of the page with instructions. There is a pop-up ad bar at the bottom of the screen to be aware of and several of the items on the list may not be appropriate for students. But there are options that are definitely worth trying for fun or even for lesson planning! For example, if you want to generate a fun song for teaching, I’d recommend trying their lyrics generator. Type in a subject and an artist for the lyrics to be modeled after, and watch them appear.

Bored Humans Lyrics Generator AI tool example lyrics on the topic of adjectives in the style of Taylor Swift.
Screenshot by author: Bored Humans, Lyrics Generator

A few other options that may be useful for planning and teaching are:

  • AI Article Writer
  • ChatGPT Prompts
  • Quote Generator
  • AI-Generated Podcasts
  • Haiku
  • Poetry Generator
  • Anagram Generator
  • Writing Prompts
  • Text Summarization Tool
  • Text Paraphrasing Tool
  • AI Transcription
  • and many more

Which tools will you try? Are there any we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments. We’d love to know what AI your using!

Bonus: AI in the News

AI Designs Little Robots in 30 Seconds and They Keep Sprouting Legs

A recent breakthrough reveals that AI can design simple autonomous robots within 30 seconds, potentially democratizing robot design. This AI employs a method called gradient descent, swiftly refining robot designs through iterations, resulting in functional forms with legs for forward locomotion. This development has the potential to transform various fields, from climate change solutions to medicine. Read more >>

AI Forces a Rethink on Executive MBA Teaching

Business schools are adapting their executive MBA (EMBA) programs to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI), recognizing its transformative impact on the business world. EMBA students, generally older and in senior roles, are keen to understand the implications of AI for leadership techniques. The shift includes more hands-on learning and practical application of AI tools, preparing students for a rapidly changing job market affected by AI’s increasing influence. Read more >>

Google will protect customers from copyright infringement lawsuits when using select generative AI products. The coverage extends to seven products, including Duet AI in Workspace and Vertex AI Search. Google will take legal responsibility for challenges related to training data and results generated from foundation models, ensuring customers are safeguarded against copyright-related risks. Other tech companies like Microsoft and Adobe have also made similar commitments in response to the growing legal challenges in the generative AI space. Read more >>

*Article summaries generated by ChatGPT.

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