Faster than the fun-sized Hershey’s Special Dark chocolates will somehow disappear from our candy dish tonight before the trick-or-treaters arrive, here are the week’s best articles from Tech & Learning.
First, let's set the proper mood ... okay, now let's mash it up!
- 4 Ways One Professor Uses AI to Save Time and Help Students - Graham Clay uses AI to work smarter not harder–and save time … which can be better used in more worthwhile pursuits, such as finishing your Halloween costume. Best costume I ever saw firsthand: my buddy Mike as Pinhead from Hellraiser, for which he actually hot-glued nails to his face (and won $1,000!).
- I Tested Social Media Civility Around A Hot Topic And The Results Will Surprise You - At times it seems there may be nothing scarier than trying to navigate social media, what with the kids doing their Tikking and Tokking. Veteran educator Mike Gaskell has found that social media could be less of a horror show if approached properly.
- Best Free Social-Emotional Learning Sites and Apps - It’s important to teach students how to manage their emotions and mental health properly, as opposed to burying it all under a mound of the aforementioned Hershey’s Special Dark chocolates and ice cream. Which totally works (or so I hope).
- The Evolution of Education Spurred On by AI - AJ Juliani says don’t fear the reaper, er, AI. “It’s on all the devices we are already using, right?” he says. “All these kids in schools already have the devices, and then here comes AI. I think it’s going to be very impactful in a lot of different ways, both good and bad.”
- Teaching Robotics And STEM With The Help Of 3D Printers - Krzysztof Szyliński, a vocational tech teacher in Stargard, Poland, has his students use robots that work with a 3D printer to help create repair parts. Which seems like the pathway to self-replicating robots and the rise of Skynet and the horror of an apocalypse.
- Optimizing School Technology Budgets through Data-Driven Decisions - For those who may be spooked by the idea of using data, fear not! Frank Murray of Belton ISD has some great advice to bust your fears.
- TalkingPoints: How to Use It to Connect With Families - Looking for a trick to treat your families with better communication? TalkingPoints could be the app for you.?
- Frax: How to Use It to Teach Fractions - If your students are afraid of math, Frax teaches fractions in a fun, engaging way. Although I’ve never exactly been a fractions whiz, I've always understood that two out of three ain’t bad.
Alright, we’re like a bat out of hell heading into the Halloween weekend ahead. Enjoy responsibly!
