On the menu today:

• AI Vocabulary Word of the Week 🔡 

• Teacher AI News & New Tools 🗞️ 

• 3 AI Tools to Try Out

• Prompt of the Week

AI Vocabulary Word of the Week 🔡 

Hyperparameters:

Definition: 

In the context of machine learning, a hyperparameter is a parameter that is set before the learning process begins. These parameters are tunable and can directly affect how well a model trains. Hyperparameters are used by the learning algorithm during the training process, but they are not part of the resulting model.

Example:

• The learning rate for training a neural network.

• Number of branches in a decision tree.

Analogy: 🎂 

Think of training a machine learning model like baking a cake. The recipe you follow is like the algorithm you choose, and the ingredients you use are like the data you feed into the model.

Now, every cake recipe has certain variables that you can adjust according to your taste. For example, you might decide how much sugar to add, how long to bake the cake, or at what temperature. These are like the hyperparameters of your machine learning model. They're not inherent to the recipe itself (the algorithm), but they're choices you make that can significantly affect the outcome.

News & Updates in Teacher/Tech AI 🗞️ 

1. STUDENT VOICE: Teachers assign us work that relies on rote memorization, then tell us not to use artificial intelligence (Hechinger Report)

• Many students are turning to AI like ChatGPT for homework, challenging the focus on rote memorization in education.

• There's a call for teaching methods that foster creativity and critical thinking to better equip students for an AI-integrated future.

• Embracing project-based learning could enhance key skills and possibly improve standardized test scores, suggesting a shift in educational approaches may be beneficial.

Isn’t this what we’ve been saying for years? Maybe next week will be a feature about Project-Based Learning with AI 👀 

2. The Rise of AI-Enhanced Learning: Education for the Digital Age (Forbes)

   • AI's role in education is growing, with a focus on customizing learning and enhancing teaching methods (complementing teachers rather than replacing them)

   • By 2027, the value of e-learning is expected to soar to $470 billion.

   • The integration of AI emphasizes the need for human-centered teaching approaches and equitable access to technology.

3. Open AI is Developing 2 New Chatbots that will Change the Productivity Game

   • The first one: automatically transfer data between docs and sheets, create financial reports and organizing files.

   • The second: streamlines and automates the travel process by doing research, finding flight deals, and collecting public data.

Ummm… Sign me up for both please! The disorganization of my files is getting out of hand, and who doesn’t like a deal 😍 

3 AI Tools I’ve Been Loving

1. This week I used you.com to do some research for my PD presentation. It’s similar to ChatGPT, but it has different “modes” like research, create, etc. to make prompting a bit easier. There is a free version and a paid version.

2. Gibbly.co for creating quick gamification for my class! Think Kahoot/Blooket with more of a team mindset.

3. Eduaide.ai for literally everything. This week I used it to outline a class newsletter to send to parents in 5 minutes. It has both free and pro (paid) versions. You can use my code Sophie for 20% off their yearly pro plan!

Prompts of the Week

Assessment Edition

1. Can you provide a few prompts for student self-reflection after completing a [group project] or [activity] in [subject]?

2. Can you suggest some formative assessments that I can use during my upcoming lesson on [insert topic] to gauge student understanding?

3. What are some prompts that can help students reflect on their own learning and growth related to [insert specific topic or subject]?