Welcome to the new year, 2024! As we embark on another academic journey, I hope this message finds you well and energized for the exciting challenges ahead.

This edition of Teach with Tech includes:

📅 Tech Tips: ideas and resources to update your academic honesty policy in the age of AI
📝 Tech Tricks: three digital resources you can use in your classroom tomorrow

💻 EdTech Huddle: January 24- RSVP below

Warm Regards,

Ayla

This past year has seen a rise in student cheating through the use of generative artificial intelligence. In less than five minutes students can generate entire essays. With the right prompt, that essay can include errors, citations, and be written at specific grade-levels. Students not only access ChatGPT, but can use Snapchat and other social media apps to generate these essays. Although such activities generally fall within the purview of a school or classroom's academic honesty policy, many syllabi lack explicit language addressing the use of AI in academic work.

What should you consider when creating your policy? Here are five questions to jumpstart your thinking:

1. When is AI use permitted?
2. When is AI use forbidden?
3. How will students cite their use of AI or show what they've done with it?
4. What are the expectations for verifying the information learned using AI? Other sources?
5. What discussions or modeling need to occur in your classroom for students to learn how to use AI appropriately and ethically?

Resources for Creating Policies:

• Exploring the ethics of artificial intelligence in K-12 education - News- Michigan State University
• Acceptable Use Policy for AI in the ELA Classroom- Alice Keeler
• How to Develop Your Classroom, School, or District AI Policies (video)- AJ Juliani
• ChatGPT and Beyond: How to Handle AI in Schools- Common Sense Media
• Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Teaching and Learning- Office of Educational Technology
• Examples of College Classroom Policies

Let's start off the year strong with three digital tools you can use in your classroom tomorrow! These ideas were generated from watching videos of Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook who shared a variety of fun and free resources for teachers in December. I would encourage anyone with time to check-out his website; many of the resources and templates are free. I've also expanded on each of these topics to include resources beyond Matt's website.

A Digital Breakout or Escape emulates the traditional escape room concept, requiring participants to solve a series of clues to unlock virtual locks, sans the need for specialized equipment—just a device connected to the Internet. Whether undertaken individually or in groups, these escapes are easy to set up and execute. Teachers find them highly immersive, seamlessly integrating various subjects into the game to encourage critical thinking and independent problem-solving. Game durations range from a quick five-minute challenge to more intricate escape rooms lasting up to 45 minutes. Puzzles cater to different age groups, with tasks like matching letter sounds for younger students and more complex challenges involving mathematical equations and ciphers for older students.

Resources:

• Ditch that Textbook- free Escape Rooms (answers are included in the teacher packets)
• Tom's Digital Breakouts (free and Google based)
• Want more personalized content? Look into how to make your own escape room:
• Mastering the Digital Escape (not all example links work but there are some great resources and ideas in creating your own or having students create escape rooms
• Breakout Resources
  
• Breakout Tools

Blooket

Pronounced blue-kit, Blooket is a website that gamifies learning. The free version allows a teacher to have up to 60 players, create or discover sets, use unique game modes, and search for questions. It's great for students in grades 1-8 but can also be used in high school.

What's a Blook?

A Blook, according to their website, is a block that likes to play- and they represent student players.

Why Gamify?

Gamifying learning can make it fun and engaging while still being educational.

How it Works

1. Teacher's find (discover) a question set, import questions, or create a question set of their own on the content topic of their choice.
2. Then select the game mode- there are several different types of games including fishing, racing, fighting monsters, and cooking.
3. The teacher will host the game and have students join.
4. Students play to review by answering questions.
5. Finally, the teacher is able to analyze the results of how their students performed.

Teachflix is a sub-site of Ditch that Textbook. It is a collection of videos in sorted categories (content and grade bands) that teachers can use with students in class. These curated videos come from Matt, his team, and classroom teachers. While the site is still being built (there are not a ton of videos currently on there) the videos have been vetted by teachers. You can also access Matt Miller's Teaching with Teachflix Guide for ideas on activities to use when teaching with videos.

The EdTech Huddle is for all educators who want to expand their knowledge and use of educational technology. Especially those who use technology in the classroom, actively work to integrate technology into their lessons and curriculum, and are willing to share/model instructional tech to others in their schools and districts. There will be three in-person EdTech Huddles at the Pendleton IMESD. This year there will also be three Virtual Tech Talks- these are shorter and are more presentation based.

• Virtual Tech Talks 4:30-5:15pm Link to Meeting
• September 20, 2023
• November 15, 2023
• February 21, 2024
• EdTech Huddles 4:30-5:30pm in Lodgepole/Ponderosa at the Pendleton IMESD
• October 25, 2023
• January 24, 2024
• April 24, 2024

This is a monthly newsletter from the Instructional Services Department of the IMESD. It includes current issues and concerns of tech (within the realms of education), tips and tricks, resources, and suggestions.

If you would like more information EdTech tools, resources, or training, please contact:

Ayla Olson

Instructional Coach

Email: ayla.olson@imesd.k12.or.us

Phone: 541-966-4657

Website: sites.google.com/imesdapps.org/instructional-coaching