Want your art creations to sparkle? You may find yourself reaching for an AI digital art tool to create content. But which should you reach for? AI art tools are at a premium. For educators on a tight budget, paying $10-$30 a month for access is too much. Even for those who want to “freshen up” their digital newsletters, the cost may be too high. Let’s take a quick look at a few solutions that are free to start out using. But first, let’s take a look at how to create a prompt.
Update: This blog entry now includes how to generate amazing art with Canva’s Magic Studio and AI Apps. Scroll down to see more. If you have Canva for Education or a Pro account, you may NOT need some of the other AI Creator tools listed, except for variety.
Crafting an AI Art Prompt
When generating art with AI, having a good prompt is a must. Working to perfect your prompt and including details will ensure that your generated AI art matches what you’re looking for. Some suggestions for prompt writing:
Describe the content of the image
Describe the subject
Add relevant details
Describe the form and style
Define the composition
Additionally, using adjectives and involving other AI tools, like Claude.ai, can aid you in prompt-making. With that in mind, I decided to use a standard prompt to test out several AI art generators. I consulted Claude to help me. Since I like owls, here’s my prompt and the prompt generated by Claude in response:
Screenshot by author, Claude.ai
Test Prompt Text: “An oil painting portrait of a large wise grey hooded owl with intelligent yellow eyes emerging from darkness, covered in an intricate arcane robe embroidered with ancient Norse runes and symbols glowing with power. The owl’s feathers and robe flow abstractly in dramatic volumetric lighting and misty atmosphere, rendered in an abstract expressionist style with thick gestural brushstrokes and paint textures.”
Although still under wraps, you can request Leonardo.ai access. My experience involved a short three-minute wait. Then, I logged in with my Google Workspace for Education account.
Screenshot by author, Leonardo.ai
This beautifully designed website features inspiring images. Some points shared during the welcome guide:
The featured models highlight various image generation styles. Select one and begin creating images with it yourself.
Use text, image prompts, or image-to-image to create new 2D images.
Explore features like Leonardo Alchemy and Prompt Magic v2.
Post-process your images with features that include upscaling, unzooming, and background removal.
Struggling to come up with prompt ideas? Toggle from Image Generation to Prompt Generation.
You can see that Leonardo.ai’s interface is quite rich:
Screenshot by author, Leonardo.ai
From start to finish, the text prompt appeared within two minutes. I turned the images generated into an animated GIF:
Animated GIF of images created by Leonardo AI with a prompt by the author
I loved Leonardo’s AI art creations. You might see these gracing the cover of a class anthology on fantasy writing.
Microsoft Bing’s Image Creator has been my go-to for AI art based on text prompts. It relies on DALL-E to do the heavy lifting. It’s also easy to use, and it’s fast. While previous AI art creators took up to two to three minutes, Bing Image Creator generates in seconds.
This lightning-fast AI art generator offers one image in response to the prompt. You can see they have a simple interface that lets you get started quick:
Screenshot by the author: NightCafe Home Page
Here’s their stunning creation:
But Wait, There are TWO More!
#6 – Canva Magic Studio
If you’ve read about Canva Magic Studio, you know that it can’t be left out of the pack. It offers so much more capabilities for AI-powered art generation that rival all the tools shown above. Let’s take a quick tour of what’s possible.
Canva’s Magic Media, a tool in the Magic Studio and also known as “text to image,” offers the best image generation. You can choose from multiple styles. What’s more, Canva’s Magic Media generates FOUR images to the standard one or two that other apps render. Take a look:
You get over 400 credits that renew monthly, so you can generate a lot of images with Canva’s Magic Media. But it isn’t the only AI-art generator you get access to. Here are a few more creations from DALL*E, Google’s Imagen, and Mojo AI. Of these, Mojo AI provides 75 credits when you register for free, but expends 4 credits to generate two images. Of course, I found Mojo AI’s creations to be the best of the second bunch, but unable to match Canva’s Magic Media.
Here’s a video of the process I went through to generate these (about 8 minutes):
If you haven’t explored LEAP, you definitely need to give a hard look. While it only allows 10 free uses, the images appear realistic, like this one below:
Of course, you can also get an output like this one:
Assessing AI Art
Want to assess AI-generated art? Consider the points these authors make:
Assessing the artness of AI-generated images continues to be a challenge within the realm of image generation. Most existing metrics cannot be used to perform instance-level and reference-free artness evaluation.
Source: Chen, An, Lyu, Luo, Learning to Evaluate the Artness of AI-generated Images via ArXiv
Another important consideration? Copyright. Did you see the ruling from DC District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell? Judge Howell ruled:
United States District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled on Friday that AI-generated artwork can’t be copyrighted, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter. She was presiding over a lawsuit against the US Copyright Office
Copyright law has “never stretched so far” to “protect works generated by new forms of technology operating absent any guiding human hand,” U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell found.
How do you propose to address the use of AI art in your classroom or workplace?
These AI art generators are terrific, and there are even more out there. As you might imagine, these are a boon to any student author looking for a quick cover for a book or publication. You can easily combine images like this with others to get incredible results. These tools are especially attractive to writers who can’t draw well. Which one do you plan to try first?
Featured Image: Owl generated from author’s prompt using Microsoft Bing Image creator
As educators, we can enhance students’ access and knowledge of using AI strategically as an academic tool, or we can hinder it. Larry Cuban, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University, has stated frankly that teachers are the gatekeepersof technology. As such, there are several ways that we can play a pivotal role in bridging the digital divide as it relates to AI. But what does that mean?
What is the digital divide?
The term “digital divide” emerged in the mid-1990s and gained prominence towards the end of the decade. It was first used in its current context to describe the gap between those with and without access to digital technology and the Internet. One of the earliest and most influential reports to bring attention to the digital divide concept was the Falling Through the Net series, published by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), starting in 1995.
These reports played a significant role in popularizing the term and bringing the issue to the forefront of public policy discussions. The term “digital divide” quickly became a key concept in discussions about internet access, technology policy, and social inequality, and it remains a critical issue in the digital age, continually evolving as technology advances and access issues change.
What causes the digital divide?
The digital divide is made worse when disparities (economic, geographical, educational, and/or support systems) occur. These disparities often occur over time and may be hard to resolve without intentional focus and effort. Now that AI has burst on the scene, many fret that it may increase the digital divide that currently exists. In actuality, it is not the technology (Internet, devices, AI, etc.) that is increasing the divide but those in charge of the technology, funding, and legislation.
Let’s look at several key ways educators can work to bridge the digital divide.
1. Promote Digital Literacy Across the Board
Bridge the digital divide by working to ensure that all students, regardless of their background, have a strong foundation in digital literacy. This includes not only the basics of computer use but also an understanding of how AI works and its implications for society. By integrating digital literacy into the curriculum at all levels, teachers can help students become savvy digital citizens and prepare them for a future where AI is ubiquitous. This could involve hands-on projects, critical discussions about technology, and lessons on digital ethics and safety.
2. Advocate for Equitable Access to Technology
You can be a powerful advocate for change within the education system and reduce the digital divide by voicing the need for equitable access to technology. You can push for policies and funding that provide all students with the devices and internet access needed to benefit from AI educational tools. This might mean lobbying for school budgets to include provisions for technology, seeking grants or partnerships with tech companies, or working with community organizations to set up after-school programs that offer access to AI resources.
3. Design an Inclusive AI Curriculum
When educators are involved in designing and implementing AI educational tools, they can ensure that these resources are inclusive and cater to a diverse student body, decreasing the digital divide. This means advocating for AI that is designed with diverse datasets and algorithms that are free from bias. It also means creating lesson plans that use AI to support all students, including those with special needs or those who speak different languages. By tailoring the use of AI to meet the needs of all learners, you can help prevent the technology from becoming another barrier to education.
As educators, we have the power to shape the future of our students in this rapidly evolving digital age. Let’s use our role as gatekeepers of technology and advocates for equitable access. I encourage you to integrate digital literacy into your curriculum, champion inclusive AI tools, and strive for a classroom where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can bridge the digital divide and create a brighter future for all our students.
Additional Reading: AI and Education in the News
How AI Could Bring Big Changes to Education — And How to Avoid Worst-Case Scenarios
Educators are adapting to AI like ChatGPT, debating its dual impact on cheating and time-saving. A study by scholars anticipates AI’s potential to reshape society, posing questions on education’s role. Scenarios envisage AI altering knowledge work and challenging literacy’s relevance. The study urges proactive measures by leaders to harness AI’s benefits and avoid worst-case outcomes. Discussions emphasize the necessity for comprehensive preparation amid AI’s evolving role in education and society. >> Read more
Khan Academy CEO Says Using AI in Education is ‘An Imperative’ at Harvard-MIT Event
Sal Khan, CEO of Khan Academy, emphasized AI’s crucial role in education at a Harvard-MIT event. Reflecting on the launch of ChatGPT and Khan Academy’s AI chatbot “Khanmigo,” he noted initial skepticism but highlighted their benefits in guiding students through exercises and preventing plagiarism in essays. Khan envisioned AI’s impact on job roles, suggesting a shift towards higher-level tasks. He also discussed AI’s potential influence on filmmaking and proposed redirecting AI use toward positive educational aims.
How Generative AI Is Changing Employee Productivity
Chief product officer of Discovery Education, Pete Weir, shared insights with Business Insider on integrating generative AI to streamline tasks, improve productivity, and guide employee exploration within company boundaries. Weir discussed AI’s role in aggregating feedback efficiently and cautioned against undue tech adoption. He emphasized a strategic approach, ethical use, and clear communication while harnessing AI’s potential to enhance educational support and not replace teachers.
One of the most tedious tasks a teacher endures is lesson plan creation. Some draconian school districts make teachers turn in lesson plans. It’s such a contentious issue that school unions make it a plank in their platform. What if you could turn this tedious task into a fun exploration of the possible? Now, with AI-powered lesson plan generators, that’s easy to do. Let’s explore my top five lesson plan generators.
Did You Know?
Have you read the blog entry, Prompts for Lesson Planning with ChatGPT?Get access to an editable prompt template and a variety of prompts for several content areas.
A Quick Checklist
Wish you had a checklist to assess these AI lesson plan generators? Here’s a checklist I came up with that outlines what I’m looking for in these tools. You may be looking for something different, so feel free to customize the checklist for your own use.
No account creation necessary. Who wants to create yet another account?
Single sign-on (SSO). If login is required, will it allow me to sync up to Google or Microsoft?
Copy and paste. Is it easy to copy the lesson plan format to another doc or platform (e.g. Google Docs, MS Word, etc.)?
TEKS alignment. Does this lesson plan document sync with state or national standards?
Lesson plan format. Is the generated lesson plan organized into elements included in traditional lesson formats?
Many lesson plan formats follow Madeline Hunter’s lesson elements. You might expect to see some of these elements in the lesson plans AI tools can generate.
AI Prompt
When possible, I used a prompt similar to the one that appears below to test each of these AI lesson plan generators:
Write a lesson plan for Texas sixth grade classroom that addresses the following TEKS:
The student understands the factors that influence the locations and characteristics of locations of various contemporary societies on maps and/or globes. The student is expected to:
(A) identify and explain the geographic factors responsible for patterns of population in places and regions;
(B) explain ways in which human migration influences the character of places and regions;
(C) identify and locate major physical and human geographic features such as landforms, water bodies, and urban centers of various places and regions; and
(D) identify the location of major world countries for each of the world regions.
The website makes it easy to copy your lesson plan into your device’s clipboard. At that point, you can paste it into a word processor for further editing/revision. The history, civics, and geography subjects are limited to India, so you won’t get US-relevant lessons for those. Science, math, and English are other topics available.
A little bit more robust than the option above, you can see examples for all grade levels (K-12). In order to see the full lesson plan, you must create an account, but you can create an account using a Google login or sign up via email.
As you might expect, ChatGPT does a nice job generating lesson plans. One of the best features of ChatGPT, aside from ease of use, is how it groups activities and offers a time range for each.
For example, a “locating Major Historical and Contemporary Societies” activity takes about 15 minutes. You can see some of the key expectations below:
Locating Major Historical and Contemporary Societies (15 minutes)
Distribute world maps and globes to the students.
Review latitude and longitude and how they are used to determine absolute location.
Teach the students how to locate various major historical and contemporary societies on the maps and globes.
Have the students practice locating and labeling these societies on their own.
This AI works quite well. You can attach up to five files of 100 mb each, including PDF and TXT. When asked to generate a lesson plan, what it came up with actually referenced specific TEKS. Claude divided the lesson plan in these ways:
Lesson Title
TEKS Addressed
Objectives
Materials
Procedures
Assessment
Accommodations
While it could have provided a little more information on assessments, it’s an easy item to follow-up on. I prompted Claude.ai with this:
Come up with two exit ticket sets of questions that address these TEKS:
6.2A – Locate various major historical and contemporary societies on maps and globes using latitude and longitude to determine absolute location
6.2B – Identify and explain geographic factors responsible for patterns of population in places and regions
6.2C – Explain ways human migration influences the character of places and regions
6.2D – Identify and explain factors responsible for the location of economic activities in places and regions
6.2E – Draw sketch maps that illustrate various places and regions
And, it generated the following:
Exit Ticket Set 1
Using latitude and longitude, locate two major societies on a world map. (6.2A)
Explain two geographic factors that lead to population patterns in Asia. (6.2B)
How has migration from rural to urban areas influenced the character of cities? Explain. (6.2C)
What are two factors that determine where manufacturing facilities are located? (6.2D)
Exit Ticket Set 2
Label the following items on a world map: The Sahara Desert, Mount Everest, Rio de Janeiro, Cairo. (6.2A)
How does access to fresh water impact population patterns? Explain. (6.2B)
Give one example of how immigration has shaped the culture of a place or region. (6.2C)
Why are major seaports often located where they are? What geographic factors determine their location? (6.2D)
Draw a simple sketch map of Europe, labeling at least 5 countries. (6.2E)
Again, what I like about this is how Claude labeled the items. It tied each exit ticket question to a specific TEKS.
The AutoClassmate website offers some great AI-powered tools. They describe their service in this way:
The Auto Classmate AI-Powered Lesson Plan Generator will enable you to create a highly-customizable, editable, and unique Lesson Plan to implement in your classroom.
The Lesson Plan Generator allows you to easily align your lesson plan with state standards with the click of a button. Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4, this lesson planning tool will revolutionize the way you create content for your classroom.
After using our AI Lesson Planning tool, you will also be able to have conversations about your lesson plan with our AI-Powered Instructional Coach Chatbot.
Screenshot by the author: Auto Classmate, Home Page
As you can see, it offers the ability to align lessons to state standards. You can see what the GPT-3.5 version comes up with. The GPT-4 version requires an account, and pricing is $10 a month.
Other Lesson Plan Generators
More lesson plan generators are appearing every single day. Here are a few more teacher-recommended AI lesson plan generators for your consideration.
Please be aware that they may have free trials but could cost money for extended usage.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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 Promises to Take the Legal Heat in Users’ AI Copyright Lawsuits
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 >>
Looking for your next book? Or are you an audiobook afficionado? You don’t need to wait for an Audible performance to listen to your favorite classics. The Project Gutenberg (PG) Open Audiobook Collection has made its debut, and now, you’ll find a wealth of audiobooks powered by Microsoft AI on various platforms! These AI audiobooks boast an audio version of public domain e-books. But before jumping into all the details, let’s step back a moment. Project Gutenberg has a 50 year history of volunteers digitizing texts.
What is Project Gutenberg (PG)?
Project Gutenberg offers free e-books. Their collection is over 70,000 strong, and includes the world’s great literature. It also includes books for which U.S. copyright has expired.
You may have missed the word “free” before, so let’s clarify that these e-books are without cost to you, and you can read these on a variety of devices. That’s because their books are in common formats, such as ePub, Amazon Kindle, and HTML. That’s right, HTML is the language of the web, and you can read books via your web browser.
The Project Gutenberg (PG) Open Audiobook Collection
The website characterizes the Microsoft and PG collaboration in this way:
Project Gutenberg and Microsoft have worked together. They have created create thousands of free and open audiobooks. They used new neural text-to-speech technology and the large open-access collection of e-books.
This project aims to make literature more accessible to (audio)book-lovers everywhere. It seeks to democratize access to high quality audiobooks.
A quick note about audio quality and its reception among listeners. Of course, you will want to judge the storytelling ability of AI voice.
Audio Quality of Project Gutenberg Audiobooks
Since PG relies upon Microsoft AI reading of texts, it’s worth taking a moment to assess the audio. For example, compare these acoustical renderings of a favorite text of mine:
Since Nick Offerman (e.g. Parks and Recreation, Last of Us) reads the Audible version, you’ll find the audio rich. Once you start listening to the sample Audible makes available, you may not want to stop. That aside, the AI version in the Open Audiobook Collection was quite good, smooth and full of youth. The story captivated me, and the AI reading did not get in the way. And, that is amazing given it’s Microsoft AI voice.
Bonus Tool: LibriVox Recordings (No AI Audiobooks Here)
Now that you know about Project Gutenberg, allow me to doff my hat to LibriVox .
Since August, 2005, LibroVox has offered free public domain audiobooks. LibriVox terms these readings of public domain texts “acoustical liberation of books in the public domain.” Real people read the texts and quality varies per the reader. Some are quite richly read with a convincing timber and resonating authenticity.
Unlike Chirp or Audible books that you have to pay for, LibriVox’ library of content is available at no cost and includes texts from Project Gutenberg. The famous Internet Archive hosts the audio files.
Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about Project Gutenberg, explore LibriVox. It’s time for the new!
AI-Powered, Open Audiobooks
Be sure to check out these AI-powered audiobooks in this Open Audiobook Collection by Project Gutenberg. And, explore the LibriVox recordings! Let us know what you think in the comments.
We’re back with five more AI tools for you to try this month! There are so many available now it’s becoming more and more difficult to choose which ones to feature. But we’re having a great time exploring, and we hope you are, too. September’s batch won’t disappoint, so grab your phone or laptop, and get ready to try out some AI tools that might just become your new favorites.
QuestionWell is an awesome AI tool that will help you quickly and easily generate questions and objectives that can be exported and used with a variety of other tools. So, if you use any of the following online tools, you will definitely want to check out QuestionWell:
Access QuestionWell by logging in through your Google account. Once logged in, you’ll be prompted to type in the topic, subject, and grade level and select a language for your questions. For the subject matter of your questions, you will need to write text or copy and paste text related to the content, or you can leave the text box blank. Right now, there are three account types: Free Plan ($0/month), Paid Plan ($7/month), and Team Plan ($6/month per user). I would highly recommend giving this one a try!
iScanner for Educators is an AI tool that’s available through the App Store, Google Play, or through a web browser. It boasts that it can scan any document and make it look professional. You can get started with iScanner for free and unlock additional storage space and features with the paid pro version, but with the free version, you get:
Unlimited Scanning
Full PDF-Editor and e-Signature
Export to PDF, JPG, PPT (5 documents per day)
200 MB cloud storage
No advertisements, no iScanner watermark on the documents
BUT, as an educator, you can access iScanner Pro for free if you meet the requirements and complete the educator form at the bottom of the iScanner for Educators page!
3. Typpo
I was a bit skeptical about this tool, but after trying it out, I think it’s pretty amazing! Using Typpo is simple:
Download the app.
Talk into the app.
Edit any words it may have gotten wrong.
Watch the video it generates.
Typpo essentially uses voice-to-text to create a video for you. I can see this being a useful accommodation tool for students who need to see written language as they are hearing it, for students learning English, for chunking assignments, etc. Here is the video it created for me, and it took me about 10 seconds longer than the length of the video to make. So when I say it’s easy to use, I really mean it!
4. Research Rabbit
ResearchRabbit is an AI tool I was introduced to by my dear TCEA colleague, Dr. Bruce Ellis. This tool allows you to start collections of research much like you would create playlists in Spotify or collections in Wakelet. You begin a search with keywords (like you would in Google), a title, or an author, and ResearchRabbit will put up papers for you to add to collections. Once you add a paper, you can see its abstract, references, citations, similar papers that relate, and other information. This tool also generates graphs that show timelines and relationships between research content, authors, and more. Here is a great introduction video to this free tool:
We’ve all been there. You finished your book and need a new recommendation. Or it’s Friday night, and you can’t decide on what movie to watch. Fear not. There’s an AI for that! This AI tool is very simple. Movie/Book Recommender requires you to type in a favorite book or movie. Next, you indicate whether you’d like it to generate a book or movie recommendation for you. Then, choose how many recommendations you’d like to get (from two to 10). It’s pretty great.
Well, I hope you enjoy September’s AI tools to try! Which one is your favorite? Do you have any we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments!
Our executive director, Lori Gracey, discovered another AI (artificial intelligence) tool for educators: MagicSchool.ai! When she tossed it out for the TCEA Professional Department to write a blog, I jumped at the chance to explore it. I am totally on board with AI tools that make teachers’ lives easier with time-saving tools, resources, and features. And MagicSchool does just that. I’m excited to share what it offers with you. Also, it’s important to note that Adeel Khan is the CEO and founder of MagicSchool. He is a lifelong teacher and principal, and he started MagicSchool.ai specifically to help overworked educators. Thanks, Adeel!
What is MagicSchool?
MagicSchool is an AI-powered educational platform designed to deliver personalized learning experiences spanning kindergarten to college levels. Leveraging advanced machine learning capabilities, it tailors content, monitors progress, and enriches engagement and effectiveness across this diverse educational spectrum. Users have the flexibility to select predefined standards or specific topics, along with a range of customization options for each tool.
https://youtu.be/8pIlOX_V25Q
The Features of MagicSchool
The website has a free account and a premium account (cost TBD) for teachers. There is also a school or district account. You can book a meeting to get custom AI tools built for your school or district and to find out more.
The response generator has quick copy button for easy pasting
Limitations
May produce biased or inaccurate information
Knowledge up to the year 2021
As of yet, it cannot search the internet or produce images
MagicSchool.ai Tools
MagicSchool.ai offers 40+ AI tools for teachers that are searchable by keyword and categorized for planning, student support, community, productivity, and community tools. Let’s take a look:
Apply the 80/20 approach. Use AI tools for initial work, then add your touch. Review for bias, accuracy, and context in the final 20%.
Your judgment is key. AI content is a starting point, not a final one. Follow your school’s policies! At the end of the day, you are the responsible party.
Understand AI’s limits. Some AI tools only have access to information prior to 2021. Be cautious with recent topics and fact-check!
Ensure privacy. Avoid sharing student names or addresses. But MagicSchool.ai strives to remove accidental submissions quickly.
The first tool I tried was the Student Work Feedback Tool. As a former teacher, sometimes it was hard to come up with feedback for an elementary classroom of 22 fourth-grade writers. This sure would have been helpful to provide positives and ways to improve when it came to providing constructive feedback.
This tool rocks! I was able to select a topic (dinosaurs), and I also included the names of students in my pretend class. I was very specific in the math objective. I wanted two-digit addition with answers below 100. Bonus: The generator also gave me the answers. Impressive!
For the Lesson Plan Generator, I used our 2021 Virtual Robotics Contest prompt, but with a twist. For “What you’re Teaching”, I set the lesson focus to be the engineering design process. I was impressed with the plan MagicSchool produced. It also produced an extension and homework activity! Plus, it generated the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). I can certainly see where I could modify this generator to pinpoint my objectives and activities, but this gave me a great start. See the whole lesson plan!
An extra bonus offered by MagicSchool: A joke maker. So fun! I had to stop myself from going down the rabbit joke-hole.
AI Pioneers Program
Educators can also join the AI Pioneers Program, which is a collective of forward thinkers on a mission to improve the lives of teachers.
With the array of free AI tools available for teachers, MagicSchool.ai presents a dynamic platform that aligns with a teacher’s responsibilities. This AI tool can assist educators in tailoring instruction to their students’ needs. From AI-Resistant Assignment Suggestions to Behavior Intervention Suggestion Generators, the toolbox is brimming with solutions that can streamline our teaching efforts, providing more time to focus on what truly matters: fostering meaningful learning experiences.
The integration of AI in education promises a myriad of benefits, from personalized learning experiences to real-time feedback. However, it also brings forth challenges, including concerns about data privacy, potential biases in AI algorithms, and the risk of misuse by students.
The U.S. Department of Education Office of Educational Technology’s recent policy report titled, “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning: Insights and Recommendations,” emphasizes the importance of disseminating knowledge, involving educators, and fine-tuning technology strategies and guidelines for AI integration in education.
The report characterizes AI as an evolving suite of technologies designed for data pattern recognition and action automation, and it offers guidance to educators on leveraging these technologies to further educational objectives, all while assessing and mitigating associated risks.
U.S. Office of Educational Technology’s Recommendations:
Emphasize Humans in the Loop: AI should augment, not replace, educators. The irreplaceable human touch must remain central to education.
Align AI Models to a Shared Vision for Education: AI tools should be evaluated based on their alignment with overarching educational goals, not just outcomes.
Design Using Modern Learning Principles: AI applications should be rooted in contemporary educational principles and be inclusive of all learners.
Prioritize Strengthening Trust: Trust in AI tools is crucial. This can be fostered through transparency, collaboration, and continuous feedback.
Inform and Involve Educators: Educators should be integral to the AI integration process, from design to deployment.
Focus R&D on Addressing Context and Enhancing Trust and Safety: Research should delve into the diverse contexts of AI tool usage and ensure their safety and reliability.
Develop Education-Specific Guidelines and Guardrails: As AI becomes more prevalent in education, clear guidelines and regulations are essential to ensure its safe and effective use.
The world of artificial intelligence is changing so rapidly that it’s hard to keep up. Every day, another new tool or chatbot is unveiled that has the potential to save users time and make life easier. And this is also true for those of us in the education field, where staying current is important and saving time is critical. With that in mind, I would like to introduce you to Claude, a new AI tool that is definitely worth a look.
What is Claude?
Released in April 2022 by Anthropic, Claude 2 is another of the many new chatbots available (like ChatGPT, Bard, Bing, Perplexity, and Jasper). It assists with content summarization, general research, creative and collaborative writing, Q&A, and coding. A user enters a question (called a prompt) and the tool answers. Claude 2 is currently free.
How is Claude 2 different from ChatGPT 3.5?
Most of you are probably more familiar with the chatbot ChatGPT, especially its free form, version 3.5. But there are some significant differences between ChatGPT and Claude 2 in their underlying architecture. These differences are worth noting, as you can see in the table below.
Claude 2
ChatGPT 3.5
Trickery and deception avoided through its modular architecture
Better at creative writing tasks and generating imaginative content
Can handle and recall larger amounts of information
More of a personality
Only available in the United States and the United Kingdom at this time; supports only English
Available in 163 countries and with support for multiple languages
Does not accept image inputs
Can recognize what is displayed in an image, although not always accurately
Includes current data
Trained on data up to September 2021 only
Can accept up to five files, up to 10MB each, including PDFs, TXT, and CSV files that can be added using the paperclip icon before a prompt is entered.
Better at text summarization
Faster processor time
Comparing Chatbots: Claude 2 and ChatGPT
Since I find that it’s best to use the same prompts when comparing different chatbots, I tested Claude with my standard prompt: “What is the most effective instructional strategy to use with fifth grade ESL students?”
Here’s how ChatGPT 3.5 replied:
And here’s the response I got from Claude:
When I asked ChatGPT 3.5 for a Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards-aligned lesson plan for fifth grade ESL students on the life cycle, I got this response. It did pull from the TEKS but gave me the ELAR standards and not the science ones. Several of the activities also seemed weaker to me and not as engaging or on level, especially the enrichment. And it did not really include anything related to ESL students.
Objective:
Students will be able to describe and understand the life cycle of a butterfly using appropriate vocabulary and language structures.
TEKS Standards:English Language Arts and Reading
5.2.A: Identify the meaning of common prefixes and suffixes.
5.4.B: Describe the plot’s sequence of events.
5.14.A: Listen actively to interpret a message.
Duration:
Approximately 60 minutes
Materials:
Chart paper or whiteboard
Markers
Visuals of a butterfly’s life cycle (pictures or diagrams)
Butterfly life cycle worksheets
Colored pencils or crayons
Butterfly life cycle video (optional)
Hook (10 minutes):
Begin the lesson by activating students’ prior knowledge. Show pictures or diagrams of different animal life cycles, such as a frog, chicken, or butterfly. Ask students to discuss in pairs or small groups what they know about life cycles and what similarities and differences they notice between the different animals’ life cycles. Encourage them to use vocabulary related to life cycles and discuss their ideas as a class.
Activities:
Vocabulary Introduction (10 minutes):
Introduce key vocabulary related to the butterfly’s life cycle, such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Write these words on the chart paper or whiteboard and provide simple definitions or visual representations for each term. Discuss the pronunciation and ask students to repeat the words.
Butterfly Life Cycle Presentation (15 minutes):
Show visuals or a short video depicting the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle. Narrate or explain the process step-by-step, using simple language and reinforcing the vocabulary introduced earlier. Pause at each stage to check for understanding and encourage students to ask questions or share observations.
Group Activity: Life Cycle Diagram (15 minutes):
Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a large sheet of paper and colored pencils or crayons. Instruct them to draw and label a diagram of the butterfly’s life cycle, using the vocabulary they learned earlier. Encourage collaboration and discussion within each group. After they finish, have each group present their diagram to the class.
Formative Assessment (5 minutes):
As a formative assessment, ask individual students to explain one stage of the butterfly’s life cycle using the appropriate vocabulary. Observe their responses and provide feedback accordingly.
Enrichment (10 minutes):
For students who show a deeper understanding, provide additional information about the importance of butterflies in the ecosystem and their role in pollination. Show pictures or videos of different butterfly species and discuss their diversity.
Individual Practice (5 minutes):
Distribute butterfly life cycle worksheets to each student. The worksheet should have labeled spaces for them to draw and describe each stage of the life cycle using the vocabulary words they learned. Collect the worksheets for assessment and to provide feedback on their understanding.
Closure (5 minutes):
Summarize the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the key vocabulary and the stages of the butterfly’s life cycle. Encourage students to share what they enjoyed or found interesting during the lesson.
Claude 2 gave me the following response. It did pull from the science TEKS and included an activity to activate prior knowledge. In addition, this lesson plan includes the use of graphic organizers and anchor charts, both useful for ESL student learning.
Topic: Life Cycles
TEKS Addressed:
5.2C: Students will identify stages and sequence in the life cycles of different plants and animals.
5.8F: Students will organize and present data in a variety of ways including detailed illustrations, flow charts, posters, and graphs.
Hook: Show images of life cycles (butterfly, frog, plant). Have students discuss what they see and what they already know about life cycles.
Activating Prior Knowledge: In partners, students complete a graphic organizer listing the stages of a familiar life cycle (human, pumpkin, butterfly) and draw quick sketches. Share out.
New Material: Teacher explains stages of life cycles using an anchor chart. Show video clip on general life cycle patterns. Have students take notes on stages.
Guided Practice: In groups, students are given cards depicting the life cycle of a specific organism out of sequence. They work to put the cards in order and identify the stages. Share out.
Formative Assessment: Have students draw the life cycle of an assigned organism on paper, labeling the stages. Teacher evaluates sketches and labels for accuracy.
Differentiated Instruction:
– Advanced students add details on duration and key processes in each stage.
– Struggling students are given cards with stage names to sequence.
Individual Practice: Students choose an organism and create an illustrated life cycle poster labeling the sequence of stages.
Enrichment: Students research an unusual life cycle (frog, butterfly, etc.) and present key learnings to the class.
Closure: Students share out key learnings about life cycles. Teacher reviews structure and purpose of life cycle stages.
Claude’s Chatbot Brother: ClaudeScholar
ClaudeScholar is a research assistant for science that can synthesize data, extract insights, and automate scientific workflows. Users can search through any document with natural language, uncover insights across multiple research papers, and even task the AI assistant with complicated workflows like generating new compounds and modeling protein interactions using state-of-the-art research. While this is not likely to be a tool most of us will use, it is interesting to see the direction that chatbots are going.
Trying Out Claude 2
If you’d like to sign up for free to try Claude2, visit Anthropic’s website and click “Talk to Claude.” You’ll then be prompted to sign up with your email address or enter an existing address to access the bot.
In the near future, it is likely that we will regularly use a variety of chatbot tools, depending on what we need to accomplish, just as we may choose to use Canva for one type of design project and Adobe Photoshop for another. So now’s a good time to begin to learn what each tool is especially good at. I encourage you to try Claude 2 and let me know what you think!
For many, the progress made in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) may seem both inevitable and surprisingly rapid. However, its evolution has kept relative pace with the culmination of major technological advancements made throughout the past century. Although AI has often been portrayed in popular media as dystopian, it is fundamentally a tool that can be used to transform the way we live, work, and learn. Yet, despite the potential benefits of AI in education, there still remains a deeply ingrained mental image of a traditional classroom that many hold onto. The conventional classroom setup with rows of desks, uncomfortable chairs, and a teacher at the front of the class is still the norm. But this perception is gradually changing, and the integration of AI in education may be a signal for a much-needed update.
Benefits and Concerns with AI in Education
When implemented and used correctly, AI has the potential to enhance the human learning experience. Personalized tutoring, improved productivity, and 24/7 support from chatbots for students can drastically improve the learning process and take much weight off teachers’ workloads.
Nevertheless, it’s important to recognize that AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are also ethical concerns such as job displacement, privacy, and data security that must be addressed, as well as the systematic limitations of AI — empathy, understanding, and human intuition are not within the technology’s current capabilities. As such, human teachers are still critical in the development of students and the overall learning process.
Is AI an Educational Tool or Distraction?
The classroom has already gone digital. Over the past decade, teachers have been leveraging a wide array of digital tools and resources to engage students and enhance learning. From interactive whiteboards to online platforms, the use of technology has allowed for greater interactivity, collaboration, and flexibility in the classroom.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced students, parents, teachers, and schools to reconsider the ways in which online platforms and tools could be used to not only educate but also better engage children. In this context, the potential for AI to supplement learning, save teachers time, and help students explore topics in more depth has become increasingly apparent.
As it stands, there are already existing issues in the physical aspect of the classroom — growing teacher-to-student ratios, burdensome grading, and administrative forms taking up teachers’ time, for instance. Along with these, teachers are often left to handle the brunt of shifts in student assessments, a lack of parental support, and students’ individual needs in terms of learning styles and teacher subject specialty. In addition, the pandemic has exacerbated already lagging literacy rates and ramped up student inattention, leading to teachers leaving the field and causing even wider unequal teacher-to-student ratios.
Evaluating and Monitoring AI in Education
While AI has the potential to revolutionize education, there are valid concerns about its impact. One such concern is the potential loss of human connection and personalized attention for students, as well as privacy issues stemming from data collection without consent. To ensure that AI is used effectively and benefits students, transparency and ongoing evaluation are crucial.
For-profit companies like Google,Microsoft, andIBM are leading the way in AI development in the education space, with significant contributions being made by non-profit organizations and research institutions like OpenAI as well. Researchers, data scientists, and engineers are working to accelerate AI tooling to better support teachers and students in the classroom.
It is essential to involve the appropriate gatekeepers in the implementation of AI in education. Regulators are needed to establish ethical standards and guidelines to ensure responsible AI use, while administrators can align AI with institutional goals and values. Marketplace engagement can also facilitate the development and use of effective AI tools. A combination of these factors is necessary for the responsible and effective use of AI in education.
For instance, AI-powered virtual tutors and assistants and personalized learning experiences can significantly improve student engagement and learning outcomes. While many companies are currently developing such solutions, schools must monitor their impact on students and ensure that they handle student data responsibly to prevent privacy concerns and maintain human connection.
What Are the Top Priorities for AI?
Although AI has the potential to disrupt the quality of students’ education, it’s important to remember that, like the smartphone and handheld calculator – it is simply another tool to help improve the quality of learning. The key difference is that AI programs like ChatGPT are still in their infancy, meaning we all still have much to learn about its true capabilities. For the time being, however, ensuring that its use is aligned with educational, academic, and administrative goals should remain a top priority.
