April 29

Voice to Text: AI or Human?

So, I’m wondering if my writing is going to come across as being written by AI. I’m using an app on my phone, AudioPen, to do a lot of voice-to-text journaling as I walk, drive, and think while I’m not able to type on my phone or computer. There’s definitely an AI component to converting my voice to text. It has been clearer than a lot of other sites and tools I’ve used, especially with my Yinzer accent from Pittsburgh.

But I am curious, if I run this through an AI detector, would it say it’s written by AI? There are all different ways you can adjust your writing or your voice-to-text writing. I keep it plain and simple and just me. Whether I’m right or not is one thing, but I feel that I am competent enough of a writer that I don’t need AI assistance outside of spelling and punctuation.

Just so you know, if anyone runs these through an AI detector and it shows up as AI, they’re my own thoughts. I just had a computer or artificial intelligence take my voice and put it into text for me since I don’t have the ability to drive and text or walk and text—walk and type, I should say. This is the great experiment in journaling. Ciao for now.

Category: Artificial Intelligence, Cool Stuff, Mobile Technology, Musings, Random Musings, Tech Tips | Comments Off on Voice to Text: AI or Human?
November 23

AI in the Classroom: Writing Assistant Part II

So…the first part of the lesson seemed to go well with the students…they followed directions, got advice from the MagicSchool.ai tool that was in the online space provided. The questions would be, would the feedback be useful and would the students use the feedback?

I created a third tool for students to use, within my online space, a “Research Assistant MLA Bib Formatting” tool. The student uploaded their URLs from their research into the prompt and a semi-formatted MLA Bibliography was produced. Tehy had some editting to complete, but the heavy lifting was done. This was very useful for the students who actually used it.

The answer is a mixed bag. Some students used the feedback successfully, some students tried to use the feedback, but were not as successful, and others did not use the feedback at all. That being said, I believe it was a worthwhile endeavor. Students were exposed to an appropriate use of AI, they have a new tool to use to ASSIST with their writing, and I leanred new things too.

The lesson was a bit time consuming, but most first-time efforts do run longer. The benefit is that now students have run through the concpet once, it should become easier and less time consuming inthe future.

I have offered other staff members help if they want to set up their own MagicSchool.ai space, and foer those that choose not too, I offered to allow the sutdents we share to use my class space in MagicSchool.

 

 

 

This Post is currently unfinished….

Category: class work, Cool Stuff, Honors US II, Lessons and Teacher Things, Musings, Random Musings, Student Projects, Student Stuff, Tech Tips, US II | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 12

AI in The Classroom: Writing Assistants

This school year I am rolling out my appropriate use of AI lessons sooner rather than later. We started just last week with a writing assignment, on paper. I have caught several students using AI to generate their work from scratch which I frown upon. I emphasize that they are all smarter than AI, AI just works faster than they do. (AI please don’t be offended by my comment.)

Students started out reseaching the following topic: Compare and Contrast Women’s Roles during World War Two in the US v. the USSR. They were to use at least three resources for information, Ask.com, History.com, and Wikipedia were permitted to be used, but not as the core three. I want them to expand their horizons when it comes to research sources. They were told that we would be using a “website” to help them edit their work later in the project.

Students then were tasked with writing out their information on paper, this was to somewhat prevent copying and pasting from an AI source. I know they could still use AI as the originator of their work and handwrite it, but that is more of a hassle than a copy and paste.  They submitted their rough drafts to me for review. I read and commented on each draft giving advice on what was strong and what could be improved.

The rough drafts were handed back and stuents were encouraged to start making adjusts while tyoing their work into Google Docs, I did not see a reason to have them edit on paper then type into Google. I already had a good snapshot of their work on paper and wanted to begin the streamlining segment of the project.

Today, I rolled out the Magicschool.ai component of the project. I modeled how Magicschool works, and showing them what I can see on the teacher-side of things. I copied a pasted a rough draft I typed up during my planning period and used the “Writing Feedback” tool I had opened for the class. The tool asked for a rubric or grading toics from the teacher, which I promptly uploaded. The “Writing Feedback” tool gave me a list of strengths, areas of growth, and general writing feedback. I then prompted Magicschool to make the necessary adjustments for me, to which it replied, sorry it cannot do that. It then gave me suggestions on how to make the upgrades myself. Students were instructed to use this tool several ties if mnecessary until they were happy with the editing process. After they are finsihed with this task, they can then use the “Text Proofreader” tool for one last review.

Students logged into the corresponding class period in Magicschool, then continued working on getting their rough drafts into Google Docs. I was able to work the room advising as need and also monitoring their work online on the teacher-side of Magicschool.

It is a lesson and work in progress, I hope to remember to make another post following up on how the lesson progressed in a few days or so.

Just as a disclaimer, AI was not used in the writing of this post…

 

 

Category: AI, class work, Cool Stuff, Honors US II, Lessons and Teacher Things, Musings, Random Musings, Student Stuff, Tech Tips, US II, World War II | LEAVE A COMMENT
March 9

Anchor Podcasting App

Anchor, Dundee WaterfrontCreative Commons License dun_deagh via Compfight

A new and FREE podcasting app came across one of my networks and caught my attention, Anchor.  This FREE podcasting app is available for both Apple and Android devices.  I downloaded it right away, but had not tested it out until yesterday, when my daughter and I relaxed at National Grind, a coffee shop in Ellwood City, PA after school.

I was grading student work, essay tests and projects, while she played Cool Math Games, Snail Bob was the specific game.  After awhile we both needed a break and decided to enjoy our beverages, I had a mocha latte, she had a Smore Hot Chocolate.  During our respite from work, she jumoed back into her Edublogs account; she is participating in the Edublogs Student Challenge again this year.  She updated her About Me page, and created an avatar to place on her blog.

I thought this would be the perfect time to try out Anchor, it took seconds to set up the account on my phone, link it to my Twitter account and start recording.  After a couple of miscues with releasing the record button, we recorded the following podcast.

You can even invite others to join your podcast from remote locations, we will try that soon.  I will follow up with another post once we officially try that out.  We ran a quick test later last evening, it is super simple to do.

Want to Podcast, give Anchor a try.  This is an unpaid discussion of the app and in no way endorses the product…all said for legal reasons…

Category: Cellphones in Education, Cool Stuff, Mobile Technology, Random Musings, Student Projects, Student Stuff, Tech Tips | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 7

I learned a new game today…

I learned a new game today, well I heard of it Saturday at EdCampPGH, but I tried it out with my students in class today.  The game is QuizletLive.  Students are broken into random teams and must communicate and collaborate to answer questions correctly.  My students loved it and I was able to use my existing Quizlet flashcards as the basis of the game.  There was no need to build new material, which a a HUGE time saver.  QuizletLive motivated my students, the vocabulary review grew into a repeated competition for class supremacy.

There is a brief tutorial video embedded in the site so there is no need to repeat instructions here.  You see live tracking of student progress while the students are playing.

In my not so humble opinion, the random grouping of students is probably one of the biggest benefits of this tool, along with using pre-existing resources.  Having students step out of their comfort zone to work with new group members is important.  They can no longer become complacent and work with their usual band of cohorts.

If you get the chance check it out…SOON.

Category: Cellphones in Education, Cool Stuff, EdCampPGH, iPads in Education, iPods in Education, Mobile Technology, PAECT, Random Musings, Tech Tips | LEAVE A COMMENT