Hi there, Eastern Oregon educators! February's edition is packed with useful tips around engaging students with AI and exploring some useful Canva features. Whether you're a tech-savvy teacher or a newbie, we hope you'll find something useful and inspiring in this newsletter.

This edition of Teach with Tech includes:

📅 Tech Tips: three ways to engage students using generative AI
📝 Tech Tricks: The Magic of Canva

💻 EdTech Huddle: February 21 4:30-5:15pm; RSVP below

Warm Regards,

Ayla

Student engagement is a key factor for effective learning, but it can be challenging to maintain with all the distractions students face today. AI can help teachers re-engage their students and provide them with personalized and interactive learning experiences. Here are three ways to use AI in your classroom:

This is a personalized and adaptive learning platform that uses AI to provide students with on-demand tutoring and feedback. Students can ask questions, get hints, check answers, and review concepts. Flexi is part of the CK-12 website and most helpful in the content areas of math and science.

This is a variation of the traditional think-pair-share activity, where students first think about a question or problem individually, then discuss it with a partner, then share their ideas with the whole class. In this version, students also use an AI tool (such as Perplexity, MagicSchool, SchoolAI, or ChatGPT) to generate or find answers, explanations, or examples. Then they compare and contrast their results with their partner and the class.

This is a fun and engaging way to practice critical thinking, argumentation, and communication skills. The teacher uses a tool (ChatGPT, MagicSchoolAI) to generate arguments for or against a given topic or statement. A good prompt to use for this is:

"You are going to debate our class on the topic of (insert topic), you are (insert side the AI should take). Your response and vocabulary should be appropriate for (insert grade levels). Provide your opening remarks in a short paragraph."

Then students debate the AI or each other using the AI-generated arguments as evidence or counter-evidence.

Canva for Education account holders (educators get free accounts) have access to the generative AI features called Magic Studio. There are three specific features that will make your job as a teacher easier and more efficient:

1. Magic Design creates a custom design using your words or image- it can be a poster, social media post or any other type of creative design.
2. Magic Write is similar to ChatGPT and works as an AI-powered teaching assistant. Type your prompt and generate content including lesson plans or worksheets.
3. Docs to Decks is an awesome tool that takes text and images from Canva Docs and transforms it into a presentation deck. You can generate the content of the Doc through Magic Write or copy and paste your own information into the Doc- then you click the Magic Convert and watch the magic happen.

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