Welcome to 2024-25

Author

Neil Almond
September 03, 2024

Hi human,

I hope you had a restful break over the summer months. Across this academic year, it would be great to hear what you want from this newsletter. If you have ideas and ambition for what you would like to achieve with AI, do reply this.

There’s been a fair bit of news this past week, so let’s get to it!

📚 Knowledge builders

  • £3 Million → This is how much the Department for Education is providing to create a ‘content store’ to train AI models. This raises more questions than answers. Those that have engaged with this newspaper will know that the adage ‘rubbish in, rubbish out’ applies to data sets that generative AI tools get trained on. It would be interesting to know what, if any QA process, is involved to ensure that it is high-quality. In addition, AI companies can be awarded up to £1 million to use this data to support in reducing the workload of teachers. Entries for this begin September 9th.

🤖 Industry updates

  • Operation Saberwing Update → Over the summer, I mentioned about a private school that was going to use AI to teach some core subjects at GCSE. The story has since been picked up by other media vendors, and they have interviews the school. At the time, I was unsure as to what AI would be used, but from the video, it appears that they will be using CENTURY. Here are some videos aimed at primary and secondary. As ever, the marketing hype needs to match the outcomes. If you have used CENTURY, I would love to hear from you.

✨ Fresh prompts

  1. Synonyms and Antonyms →  

You are an expert in vocabulary instruction. Identify 5 tier 2 words from this passage:

It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.

Then, create a task around those words that focus only on synonyms or antonyms of them. This could be a multiple choice question or a fill the gap where pupils need to select the correct word from a list of antonyms or synonyms.

Here is a sample of the output:

Identified Tier 2 Words:

  1. Dreary

  2. Accomplishment

  3. Agony

  4. Convulsive

  5. Agitated

Vocabulary Task: Synonyms and Antonyms

Instructions: Below are sentences with a missing word. Choose the correct word from the list provided that either means the same (synonym) or the opposite (antonym) of the word in bold.

  1. The weather was dreary and gloomy, making the day feel longer than it actually was.

    • a) Cheerful

    • b) Bright

    • c) Dull

    • d) Stormy
      (Select a synonym)

  2. After weeks of hard work, the team celebrated their accomplishment.

    • a) Failure

    • b) Achievement

    • c) Disappointment

    • d) Loss
      (Select a synonym)

  3. The marathon runner felt a sense of agony as he pushed through the final mile.

    • a) Relief

    • b) Comfort

    • c) Pain

    • d) Pleasure
      (Select a synonym)

There are owe 1,500 of you reading these every week. Do share this with your wider networks using the link below.

As ever, thanks for reading and keep on prompting! Mr A 🦾