And breathe...

AI benefits from mindfulness too!

Author

Neil Almond
October 03, 2023

Hey human

This is the first newsletter of the month, so that means we have a spotlight on some new handy tools that teachers should know about, and a deeper dives section with podcast recommendation and an interesting read.

Knowledge builders 📚

  • Machine Learning (ML) → Often used as a synonym for AI, ML is a method for making predictions without a human coding predetermined rules. It does this thought analysing large data sets to find particular patterns and then construct a model. There are three common ML methods: supervised learning, unsupervised learning and reinforcement.

  • Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) → ITS have been studied for well over forty years. The systems deploy knowledge tracing and machine learning (a subset of artificial intelligence) through a diagnostic quiz to find an ideal starting point within a domain. It then serves up the next piece of knowledge, usually through a video, that the person likely to be able to master based on what it knows about your mastery of a domain. ALEKS is an example of an ITS.

Industry updates 🤖

An AI sentient doing some mindful breathing. This was generated in Bing using Dall-e 3

  • Open AI announces the next generation text-to-image model → Dall-e 3 will soon be made available to ChatGPT+ customers. This new model has major improvements over the previous generations. It can now incorporate text into the images it generates, understands far more nuance from the prompts you give and has safeguards for current artists.

Handy tools 🛠️

  1. Bing Chat from Microsoft → Probably the worst kept secret in AI. Microsoft invests heavily in OpenAI, so they get access to the ChatGPT4 models. Instead of paying £20 a month for ChatGPT, using Bing will deliver similar results. Bing is also connected to the internet, which brings other benefits like searching for current data. Many prompts we provide may use Bing, so be sure to look out which AI Tool we used when modelling prompts.

  2. QuestionWell → I saw this from @Missdcox on X (still feels wrong. I propose TwiX). Copy and paste text and it will create multiple choice quizzes based on that text. The secret sauce here though is that it can then export these question into Google/Microsoft Forms. This will provide the benefits of auto-marking and tracking specific knowledge goals using Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams.

Deeper dives 🔬 

🎙️ Mustafa Suleyman: Will AI save or destroy humanity? → Part of the Rest is Politics Leading series. This podcast is an interview with The DeepMind co-founder as he talks about the potential dangers AI may pose for humanity and what governments can do about it.

Fresh prompts ✨

  1. Foundation level: Interview prep → Generates some possible interview questions that you may be asked during an interview for a role. The deep structure of this prompts will look like this:

    I am applying for [job title, country the position is in and phase] What are some of the interview questions I may be asked?

    Use in ChatGPT.

I am applying for the post of an assistant headteacher of teaching and learning in an English secondary school. What are some of the questions I may be asked?

Here is a snippet of the output:

When applying for the position of Assistant Headteacher of Teaching and Learning in a UK secondary school, you can expect a range of questions during the interview process. These questions will assess your qualifications, experience, leadership skills, and your understanding of educational policies and practices. Here are some common questions you may encounter: Can you provide an overview of your educational background and relevant qualifications for this role?

  1. What motivated you to apply for the position of Assistant Headteacher of Teaching and Learning in our school?

  2. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest educational trends, research, and best practices?

  3. Can you describe your leadership style and provide examples of how it has been effective in improving teaching and learning?

  4. What is your approach to fostering a positive school culture and promoting staff morale?

  5. How do you plan to support and mentor teachers to enhance their teaching skills and effectiveness?

  6. Can you share your experience with curriculum development and how you would contribute to our school's curriculum improvement efforts?

  7. What strategies would you use to address underachievement and promote inclusivity among students?

  8. How do you assess the impact of teaching and learning initiatives, and can you provide examples of successful outcomes from your previous roles?

  9. How do you handle conflict and difficult situations among staff members, students, or parents?

  1. Expert level: Reminder to about an event for parents → The time of leaders in schools can be taken up by a whole host of often unpredictable events. Despite having a ‘to-do’ list, it’s possible that some of those items do not get the attention they deserve. Keeping parents abreast of events can be one thing that goes by the wayside. This prompt will help get you started. The deep structure of the prompt looks like this:

    I am a [your role and name of institution/school] I need to write a [style] [genre] to parents to remind them about the [event that is up coming]. [Additional detail].

    Use in ChatGPT. 

I am the Deputy headteacher of Strange Planet Primary School. I need to write a formal e-mail to parents to remind them about the Winter Fair. It is on Monday 20th October and starts at 3:30 until 5:00. There will be games and a disco for the pupils to enjoy as well as other stalls run by people from the local community. Pupils who normally go home by themselves must be picked up at 5:00.

Here is a snippet of the output:

Subject: Reminder: Winter Fair at Strange Planet Primary School on Monday, October 20th

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. We are excited to remind you about the upcoming Winter Fair at Strange Planet Primary School, which promises to be a delightful event for our students and the local community.

Details of the Winter Fair:

  • Date: Monday, October 20th

  • Time: 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM

  • Location: Strange Planet Primary School

The Winter Fair will feature a wide range of activities and attractions for both parents and students to enjoy. Here's what you can expect:

  1. Games and Entertainment: There will be an assortment of fun games and activities designed to keep our students engaged and entertained throughout the event.

  2. Disco: A lively disco will be set up for the students to dance and groove to their favorite tunes, creating lasting memories.

  3. Community Stalls: We are pleased to have members of our local community setting up stalls with various offerings, adding to the festive atmosphere.

We kindly request that parents of students who usually go home by themselves make arrangements to pick up their children promptly at 5:00 PM to ensure their safety.

The Winter Fair is an excellent opportunity for our school community to come together and enjoy a wonderful evening. We encourage you to invite friends and family to join us for this special occasion.

We look forward to seeing you there and making this event a resounding success. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you for your continued support in making Strange Planet Primary School a vibrant and inclusive learning environment.

Best regards,

[Your Name] Deputy Headteacher Strange Planet Primary School

We’re still in the experimental phases with Teacher Prompts—if you have any feedback on this newsletter, or ideas to make future ones better, just hit reply and let us know. ‘Till next week.

Mr A 🦾

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