Is ChatGPT the hottest Educational Topic of 2023?

Whilst there is much bad news around how ChatGPT will destroy traditional teaching and learning processes I thought it might be time to look at some of the positive aspects it may offer.

ChatGPT, a powerful language model developed by OpenAI, has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach teaching and learning. With its ability to understand and respond to natural language input, ChatGPT can be used to create personalized learning experiences for students, improve communication between teachers and students, and automate the grading process.

One of the most significant ways ChatGPT can influence teaching and learning is through its ability to provide personalized learning experiences. ChatGPT can be integrated into educational platforms to create interactive lessons and quizzes that adapt to the student's level of understanding. This means that students can learn at their own pace and receive tailored instruction based on their individual needs. Additionally, ChatGPT can be used to generate personalized feedback and suggestions for improvement, further helping students to develop their knowledge and skills.

Another way ChatGPT can influence teaching and learning is by improving communication between teachers and students. ChatGPT can be integrated into messaging apps, allowing teachers to respond to student questions and concerns in real-time. This can help to reduce the need for in-person office hours, making it easier for students to get the help they need, regardless of their schedule. Additionally, ChatGPT can be used to automatically generate responses to common questions, reducing the workload of teachers and allowing them to spend more time focusing on individual student needs.

ChatGPT can also be used to automate the grading process, which can save teachers a significant amount of time and allow them to focus on providing feedback and support to students. ChatGPT can be trained to grade written assignments, such as essays and research papers, and provide detailed feedback on the student's work. This can help to improve the accuracy of grading, as well as make the process more efficient, allowing teachers to spend more time working with students on their individual needs.

In conclusion, ChatGPT has the potential to greatly influence teaching and learning by providing personalized learning experiences, improving communication between teachers and students, and automating the grading process. With the integration of this technology into educational platforms, we can create more effective and efficient learning environments for students of all ages and abilities. However, as with all technologies, it is important to consider the ethical implications of its use and ensure that it is integrated in a way that enhances education and student's privacy.

Getting Started with STEM in your Classroom

Getting Started with STEM in Your Classroom

If you are not yet teaching STEM in your classroom, the chances are good that you will be within the next few years.

But, what exactly is STEM and how do we go about teaching it?

 

What Does STEM Stand For?

The acronym itself stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

While Science and Math are old staples of formal education, and you may well have come across elements of Technology and Engineering in various other subjects, the main difference in the teaching of these elements under the umbrella term of STEM lies in how they are taught.

However, before we take a closer look at STEM and how it’s taught, you may have noticed a similar acronym floating around containing one extra letter: STEAM.

A Quick Word on STEAM

In recent years, the acronym STEAM has become much more visible.

The A here stands for ‘arts’ and refers to art in a broad manner that includes the liberal arts, fine arts, physical arts, and music etc. It was added to encourage the integration of the creative arts into the STEM subject area.

There’s much debate between educators as to the value of this endeavor. Some argue that STEM should retain a clear separation between the sciences and the arts, while others argue the contrary.

This debate is relatively new and as yet unresolved. As a result, there is no clear consensus on what STEAM would actually look like in the classroom. That said, for the purposes of the rest of this article, we will refer exclusively to STEM, though there may well be ample opportunities to weave the arts into many of the STEM-based activities.

The STEM Curriculum

STEM in the classroom focuses less on the content of the various aspects of the subject, or the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, and more on learning to apply related skills.

STEM focuses heavily on promoting problem-solving and critical thinking skills to help find solutions. It is, above all, a subject directed at the doing rather than just the knowing.

Common elements of the various STEM curricula usually include elements of the following 3 areas:

Design: using design techniques and tools to solve problems and challenges

Application: applying knowledge and skills to solve real-life problems

Integration: drawing on knowledge and skills from a range of overlapping disciplines

Depending on your situation (the type of school, educational system, level of students, management structure, etc) you will need to decide whether you will be teaching STEM as a discrete subject or weaving it into other areas of an already existing curriculum.

Regardless of how the subject is approached, the following general advice will apply to getting started with STEM in your classroom.

Organize the Learning Space

Creating a STEM lab or MAKER SPACE can be both an empowering and an expensive process depending how far you wish to proceed

STEM is about problem-solving and critical thinking. One of the best ways to develop these skills is through collaboration and teamwork. Before introducing STEM to your students, be sure you have optimized the space available to facilitate group work.

This may mean rearranging tables and chairs. It may even mean removing chairs entirely and grouping smaller desks together to create larger working spaces. These spaces should be suitable for group work and the demands of working on large projects.

In a practical subject such as STEM, safety is a critical factor to consider too. Be sure to have a walk through the area prior to beginning the lesson so that you can identify and eliminate potential hazards.

Encourage Collaboration and Teamwork

Project-based learning is a key element of STEM in the classroom. Teamwork and collaboration are essential elements of ensuring the successful completion of any science or engineering project.

There are a number of ways you can encourage collaboration and teamwork in your STEM lessons. Let’s take a look at some of these:

●       Be sure to embed the importance of collaboration and teamwork into the design of your activities

●       Help students understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration

●       Model directly to the students what good teamwork and collaboration look like

●       Establish clear expectations for working together

●       Ensure all learners are engaged and sharing ideas during lessons

●       Build-in discussion opportunities and stress the importance of consensus building

●       Reinforce the idea of collective responsibility

●       Assign meaningful roles and responsibilities, where necessary

●       Encourage self-reflection and evaluation.

Be Prepared: Plan, Plan, Plan!

Good planning is essential for any effective teaching to take place, but this is especially true if teaching STEM is new to you. The better prepared you are, the more likely the lesson is to be a success.

Of course, we need to maintain some flexibility in our delivery to respond to the unexpected. However, there are six general elements that are characteristic of any good STEM lesson:

●       Ask a question that focuses on a real-world challenge

●       Make sure students are guided by the engineering design process (more on this below)

●       Involve students in hands-on practical inquiry

●       Ensure students work collaboratively

●       Utilize technology and include Science and Maths content

●       Allow for multiple correct methodologies and solutions

If you manage to include these six elements in each of your lesson plans, you will be well on your way to crafting an effective STEM learning experience for your students.

Share Student Learning Objectives

This subject is, to a large degree, about trial and error. It is important that students are not afraid to take chances, make mistakes, and to try new things.

That said, it is equally important that they have a clear focus for their investigations. This means you need to be sure to share objectives with the students at the beginning of the lesson.

You can share your learning objectives orally, but it is often helpful for students to see these objectives written down, whether on the whiteboard or on the top of a task sheet.

In STEM, learning objectives shouldn’t be worded in a way that suggests an expected outcome. Rather, the objective will relate to a central question that is to be explored.

Encourage your students to refer back to this initial problem regularly throughout the lesson to ensure they are maintaining their focus. It is easy at times for students to go off on tangents due to the more open-ended nature of this subject. Be sure to draw them back to task with clearly expressed objectives.

Incorporate The Engineering Design Process

Earlier we mentioned the importance of the engineering design process for guiding students, but what is this process?

The engineering design process is a series of steps that can be followed to help students come up with a solution to their problem.

The process encourages an open-minded approach to problem-solving and works under the principle that failure is a necessary part of the learning process. That is, failures are not mistakes, but a means of refining the efficacy of the solution.

There are quite a few versions of this process out there. Usually, they vary in the number of steps but retain common underlying principles.

A little research will turn up these different variants, but here is a simple 5 step version that is very suitable for use in the classroom.

The 5 Step Engineering Design Process

1. Ask: Define the problem - without a clear idea of the problem, any further investigations will be unfocused and ineffective

2. Imagine: Explore possible solutions - brainstorm as a group, then research and analyze the various ideas that arise

3. Plan: Choose a solution to investigate - identify the resources required and outline proposed methods of investigation

4. Create: Create something - follow the plan and try things out, what went well and what did not?

5. Improve: Redesign as necessary - evaluate prototype, revise plan in light of information and knowledge gained.

Integrate Technology

Technology, of course, puts the T in STEM and it is essential that it is integrated into your STEM lessons. Like the other elements of the subject, the application of the skills of technology will be applied to find a solution to the identified problem.

When considering where exactly to integrate technology, the steps of the engineering design process above provide a good starting point.

When planning your lesson, consider what technology is available for the students to use and how it can best be employed at each of the 5 steps of the process.

For example, at Step 2 can students use the internet to research the possible solutions or to help analyze the various ideas?

 Or, when working on Step 3, can students use digital models or simulations to help investigate possible solutions?

5 Simple STEM Activities

There is no end to the number of activities that can be designed to incorporate the teaching of STEM principles in the classroom.

One of the best things about this subject is that most activities are easy to adapt and differentiate for varying ages and abilities.

It is also worth noting that when looking for STEM activities to do with your students, it is common to come across projects that have prescribed outcomes. This is true especially when the activities are aimed at younger students.

Remember, for STEM to be really meaningful there should be room for some open-ended investigation too.

A good way to test whether there is room for open-ended investigation in a project is to consider whether or not the engineering design process can be applied. Where students are working towards a predetermined outcome, there will be no room for the use of this process.

In the following section, we will take a look at 5 simple activities that can be easily adapted to suit the specific learning needs of your students, while also providing a starting point for the creation of your own ideas for STEM lessons.

1. Design a Cell Phone Stand

This activity challenges the students to design and build a simple cell phone stand using the engineering design process. Students will need a cellphone and an assortment of materials to build their designs (card, rubber bands, paperclips, lollipop sticks, glue, tape etc). Task your students with creating a cell phone stand that is functional and convenient and then compare the different designs and prototypes that emerge.

2. Build a Baking Soda Rocket

Likely your students will be aware of the explosive potential of baking soda and vinegar from making volcanoes in their kindergarten days. In this activity they will harness the same chemical reaction to power their own rockets. The challenge here is for the students is to select the best available materials to construct an aerodynamically designed craft that will fly as far as possible.

3. Blow the Best Bubbles

In this activity, students will explore which mixtures produce the best results for blowing bubbles. Provide the students with a range of options to add to water, including washing up detergent, glycerin, and light corn syrup. They’ll also need measuring cups and something to make the wands from, such as pipe cleaners for example. Students explore what ingredients make the best mixtures and in what quantities each ingredient is required. As an extension, you may challenge students to explore the best materials and shapes for making the wand too.

4. Build a Robotic Hand

Challenge your students to research the mechanics of how hands work and use the acquired knowledge to build their own robotic versions that are capable of picking up light objects. Students will learn how bones, muscles, tendons, and joints work together and come up with ideas on how to recreate artificial versions of these. Groups will need to experiment with a wide range of materials, so be sure to have a wide selection of resources available for their experimentations. As a starting point, be sure to have drinking straws, string, tweezers, modeling clay, cardboard tubes, rubber bands, and paperclips available.

5. Build the Strongest Bridge

Choose two platforms that the bridges will span. This could be a space between two large books, two tables, etc. Students should investigate various designs and shapes for their bridges and explore the load-bearing properties of various materials. The strongest bridge will span the gap and be able to bear the heaviest load. This activity can be a great way to instil a competitive element into a lesson where groups vie against each other to build the strongest bridge.

Go Get Started with STEM!

These are just a few simple ideas from which to build out a STEM focussed lesson for your students. It should be apparent that the possibilities for STEM-based investigations are endless.

Remember though, no matter what the focus of a classroom STEM investigation is, the underlying principles at play will involve students overcoming their fear of failure in favor of the rewards of trial and error.

A classroom atmosphere that encourages curiosity and courageous exploration is the one key essential.

How to use Google Classroom like a Pro - A Guide for Teachers

One of the most universally used tools in schools is without a doubt, Google Classroom. Whilst many teachers are drawn to its ease of use to post announcements, share links and manage workflow, there is a deeper level in which Classroom can be used to enhance learning and teaching. How many of the following have you tried?

Increase Student Autonomy

By simply posting your own screen casts or ready made ones (Khan Academy etc.), you can empower students to learn at their own pace. Small groups can be using the digital resource while you teach face to face with another group.

HINT: post on the Classwork tab as a ‘Material’ under the relevant topic to ensure the video is easy to access. Not everything has to be an ‘Assignment’ if there isn’t anything to ‘turn in’.

Differentiate for Learning Styles

When posting an assignment, allow students to ‘Add’ evidence of their learning in whatever format they choose (within reason!) – images, videos, voice recording, screen cast, Doc, or Slides. This element of choice is not only engaging for students, it caters for different learning styles.

Make Learning Visible

Use Classroom to share out a single Doc or Slides presentation that each student can edit. This collaborative approach to learning allows students to see and learn from their peers. It not only supports weaker students by scaffolding their learning, but it provides an audience for student writing.

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• Perfect tool for critical and creative thinking

• Works seamlessly with Google Classroom

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Make Learning Visible

Use Classroom to share out a single Doc or Slides presentation that each student can edit. This collaborative approach to learning allows students to see and learn from their peers. It not only supports weaker students by scaffolding their learning, but it provides an audience for student writing.

I like to also share my expectations about writing in a shared Doc – Golden Rules of Team Writing.

Amplify Student Voice

Pose a short answer question (ensure it?s open ended) and students reply with their opinion.

Importantly, don’t stop the lesson there. Encourage students to then read each other’s responses and leave comments.

Use the ‘Guide to Commenting’ to help scaffold appropriate digital commenting.

Formative Assessment and Feedback

A super simple but very powerful use of Classroom is to post an ‘exit ticket’ for students to complete. You, as the teacher, can get a clear insight into how students are progressing with their learning.

Other ideas for exit tickets:

• 3 things you learnt

• 1 question you still have

• specific content related multiple choice question

The Best Coding Games for Kids

Best Coding Games For Kids

In this age, where our society heavily relies on technology, coding has become an essential piece of employment qualifications. And if you wish your children to have a successful career, then it is best to give it a quick running start.

Coding for children does not merely help improve their writing and mathematical skills because it also supplies them crucial abilities in life and, ultimately, in the workforce.

Why should we become aware of the significance of coding in our kids? There are several reasons for it, but the most crucial factor for that is, if they know how to code at a younger age, it significantly increases their chances of getting their dream job in the future.

Why is coding a vital skill to learn?

Knowing the basics of programming is a vital skill not only for adults but for children as well. Specifically, for the young ones, learning the fundamentals of coding in the early stages of life provides a massive benefit. 

One advantage of this skill is that when students are capable of creating simple websites and games, it will help them polish their logic, plans, and problem-solving skills. Besides, it also enables them to formulate ideas and show creativity in uncommon ways. That is why coding is indeed a useful tool for learning for children.

As we observe how the world develops, it is evident that coding is a highly essential skill to have. Why? Because there is a rising number of institutions that rely heavily on computer code, not just the sector in technology.

A student who knows how to code at an early age will possess an advantage in life. This advantage means more opportunities in employment waiting for them in the future. Regardless of which industry they will settle in, be it in the health sector, retail sector, finance sector, or others will never be a problem because our society currently revolves around technology.

So, if you have a child who spends a lot of time playing mobile games, why not incorporate coding into it? It is an excellent way for them to learn how to code while having fun at the same time. As kids expose themselves to technology, it will surely help them become a vital part of huge corporations as they grow up.

How can you teach your child to code?

This question is probably the first one an interested parent will ask. Well, many parents are as clueless when it comes to coding as the others, and that is particularly normal.

The most beneficial component of programming is that we can learn it at any period. Although the retention of various languages can be quite hard, especially for late adults, it can still turn out to be an excellent experience.

If you are going to ask about the most effective approach for your kids to learn to code, then the answer is for you to learn it with them.

You can stimulate interest in your children if they notice you doing the same.

So, if you become interested in coding and put in a little effort to learn it, chances are your children will follow.

To help you start, here are some top coding applications for kids.

Bee-Bot

Available on iOs and ANDROID

This app is available on Google Play and the App Store. The Bee-Bot floor robot inspired this coding application, which now enables the children to learn the fundamentals of programming at various levels quickly.

The little ones who learn to code may entirely use this application to enhance not their problem-solving skills alone, but also their programming skills. Bee-Bot has 12 levels encouraging progression in total. Each level is time-bound, and the quicker you complete the stage, the more stars you acquire.

It enables children to enhance their skills in directional languages together with programming through the various sequences of backward, forward, left, and right 90-degree turns in every level. 

The progression within this game will allow students to improve their knowledge and their problem-solving abilities through encountering difficult challenges throughout the various aspects of Bee-Bot.

Daisy the Dinosaur

available on all major platforms

This application is suitable for ages 5-8 and is free to download. Daisy the Dinosaur serves as an excellent foundation for programming or to assess your child’s curiosity in the topic. Kids can program Daisy and in the process, learn some fundamental practices of programming. 

Daisy the Dinosaur has a couple of sections for your students to explore, one is the free-play mode, and the other is challenge mode. 

In the free-play mode, juniors can explore with commands to see how Daisy will move as an outcome of their program. Meanwhile, in challenge mode, kids will challenge themselves to solve a presented problem.

They need to use the given commands to finish the challenge. Apply the smooth drag and drop symbols to make Daisy the Dinosaur move. This Gaming application sets the foundation for learning the fundamentals of programming.

The content in this application is not huge, but sufficient enough for a free app. 

Code Adventures: Coding Puzzles For Kids

available on ios and android

This remarkable app is ideal for ages 6 to 8 that concentrates on child-friendly computer coding puzzles.
This game features exciting puzzles while learning how to code, loveable characters, funny sounds, engaging visuals along with around 30 puzzle stages.

The main goal of this game of puzzles is to help Aurora go home by finishing the 30 stages of challenges. Also, this app works through different levels, which include the basics, functions, and repetitive control structures (conditional loops).

Students will have to set the commands into the correct order, which indicates a practice in sequencing ability. Besides, they will find the necessity to repeat the commands to help move the character around, as each movement hardly takes it one block in any direction.

The app slowly introduces different puzzle details such as ladders, movable bridges, flying platforms, and portals, which makes the programming even more enjoyable.

Children will solve tricky puzzles while learning how to code. It also grants an excellent opportunity for a family to bond together while stimulating the child’s curiosity in STEM subjects.

Kodable

avaialble on ios and android

This coding application cuts down computer science into the fundamental thoughts that children require to build a stable foundation in life. 

Kodable gives materials that concentrate on subjects ranging from communication and social-emotional knowledge to the real influence of computer science in the world.

This application hosts lessons for coding and games for children between 5 and 10. The main objective of Kodable is to assist elementary school educators in bringing programming basics into the classroom in the form of a game. 

While Kodable is indeed useful in the classroom setting, parents can also take advantage of this app to teach coding to their kids in an engaging and entertaining method. The design of the teaching guide of this app is so excellent that even people who have no experience in coding at all can also use it.

Kodable applies the sets of principles and processes of JavaScript, which makes it an outstanding source to learn to code for beginners. 

While this app focuses on younger ages, older children can take classes regarding JavaScript too. It will lead learners through the concepts of programming using various challenges and games, such as maneuvering a labyrinth. 

Kodable is one of the best apps for coding because it also enhances vital skills such as problem-solving abilities, social-emotional learning, decision-making abilities, communication skills, and a lot more.

ScratchJr

available on all mobile platforms and devices

This game is a free coding application for young children.  With the help of ScratchJr, kids ages 5 to 7 can program their games and stories. While having fun, children will develop their skills in problem-solving, project designing, and will be capable of expressing themselves creatively.

Students snap together blocks to help make the characters move, sing, dance, and jump. They can also modify the characters in the app using the paint editor, add their voice, and even add their photos, which can truly develop their imagination and creativity.

Furthermore, as children learn how to design projects and solve problems while playing the game, they can also enhance their abilities in sequencing, which is an essential factor throughout life.

To Conclude

A lot of people believe that teaching students to code is almost an impossible task, and they are correct. However, if you introduce yourself in these coding apps and by recognising the benefits of coding in your children, then you would probably change your mind.

Teaching the little ones how to code will truly be advantageous for them, particularly later in life. Not only that, learning how to code at an early age would grant them a skill that they can utilize throughout their lives, but it would also prepare them for several new careers that will arise. 

This effect is a result of the rising inclination of the current generation towards technology, which makes it more reasonable for every parent to introduce coding to their kids.

Teach your students the history of the internet

Many people alive today can’t remember a time before the internet; it can be easy to forget how recently the internet was closer to science fiction than reality. In a little over forty years, the internet has evolved from a small network to an almost infinite source of information available around the world -- and even in outer space.

This interactive website is a great opportunity to introduce students and teachers into the people, technology and events that led us to where we currently are in cyberspace.

Free Computational Thinking Graphic Organizer

Computational Thinking is being adopted through curriculum the world over as an essential thinking and problem solving strategy every student should know to survive in the 21st century workforce.

Don't let the name scare you though, computational thinking is  an incredibly simple concept which doesn't even require a computer.  Students aged 5 and up can apply it, and you have probably been using parts of it for decades without actually knowing.

It is a four step thinking process that can be applied to any problem, challenge or task.  The four steps are decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithmic design.  Be sure to watch the video below for a detailed explanation each of the four elements and how they work together. 

When you are ready to give computational thinking a go be sure to download our FREE COMPUTATIONAL THINKING GRAPHIC ORGANIZER which briefly explains the purpose, order of operations and context of Computational Thinking

Click here to download.  And, as always enjoy!!

Bebras Australia Computational Thinking Challenge

The next round of the BEBRAS Australia computational thinking challenge is occurring over the following weeks for teachers and students from years 3 - 12.

This is similar to challenges such as the Math's Olympiad but is more focused on general problem solving and use of logic. It is completely free and offers amazing data and analytics for students and teachers who are participating.

Above all else Bebras offers highly engaging resources and teaching and learning opportunities which are globally recognised as key components of a 21st century curriculum.

I can't recommend this enough for all teachers and am confident it will become a regular event on your school calendar.

http://www.bebras.edu.au/

Free interactive iPad skills poster for teachers and students

Download this in PDF Format below.

This free poster serves two purposes to both inform and educate students and teachers about nine essential iPad skills which enhance teaching and learning through the iPad.

It informs by visually prompting and reinforcing these skills to teachers and students as a simple poster.  More importantly it educates teachers and students about how to perform and use these skills through the use of video clips and other online resources.

To access these resources you will need to download a free QR reader on your iPad and scan the codes on the poster.  One I can recommend is Qrafter but any QR app should do.

The 9 essential skills are.

• Mastering control center
• Sharing your screen
• Splitting your keyboard
• Using Spotlight search
• Multitasking and screen splitting
• How to take great photos
• Using Cu, Copy and Paste effectively
• Saving images and screen capture.
• Connecting to the clouds

I hope you find this resource useful and please share it with others via social media and the web.

You can download this free high resolution poster by clicking here.