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Discussion 1: Where Have I Been and Where Am I Going?

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Discussion 1: Where Have I Been and Where Am I Going?

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One of my goals is to promote creation with technology in my kindergarten classroom. This website has a lot of different applications to explore.

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Updated for 2020: Since this post was first written, the education landscape has changed greatly! We've updated it to include five more tech tools teachers can use to inspire creativity in the for virtual learning.
Virtual Learning Tools

The shift to remote learning had many teachers scrambling to find effective ways to share lessons, deliver instruction, and allow students to collaborate. Here are some of our favorite tools to get online/hybrid classes running effectively:

Ozobot 1:1 Program | Evo Student Packs

With the shift to remote learning, we knew we needed to work with districts, teachers, and our extended community to understand education's new challenges. The result is our 1:1 Robotics Program, designed for teaching core subjects anywhere without sacrificing STEAM. Each student receives a Student Pack-a care package from you to them-to make core subjects more hands-on and collaborative with their robot study buddy using our 2 Ways to Code. Plus, we made Ozobot Classroom remote-friendly, including a seamless Google Classroom integration and Learn Anywhere Lessons that can be used virtually or back in the classroom.

More good news: Ozobot qualifies for federal and state initiatives (CARES Act, 21st Century Schools etc), making 1:1 possible for educators nationwide. Sign up for a personal demo to learn more and see how we can be part of your K-12 solution to keep students engaged in class or at home.

Buncee

Buncee understands how much more kids learn if they're engaged, so their platform makes it easy to engage students from anywhere. Teachers have the flexibility to create activities that their class will enjoy with over 1000 templates, and students earn badges as they complete their work. Buncee also makes it easy for students to collaborate with sharing and discussion functionality.

Bakpax

Bakpax is an AI tool that autogrades student work, giving them (and the teacher) instant feedback on assignments! As teachers know, hand grading student work can take hours, so Bakpax allows teachers to save time with the more administrative aspects of teaching, so they can focus more on creative lessons/activities and individualizing student instruction.

Bakpax wants to support educators during the transition to remote learning, so teachers can currently access Bakpax for free!

Pear Deck

Pear Deck allows teachers to make lessons interactive so every student can actively participate, whether instruction is synchronous or asynchronous. It utilizes formative assessment, active learning, retrieval practice, and more to close the achievement gap, even for students who are learning from afar. Bonus: PearDeck has the stamp of approval from many Ozobot Certified Educators.

SeeSaw

Rather than limit students to one method for demonstrating their knowledge, SeeSaw allows students to show what they know with tools like draw+record, collage, video, and more. Educators report that SeeSaw is intuitive for students to use, so minimal support is required to use this tool!

For more tips on creating successful virtual learning environment, check out our Ozobot Certified Educator-hosted webinar!
Original post by Amanda Dodge:
Students who grow up with a love of learning are more likely to stay engaged in STEAM subjects and other lessons as they grow older. They won't take what they learn at face value, and will instead seek out ways to expand their knowledge and ask questions about what they learn.

Teachers are always looking for ways to pique student interest, from engaging experiments to unique learning methods. If you want to add fresh elements to your classroom and encourage your students to be creative, check out these tools. They might offer the tech solutions you need to wow your students during the learning process.

Evo Classroom Kit

We may be a little biased, but our personal favorite tool is the Evo Classroom Kit. This kit is made for students grades 4 through 8 and includes 12 Evos, accessories, and a driver's ed activity that allows students to program Evo's proximity sensors and other features. Plus, students and educators can explore over 100 STEAM lessons in the Lesson Library. Lessons cover a wide range of subjects along with Ozobot's two ways to code-online with OzoBlockly and screen-free with Color Codes. Teachers across the country have shared how they use their Classroom Kits to encourage creativity while teaching coding concepts. We pride ourselves on fostering a creative experience that motivates students to keep learning.

Nearpod

Nearpod specializes in multimedia displays to make discussions more engaging. One of their top tools for teachers is Nearpod VR, an affordable virtual reality headset that lets teachers explore different concepts in 3D. There are more than 450 VR tutorials, broken down by subject and grade level. Take your students to explore volcanoes or for a historic look at the Taj Mahal. This technology inspires curiosity about the world and student engagement in lessons.

Learn Around The World

The goal of Learn Around the World is to use technology to connect students and educators globally. They have events and collaborative projects where students can work with people in different countries, and virtual field trips for exploring foreign lands. LATW also has guest speakers and private events that teachers can take advantage of. Imagine speaking with someone who lives in Buenos Aires while learning about Argentina. Your students can ask questions and use their curiosity to spur discussion.

Buncee

Never sit through boring Powerpoint presentations again with Buncee, a multimedia display tool that allows students to easily create displays and narrate them through microphone recordings. There are more than 8,000 graphics to choose from and students can upload their own media as well. They can either create a presentation based on their own findings or use Buncee's tools to add graphics to their ideas. This is also a useful tool for students who might be too young for Powerpoint tutorials.

Glogster

Glogster is one of the fastest-growing multimedia management tools for teachers and students. Your students can easily create posts and other graphic designs to enhance their learning experience. This site also allows teachers to find awesome content. There are more than 40,000 Glogs shared online across 80 topics and nine disciplines. With over 1.9 million teacher accounts and 17 million student accounts, Glogster is a favorite worldwide.

FlipGrid

Do you wish classroom discussion could continue after the bell rings? Do you wish you could encourage quiet students to speak their minds without feeling intimidated? With FlipGrid, teachers create discussion topics and students can respond with video recordings. Their peers can respond to keep the discussion going. This tool helps students formulate their ideas in a pre-recorded setting, which means no one gets talked over or ignored by louder voices.

TodaysMeet

TodaysMeet provides a backchannel of discussion for your classroom. Teachers monitor chat discussions during the lessons and can respond to or highlight questions asked by students as they go. Instead of stopping the class or losing your train of thought to answer questions, teachers can set aside time for questions and discussion at various points throughout. Plus, quiet students can ask questions and voice their opinions without having to worry about speaking up or waiting until the end.

Microduino

Microduino offers small electronic building blocks that kids can creatively assemble to find solutions to problems or explore ideas. These blocks can be stacked on LEGO bricks, expanding your resources as far as your imagination will go. This product also has open-source code compatible with Scratch and other programs you might already use.

TinyTap

TinyTap is home to more than 100,000 learning activities for students and teachers to use. You can search for games for your kids to play to better help them understand concepts, or ask them to create games of their own. TinyTap Market encourages students to learn by teaching, and provides the tools to help people develop their own games. Creators can even sell their games to gain recognition for their work.

Because Learning

This tool is ideal for teachers who want to bring STEAM learning to the classroom but worry about their lack of programming background. You don't have to be a professional web developer to engage your students. Because Learning is designed for educators and offers STEAM kits based on national learning standards. You and your students can start creating in just a few steps.

SiLAS Solutions

More instructors are increasingly concerned with social skills and encouraging their students to work together. SiLAS Solutions is a tool that can help. Through video game technology and 3D development, students use characters and create conversations with their own voice recordings. They can make videos talking through problems and expressing their emotions. Grading is easy, with teachers able to assess students and provide feedback through the system.

Labster

Do you wish you had access to a University-calibre laboratory? Consider testing simulations with Labster. Students can run a variety of simulations on topics ranging from diabetes to herpetology. The software runs mathematical algorithms based on the criteria so students get a full lab experience. Teachers can grade participation in different parts of the simulation as they would with a full-fledged science lab.

PhET Sims

Another simulation software that younger students can use is PhET simulations. Teachers can filter simulations by grade level and topic and use them to explore different ideas in the classroom. The goal of this organization is to increase STEAM literacy worldwide and create engaging interactive content that encourages students to ask questions and explore topics beyond what the common core demands.

ZeeMaps

ZeeMaps is a tool that students and teachers can use to create their own graphics. You can create maps on a local, state, national, and even global level. Students can choose different map types and assign colors and labels as needed. This is perfect for creating visual aids for projects, mapping out complex concepts (like battles in a war or evolving country borders), and letting students learn in an interactive manner.

Tiki-Toki

Just as ZeeMaps is useful for mapping out various concepts and ideas, Tiki-Toki is great for developing timelines. Students can customize events and choose different formats to explore their ideas. They can provide as much information as they need to fully explain a topic. This tool is ideal for both classroom-led activities and solo work.

Popplet

Popplet is a mind-mapping and brainstorming tool for students. You can use this tool to guide assignments, encouraging students to create mind maps for their projects, or create a classroom-guided brainstorm to explore new ideas. This tool is also used in group projects to help students creatively come up with solutions to problems. It teaches the concept of brainstorming and has a useful option to save your ideas for later.

Venngage

You don't need to be an expert graphic designer to create engaging infographics for your classroom. Even better, your students can create graphics for you! Venngage offers free infographic tools to help students visualize their data and clearly present ideas. The infographics can be shared and saved online, so they can be used by students in real time and future students can also benefit.

Sutori

Sutori lets anyone build a multimedia-rich story that looks like a timeline, though the focus is on arranging information into an engaging, interactive format for storytelling. It's a useful format, too, because it's a more intuitive way to illustrate the relationships between concepts than, say, a slidedeck. The applications are many, as well: Teachers can use pre-made stories in their lesson plans (there are nearly 800,000 users, so stories are plenty), or they can create their own stories in a snap to use as teaching tools or study aids. What's more, stories can even be assigned as projects or homework, which could be a welcome alternative to an essay assignment.

Lifeliqe

With more than 1,100 3D models and 700 lesson plans, Lifeliqe provides an interactive way to meet Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. This tool has data behind its name: 86 percent of students who used their 3D models to learn improved their science scores. The company attributes their success to the idea that 65 percent of the population is made of visual learners. By connecting with kids in the way they learn best, they're more likely to enjoy the material.

Storybird

STEAM educators who are looking to add reading and writing elements to their curriculum can try Storybird. This company curates millions of images from illustrators across the world and encourages students and teachers to use them to tell stories. Consider assigning an image to each student and asking them to write about it, or ask them to create a book using the lessons they learned in science or math class. It's a great way to get creative with online tools.

KidBlog

If you're trying to get your students to blog more and reflect on what they learned, consider using Kidblog. Nothing goes live until the teacher approves it, so you have final say in what is published. KidBlog creates a safe space for students to publish content without exposing them to the trolls of the Internet. It's available for K-12 students and you can tailor your lessons based on the age group. You can also track engagement statistics each year to see if your students are reading each other's work.

LiveBinders

The goal of LiveBinders is to help educators and their students go paperless with digital binders. Users can save articles and videos, take notes, and post other forms of content in one place. They can also share binders with each other and collaborate to create something useful. With this tool, you never have to limit yourself to just one textbook or resource. You can keep all of your resources in one place for years to come, always adding when you find something new.

Padlet

Padlet is another collaboration tool that teachers can use. Students can submit a variety of supplemental material to make the learning process easier and can comment and interact with it as needed. Teachers can monitor all interactions that students have with the content and track engagement analytics. This tool can be used for any subject or grade level.

Celestia

This tool is definitely more space-focused instead of the other one-size-fits-all solutions on this list. However, it's rare to find such a dynamic resource for exploring outer space. Not only is there a wide variety of content on Celestia, but students and educators can customize the content or add their own based on their needs. If there's something you can't find, create it.

Project Noah

Launched in 2010, Project Noah was created to encourage citizen scientists to document the world around them. People can photograph organisms and share them online, helping scientists document the location and rarity of various species. Teachers can make this part of the classroom experience by turning students into citizen scientists sharing their discoveries.

Science360 Video Library

One of the biggest challenges that teachers face is modernizing the classroom and making students care about what they're learning. Part of the National Science Foundation, the Science360 Video Library shares the latest videos related to science, technology, and engineering. Whether you're introducing students to outer space discoveries or explaining undersea exploration, you can update those lessons with this video collection.

Teachers TryScience

If you're uncertain where to start with science and STEAM lessons, check out Teachers TryScience. Teachers can find lesson plans and follow different strategies and tutorials to make their content more engaging. It can be intimidating giving students the keys to explore a particular topic, but this site makes it easier.

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27 Tech Tools Teachers Can Use to Inspire Classroom Creativity | Ozobot

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Discover our favorite user-friendly tech tools for inspiring creativity for students learning in virtual or in-person classrooms!

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This is a free app that I explored that I would like to have added to our iPads in the classroom. Student learning is scaffolded and supported as they work through the different areas.

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Free, fun educational app for young kids | Khan Academy Kids

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Inspire a lifetime of learning with our educational app for kids ages 2-8. Kids can learn reading, writing, math, counting, ABCs, addition, subtraction, social-emotional skills, & more. 100% free on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Amazon

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This resource gives some practical ways that A.I. could be used in the classroom

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a hot topic in education in recent years. It has the potential to transform the way teachers teach and students learn in the classroom. By using AI, teachers can create a more personalized learning experience for each student, and help them to achieve their full potential. Here are five AI tools that can be easily integrated into our classrooms.

(Click on any subheading to jump to that section)

Education CoPilot streamlines your planning and prep with AI generated templates for lesson plans, writing prompts, educational handouts, student reports, project outlines and lots more.

This is an incredibly efficient way to gather content for those pesky units where you're scrambling to find resources for. In our example, we were working on a unit covering this standard: SC.1.E.6.2 Describe the need for water and how to be safe around water. After entering some information (including the standard), we were provided five lessons all covering the content!

There are also workshop tools that can help generate educational handouts, writing prompts, parent emails, and quiz builder. All are easy to use and require just a few clicks to generate! Check out how it all works below!

Curipod is an interactive presentations software for education, meetings and workshops, sparking curiosity and engaging everyone. Create your own presentations, or find premade templates and inspiration.

Enter the topic of your lesson, followed by learning objectives and standards. Give it a few seconds and Curipod will generate an interactive presentation that is fully editable! In our example, we were looking to create content on this standard: ELA.1.R.1.1: Identify and describe the main story elements in a story.

Curipod also features a Discovery library where users can access content created by other educators. The content can be narrowed down by subject, or by searching for what you're looking for! Check out the video below to see how it all works!

Now, whenever you can't find the perfect images, you only need to find the right words instead - then watch them magically come to life. Once you've entered your words, rather than combining existing images, Text to Image creates entirely new ones from scratch. From practical descriptions to whimsical concepts, Text to Image can create one-of-a-kind images, with the click of a button.

Canva is free for all educators, and "Text to Speech" is available in all Canva accounts now! Here's a quick overview / tutorial!

Deep Nostalgia is a video reenactment tool that will animate the faces in still photos. This feature uses deep learning technology to create animated, lifelike movements in static images, bringing old family photos to life.

Deep Nostalgia uses an artificial neural network to apply pre-recorded facial movements to a still photo. When a user uploads a photo, the AI analyzes the face in the photo and applies movements based on a library of pre-recorded facial expressions. These expressions are created by actors and used to simulate realistic movements such as blinking, smiling, and head tilting.

The result is a short video of a still image, where the subject's face appears to be moving and reacting to the environment around them. The effect can be striking, as it creates the impression of bringing a historical figure back to life. Check out the video below to see it in action!

Murf is a tool that allows users to turn typed text into speech. It offers a selection of 100% natural sounding AI voices in 20 languages to make professional voice over for your videos and presentations. Users can easily toggle the different voices to select a voice that is appropriate for the content.

Check out the video below to see how it all works!

Synthesia AI is a video production software that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create lifelike videos of people speaking in different languages or using different gestures, facial expressions, and body language. This technology allows users to create videos that appear to feature real people speaking and moving, even if those people never actually appeared on camera.

Synthesia AI works by analyzing a script, recording a voiceover, and then mapping the speech to a 3D model of a person's face and body. The AI algorithms then use this information to generate a video of the person speaking, complete with realistic facial expressions and body movements. The resulting videos can be customized in a variety of ways, including adding different backgrounds, changing the clothing or hairstyles of the virtual person, and altering the tone and speed of the voiceover. See it in action below!

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How to Use AI in the Classroom - @TheMerrillsEDU

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@TheMerrillsEDU share AI (artificial intelligence) tools that can be used in the classroom. These tools can be easily integrated with your content and be used immediately!

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This is an article that I found that I think could be useful to share with colleagues to help them learn more about Chat GPT and how to use it.

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ChatGPT has continued to dazzle the internet with AI-generated content, morphing from a novel chatbot into a piece of technology that is driving the next era of innovation. No tech product in recent memory has sparked as much interest, controversy, fear, and excitement.

If you're just now catching on, it'd be fair to wonder what the fuss is all about. You can try it out for yourself for free (or use the official free iOS app), but here's the detailed guide you've been looking for - whether you're worried an AI apocalypse or are just looking for an intro guide to the app.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a natural language AI chatbot. At its most basic level, that means you can ask it any question, and it will generate an answer.

As opposed to a simple voice assistant like Siri or Google Assistant, though, ChatGPT is built on what is called an LLM (Large Language Model). These neural networks are trained on huge quantities of information from the internet for deep learning - meaning they generate altogether new responses, rather than just regurgitating specific canned responses. They're not built for a specific purpose like chatbots of the past - and they're a whole lot smarter.

This is implied in the name of ChatGPT, which stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer. In the case of the current version of ChatGPT, it's based on the GPT-3.5 LLM. The model behind ChatGPT was trained on all sorts of web content including websites, books, social media, news articles, and more - all fine-tuned in the language model by both supervised learning and RLHF (Reinforcement Learning From Human Feedback). OpenAI says this use of human AI trainers is really what makes ChatGPT stand out.

ChatGPT was first launched as a prototype to the public in November 2022, quickly growing to over 100 million users by January of 2023, making it the most quickly-adopted piece of software ever made.

How to use ChatGPT

First, go to chat.openai.com. If it's your first time, you'll need to set up a free account with OpenAI before getting started. You have the option of choosing an easy login with a Google or Microsoft account, or just entering your email address. You'll be asked next to enter a phone number; however, keep in mind that you cannot use a virtual phone number (VoIP) to register for OpenAI. You will then receive a confirmation number, which you will enter on the registration page to complete the setup.

You'll see some basic rules about ChatGPT, including potential errors in data, how OpenAI collects data, and how users can submit feedback - all of which have some wondering about whether or not ChatGPT is safe to use. Once you're through that, you know you have successfully registered. You're in!

Using the ChatGPT chatbot itself is fairly simple, as all you have to do is type in your text and receive information. The key here is to be creative and see how your ChatGPT responds to different prompts. If you don't get the intended result, try tweaking your prompt or giving ChatGPT further instructions. ChatGPT knows the context of previous questions you ask, so you can refine from there rather than starting over fresh every time.

For example, starting with "Explain how the solar system was made" will give a more detailed result with more paragraphs than "How was the solar system made," even though both inquiries will give fairly detailed results. Take it a step further by giving ChatGPT more guidance about style or tone, saying "Explain how the solar system was made as a middle school teacher."

You also have the option for more specific inputting requests for an essay with a specific number of paragraphs or a Wikipedia page. We got an extremely detailed result with the request "write a four-paragraph essay explaining Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." And remember, ChatGPT is great at making tweaks to previous answers, so you can always ask for more detail, ask it to rewrite something, or ask further questions.

If there is enough information available, the generator will fulfill the commands with accurate details. Otherwise, there is potential for ChatGPT to begin filling in gaps with incorrect data. OpenAI notes that these instances are rare, but AI "hallucinations" certainly do happen. The company also notes that ChatGPT, which uses the GPT-3.5 LLM (large language model), currently has "limited knowledge of world events after 2021." For more recent knowledge of the world, consider using another tool like Bing Chat.

Even so, you have the option to input queries continuously until you close your browser or reset the thread to clear your previous requests. These chats are then saved in conversations in the sidebar, even automatically naming the chat. From there, you can manage these chats, renaming or deleting them as needed. You can even "hide" specific chats if needed.

You also have the option to use ChatGPT in dark mode or light mode.

Unlike Bing Chat, which can now generate images with Bing Image Creator and receive images as prompts for questions, ChatGPT only works with text in both directions. Google Bard also recently got this feature included.

How to use the ChatGPT iPhone app

After many months of anticipation, OpenAI has finally launched an official iOS app that you can go and download today. The app quickly topped half a million downloads in less than a week and is becoming available in an increasing number of countries.

Instructions for using it aren't dissimilar to the ChatGPT web application. You do get an extra option for signing in using your Apple ID account, but it otherwise functions nearly identically to the web app - just type in your question and let the conversation begin.

The clean interface shows your conversation with GPT in a straightforward manner, hiding the chat history and settings behind the menu in the top right.

For those who are paying for ChatGPT Plus, the app lets you toggle between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 too. You can even use the microphone to chat with ChatGPT over voice.

As our mobile editor noted in his experience with the app, it still doesn't provide a connection to the internet like chatbots like Bing Chat and Perplexity.

Please note, though, that there is no official Android, Mac, or Windows app just yet. If you're using one of those platforms, we recommend sticking to the web app to avoid any possible scams or fakes.

Is ChatGPT free to use?

Yes, the basic version of ChatGPT is completely free to use. There's no limit to how much you can use ChatGPT in a day, though there is a word and character limit for responses.

It's not free for OpenAI to continue running it, of course. Initial estimates are currently that OpenAI spends around $3 million per month to continue running ChatGPT, which is around $100,000 per day. A report from April indicated that the price of operation is closer to $700,000 per day.

Beyond the cost of the servers themselves, some egregious information has recently come out about what else has been done to train the language model against producing offensive content.

OpenAI also has a premium version of its chatbot, called ChatGPT Plus. It costs $20 a month but provides access even during peak times, faster responses, and first access to new features like GPT-4.

Who created ChatGPT?

ChatGPT was created by an organization called OpenAI, a San Francisco-based AI research lab. The organization started as a non-profit meant for collaboration with other institutions and researchers, funded by high-profile figures like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk.

OpenAI later became a for-profit company in 2019 and is now led by its CEO, Sam Altman. It runs on Microsoft's Azure system infrastructure and is powered by Nvidia's GPUs, including the new supercomputers just announced this year. Microsoft has invested heavily in OpenAI too, starting in 2019.

What does the ChatGPT 'At Capacity' error mean?

Many people attempting to use ChatGPT have been getting an "at capacity" notice when trying to access the site. It's likely behind the move to try and use unofficial paid apps, which have already flooded app stores and scammed thousands into paying for a free service.

Because of how much ChatGPT costs to run, it seems as if OpenAI has been limiting access when its servers are "at capacity." It can take as long as a few hours to wait out, but if you're patient, you'll get through eventually. Of all the problems facing ChatGPT right now, this had been the biggest hurdle for keeping people from using it more. In some cases, demand has been so high that ChatGPT has gone down for several hours for maintenance multiple times over the past few months.

This seems to be less of a problem recently, though, as demand has normalized and OpenAI has learned to manage the traffic better, but in the middle of the day, it still makes an appearance from time to time.

Latest ChatGPT controversies

Although ChatGPT is a very useful tool, it isn't free of problems. It's known for making mistakes or "hallucinations," where it makes up an answer to something it doesn't know. A simple example of how unreliable it can sometimes be involved misidentifying the prime minister of Japan.

Beyond just making mistakes, many people are concerned about what this human-like generative AI could mean for the future of the internet, so much so that thousands of tech leaders and prominent public figures have signed a petition to slow down the development. It was even banned in Italy due to privacy concerns, alongside complaints from the FTC - although that's now been reversed.

Speaking of bans, a number of high-profile companies have been disallowing use of ChatGPT internally, including Samsung, Amazon, Verizon, and even the United States Congress. Apple is also on the list, though Tim Cook stated that he uses it, just weeks after having it banned.

There's also the concern that generative AI like ChatGPT could result in the loss of many jobs - as many as 300 million worldwide, according to Goldman Sachs.

Beyond that, multiple controversies have also sprung up around people using ChatGPT to handle tasks that should probably be handled by an actual person.

For example, Vanderbilt University's Peabody School was recently under fire for generating an email about a mass shooting and the importance of community. In addition, JPMorgan Chase is restricting the use of the AI chatbot for workers, especially for generating emails, which companies like Apple have also prohibited internally.

The largest controversy to spring up since the release has been ChatGPT passing the Wharton MBA exam. According to the school, ChatGPT scored between a B- and B on the MBA exam and provided "excellent" responses.

Lastly, ChatGPT was even made able to generate Windows 11 keys for free, according to one user. Of course, this is not how ChatGPT was meant to be used, but it's significant that it was even able to be "tricked" into generating the keys in the first place.

Can ChatGPT be detected?

Teachers, school administrators, and developers are already finding different ways around this and banning the use of ChatGPT in schools. Others are more optimistic about how ChatGPT might be used for teaching, but plagiarism is undoubtedly going to continue being an issue in terms of education in the future. There are some ideas about how ChatGPT could "watermark" its text and fix this plagiarism problem, but as of now, detecting ChatGPT is still incredibly difficult to do.

ChatGPT recently launched a new version of its own plagiarism detection tool, with hopes that it will squelch some of the criticism around how people are using the text generation. It uses a new feature called "AI text classifier," which operates in a way familiar to other plagiarism software. According to OpenAI, however, the tool is still a work in progress and is "imperfect."

Other tools like GPTZero claim to help detect ChatGPT plagiarism, too. Although they work, some extra editing on AI responses can still trip up these tools.

Common uses for ChatGPT

Well, that's the fun part. Since its launch, people have been experimenting to discover everything the chatbot can and can't do - and some of the results have been mind-blowing.

Learning the kinds of prompts and follow-up prompts that ChatGPT responds well to requires some experimentation though. Much like we've learned to get the information we want from traditional search engines, it can take some time to get the best results from ChatGPT. If you want to get started, we have a roundup of the best ChatGPT tips.

It really all depends on what you want out of it. To start out, try using it to write a template blog post, for example, or even blocks of code if you're a programmer.

Our writers experimented with ChatGPT too, attempting to see if it could handle holiday shopping or even properly interpret astrological makeup. In both cases, we found limitations to what it could do while still being thoroughly impressed by the results.

But the fun is in trying it out yourself. Whether you think ChatGPT is an amazing piece of tech or will lead to the destruction of the internet as we know it, it's worth trying out for yourself to see just what it's capable of.

You can't ask anything, though. OpenAI has safeguards in place in order to "build a safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence." That means any questions that are hateful, sexist, racist, or discriminatory in any way are generally off-limits.

What are ChatGPT plugins?

The announcement of ChatGPT plugins caused a great stir in the developer community, with some calling it "the most powerful developer platform ever created." AI enthusiasts have compared it to the surge of interest in the iOS App Store when it first launched, greatly expanding the capabilities of the iPhone.

Essentially, developers will be able to build plugins directly for ChatGPT, to open it up to have access to the whole of the internet, and connect directly to the APIs of specific applications. It's ChatGPT out in the real world. Some of the examples provided by OpenAI include applications being able to perform actions on behalf of the user, retrieve real-time information, and access knowledge-based information.

It's currently only available on a waitlist, but early applications to use plugins with ChatGPT include Expedia, Instacart, Slack, and OpenTable - and now there are lots to explore, including the ones we've seen as the best ChatGPT plugins to try out.

Is there a ChatGPT API?

Outside of the ChatGPT app itself, many apps have announced partnerships with OpenAI using the ChatGPT API. So far, the most prominent examples is Snapchat's MyAI.

Essentially, this is a way for developers to access ChatGPT and plug its natural language capabilities directly into apps and websites. We've seen it used it all sorts of different cases, ranging from suggesting parts in Newegg's PC builder to building out a travel itinerary with just a few words.

What's the future of ChatGPT and GPT-5?

There's no doubt that the tech world has become obsessed with ChatGPT right now, and it's not slowing down anytime soon. ChatGPT-4, the next iteration of the model, has officially launched, though it's currently only available for ChatGPT Plus. We do know, however, that Bing Chat is at least partially built on the GPT-4 language model, even if certain elements such as visual input aren't available.

But the bigger development will be how ChatGPT continues to be integrated into other applications. Microsoft reportedly made a multibillion-dollar investment in ChatGPT, which is already starting to pay off. The first integration was in Teams Premium, with some of OpenAI's features showing up to automate tasks and provide transcripts. Most prominently, Microsoft revealed 365 Copilot, which integrates ChatGPT natural language prompts directly into Office apps like Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.

There were initial reports that GPT-5 is on the way and could finish training later this year, with some people claiming that it would achieve AGI (artificial general intelligence). That's a big, controversial statement, but clearly, things are progressing at a rapid pace.

Since then, OpenAI has stated that GPT-5 is not on the timeline and is not currently planned. That being said, the next version, GPT-4.5, is currently training and may be available by later this year. OpenAI indicated that it may be done planning as early as September or October.

All that to say, if you think AI is a big deal now, just wait until it's built into the most common applications that are used for work and school.

ChatGPT alternatives worth trying

ChatGPT remains the most popular AI chatbot at the moment, but it's not completely without competition. Microsoft's Bing Chat is the biggest rival, which uses OpenAI's GPT-4 model as a basis for its answers. Although it requires downloading the Edge browser to use, Bing Chat is free and offers some added feature such as different writing modes, image creation, and search links. It even got a significant update recently that introduced features like export, third-party plugins, and multimodal support. There's also YouChat, which uses GPT-3, an older model from OpenAI, and Forefront AI, which gives you access to GPT-4 and beyond.

The biggest non-GPT competitor to ChatGPT is Google Bard. It's based on Google's own homegrown language model, LaMDA, and Google seems intent on competing directly with OpenAI with Google Bard. The most recent updates make it a far more compelling alternative to ChatGPT, even if it's not quite there.

There are a number of other chatbots out there, some of which are based on Meta's open-source language model, LLaMA, such as Vicuna and HuggingChat.

Other things to know about ChatGPT

Are ChatGPT chats private?

It depends on what you mean by private. All chats with ChatGPT are used by OpenAI to further tune the models, which can actually involve the use of human trainers. No, that doesn't mean a human is looking through every question you ask ChatGPT, but there's a reason OpenAI warns against providing any personal information to ChatGPT.

It should be noted that if you don't delete your chats, the conversations will appear in the left sidebar. Unlike with other chatbots, individual chats within a conversation cannot be deleted, though they can be edited using the pencil icon that appears when you hover over a chat. When you delete the conversations, however, it's not that ChatGPT forgets they ever happened - it's just that they disappear from the sidebar chat history.

Fortunately, OpenAI has recently announced a way to make your chats hidden from the sidebar. These "hidden" chats won't be used to train AI models either.

When was ChatGPT released?

ChatGPT originally launched to the public in November of 2022 by OpenAI. The chatbot is based on the GPT-3.5 LLM, which is a fine-tuned version of GPT-3, a model first launched on March 15, 2022. GPT-3 itself, though, has been around for a few years now. It was first released in June 2020, but only as an autoregressive language model.

The predecessors to GPT-3 had very limited public exposure. GPT-2 was announced in February 2019, and the first research paper on GPT was published on OpenAI's website in 2018.

Will ChatGPT replace Google Search?

Rather than replace it, chatbots are likely to be integrated directly into search. Microsoft has already this with Bing Chat and Bing, which puts a "chat" tab right into the menu of Bing search.

Even Google's has begun experimenting with integrating the smarts of Google Bard into search through its Search Generative Experience. We're in the early days where all these exist has different products, but it's not hard to imagine a future where it's a completely unified experience.

Is Bing Chat the same as ChatGPT?

Microsoft has officially brought ChatGPT to Bing in the form of Bing Chat. After a long beta period, it was officially available to try out. But unlike ChatGPT, Bing Chat does require downloading the latest version of Edge. So Safari or Chrome users are out of luck.

In the early days of its release, Bing Chat was capable of some unhinged responses, but Microsoft has been quick to tame things a bit. It was recently announced that Bing Chat is using the latest GPT-4 language model, meaning it's more powerful and accurate than ChatGPT. The new Edge Copilot mode also provides a more user-friendly way to get started, offering suggested prompts, links to learn more, and ways to tweak the kinds of answers it gives you. And now with the Windows Copilot, Bing Chat will live right on your desktop.

Is Google Bard the same as ChatGPT?

Unlike Bing Chat, Google Bard uses an entirely different LLM to power its natural language capabilities. Upon its release, Bard has been using LaMDA, the company's own model, which stands for Language Model for Dialogue Applications. As has been demonstrated from early on, Bard didn't have quite the precision in its answers.

Reports indicate, however, that Bard is getting a massive update soon, going from being trained on 30 billion parameters up to 600 billion parameters. That could make it closer to what is possible with GPT-4.

Can you write essays with ChatGPT?

The use of ChatGPT has been full of controversy, with many onlookers considering how the power of AI will change everything from search engines to novel writing. It's even demonstrated ability to earn students surprisingly good grades in essay writing.

Essay writing for students is one of the most obvious examples of where ChatGPT could become a problem. ChatGPT might not write this article all that well, but it feels particularly easy to use for essay writing. Some generative AI tools, such as Caktus AI, are built specifically for this purpose.

Can ChatGPT write and debug code?

Absolutely - it's one of the most powerful features of ChatGPT. As with everything with AI, you'll want to double-check everything it produces, because it won't always get your code right. But it's certainly powerful at both writing code from scratch and debugging code.

Developers have used it to create websites, applications, and games from scratch - all of which are made more powerful with GPT-4, of course. There's even a plug-in called ChatGPT Code Interpreter that makes programming with AI even more accessible.

What is the ChatGPT character limit?

OpenAI doesn't set an exact character limit, but it will cut off around its responses at about 500 words or 4,000 characters. If you happen to give the chatbot a request for a specific number of words above 500, you might find that it cuts off mid sentence somewhere after 500 words.

One way to get around this is just to ask it to "go on" or "continue," but it depends on the prompt and type of response. Sometimes ChatGPT will more or less repeat the previous answers in different words.

The best way to get access to responses with longer characters is to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus.

Is there a ChatGPT bug bounty program?

Yes. A bug bounty program for ChatGPT was recently announced. The program was unveiled officially on OpenAI's website, which details the types of "cash awards" that are being offered. They range from $200 to up to $20,000 for what it calls "exceptional discoveries."

While addressing security researchers interested in getting involved in the program, OpenAI said it recognized "the critical importance of security and view it as a collaborative effort. By sharing your findings, you will play a crucial role in making our technology safer for everyone."

Do you need to download ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is available via a webpage, so no downloading is needed. However, OpenAI has finally released a free, official iOS app which needs to be downloaded from the iOS app store. For many months, the various app stores were full of fake versions. These are still out there, though, and should be installed and used with caution, as they are not official ChatGPT apps. There is no still no official Android app.

On desktop, there are a couple of ways to install ChatGPT, though. First, you can navigate to the ChatGPT website and save it as a Windows app through Edge. Go to the site, click the ellipsis menu, and hover over Apps. Select Install this site as an app to load ChatGPT from your desktop.

Other tools like MacGPT also allow shortcuts to access the browser service from your desktop. Recently, OpenAI made the ChatGPT API available to everyone, and we've seen a surge in tools leveraging the technology, such as Discord's Clyde chatbot.

Can you use ChatGPT on iPhone or Android?

Now that there's an official iOS app, you no longer have to rely solely on the web app to use ChatGPT on your phone. So, whether with the official app as downloaded through the app store or just the web version, you can certainly use ChatGPT on iPhones. In addition, there's even a way to replace Siri with ChatGPT on your iPhone, as well as some useful mobile apps like Perplexity AI.

As for Android, you'll need to rely on the web app. Just as on desktop, just type in chat.openai.com to start using ChatGPT.

Can you get ChatGPT to answer any question?

Not exactly. ChatGPT has limitations in the kinds of questions it can answer. First of all, it can't write about anything that requires internet knowledge after late 2021, which is when its training stopped.

Beyond that, ChatGPT is careful about answering questions that might imply illegal, explicit, or damaging activity. It'll avoid swearing or political debates, and will (usually) avoid making malware. There is some amount of jailbreaking that can be done to get around these restrictions, but OpenAI is constantly tightening its content policies to restrict unwanted answers.

What is Auto-GPT?

Built on GPT-4, Auto-GPT is the latest evolution of AI technology to cause a stir in the industry. It's not directly related to ChatGPT or OpenAI - instead, it's an open-source Python application that got into the hands of developers all over the internet when it was published on GitHub.

With ChatGPT or ChatGPT Plus, the capabilities of the AI are limited to a single chat window. Auto-GPT, at its simplest, is making AI autonomous. It can be given a set of goals, and then take the necessary steps towards accomplishing that goal across the internet, including connecting up with applications and software.

According to the official description on GitHub, Auto-GPT is an "experimental open-source application showcasing the capabilities of the GPT-4 language model. This program, driven by GPT-4, chains together LLM 'thoughts', to autonomously achieve whatever goal you set. As one of the first examples of GPT-4 running fully autonomously, Auto-GPT pushes the boundaries of what is possible with AI."

The demo used on the GitHub page is simple - just create a recipe appropriate for Easter and save it to a file. What's neat is how Auto-GPT breaks down the steps the AI is taking to accomplish the goal, including the "thoughts" and "reasoning" behind its actions. Auto-GPT is already being used in a variety of different applications, with some touting it as the beginning of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) due to its autonomous nature.

What is GPT-4 and how does it compare to GPT-3.5?

GPT-4 is a more advanced LLM - the most powerful that OpenAI currently offers. At the current moment, OpenAI only offers access to GPT-4 through ChatGPT Plus. GPT-3.5, on the other hand, is the LLM that powers the free ChatGPT tool. OpenAI no longer says exactly how many parameters these advanced models are trained on, but it's rumored that GPT-4 boasts up to 1 trillion parameters.

Regardless, the results are a fairly dramatic difference between GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 in terms of quality. It offers much more precise answers, is significantly better at coding and creative collaboration, and can provide (and respond to) much longer selections of text. GPT-4 remains the best possible model available, while GPT-3.5 is more in line with some other models available.

Who owns the copyright to content created by ChatGPT?

This is a question open to debate. Much of the conversation around copyright and AI is ongoing, with some saying generative AI is "stealing" the work of the content is was trained on. This has become increasingly contentious in the world of AI art. Companies like Adobe are finding ways around this by only training models on stock image libraries that already have proper artist credit and legal boundaries.

According to OpenAI, however, you have the right to reprint, sell, and merchandise anything that was created with ChatGPT or ChatGPT Plus. So, you're not going to get sued by OpenAI.

The larger topic of copyright law regarding generative AI is still to be determined by various lawmakers and interpreters of the law, especially since copyright law as it currently stands technically only protects content created by human beings.

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This article is written to help parents better understand Chat GPT. It outlines both the benefits and the potential risks, and gives parents ideas for navigating the technology together. This could also be brought into the classroom for teachers to use with students.

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Is Chat GPT Good For Kids' Education? What Parents Need to Know in 2023 - {igebra.ai}

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First Assignment: Storybird

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Storybird Katie Pitts EDIT 6220 Summer 2023

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This article and video helped me to better understand Brain Computer interface technology.

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Techslang - Tech Explained in Simple Terms

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A brain-computer interface (BCI), also known as brain-machine interface or mind-machine interface, is a direct link between the human brain and an external computer. The technology harnesses electrical signals produced by the brain. A device amplifies these signals and sends them to a piece of software that figures out how they should control the computer.

It sounds effortless, doesn't it? But, naturally, there's much more to it than that.

How does the Brain Produce Electrical Signals?

The human brain is made up of nonconducting tissue, so how is it able to generate electrical signals? It does this through complex chemical reactions that take place when thoughts are produced. Ions float in and around the neurons of the brain in a state of delicate equilibrium. When thoughts and impulses are created, the balance changes, and the movement of ions to restore it manifests as electrical signals.

How does the Brain Control an External Computer?

To control a computer, you need to detect the electrical signals from the brain, amplify them, and then interpret these into corresponding computer actions. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a reasonably common technology used by neurologists to monitor the electrical activity of a brain. EEG is the easiest and least invasive way to record a brain's electrical output.

The signals are then passed on to the BCI software, which makes use of machine learning (ML) algorithms that have been trained to recognize EEG readings associated with specific emotions and actions. The algorithms tag the EEG data with the corresponding commands to control the computer, and the BCI carries out these commands.

Using this system, you can move the computer's cursor to the left or right by merely thinking about moving left or moving right.

Why is a Brain-Computer Interface Useful?

Using a BCI is a relatively new and unexplored field. As people get to understand better how it works, they are discovering more useful ways to employ the technology. One of the most attractive prospects is using it to control devices remotely. To date, there have been successful attempts at using BCI to control robots in hostile environments.

It is also helping us understand the detailed workings of the brain, mainly how biological neural networks function in real-time. BCI development can have many implications in artificial intelligence (AI) and artificial neural network research and development.

Researchers are also excited about the prospects of using BCI technology to improve the lives of people who have lost the use of their limbs. The late celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking was able to communicate his brilliant ideas by using a device that detected the movement of his cheeks and synthesized his speech. A BCI would have tapped directly into his brain and given him not just the ability to speak, but also to control prosthetic devices and computers.

Perhaps one of the most awaited developments is using brain-computer interfaces to control videogames. BCI technology promises to take virtual reality (VR) video gameplay to a whole new level for EEG-wired players.

What are the Barriers to the Development of Brain-Computer Interfaces?

The prospects of using BCI technology are enormous, and we may not even understand the extent of its full potential. But some issues are blocking progress in this field. Check out this short video to learn about some of the possibilities and the challenges facing BCIs:

While EEG is noninvasive, some advanced applications may require implanted sensors that directly interface with neurons. The technology to do this, however, is not yet fully developed, and many technical issues need to be resolved to advance to this level.

Some people are also objecting to BCI use based on ethical grounds. They fear that if the human brain can be connected to a machine, then it may not take long until others can hack into and take control of someone else's mind.

What are the Real-World Applications of BCI Technology?

While BCI use is still bereft of several issues, it has useful applications that are already making a significant impact on end-users. Its beneficiaries would fall under three groups, namely:

1. Individuals who no longer have neuromuscular control or paralyzed

2. People who have little neuromuscular control and so suffer from muscle twitches or have limited eye movement

3. Individuals who still have considerable neuromuscular control but need muscle-based assistive technology to do specific tasks

It remains unclear whether paralyzed people can still benefit from BCI. Also, BCI applications still need to be carefully assessed to determine if they can remedy issues related to attention, alertness, and higher cortical functions.

Despite the hurdles, however, we continue to see BCI's adoption specifically for the following functions:

Communication

Researchers are currently using BCI to develop assistive technology for patients with physical impairment. These include those who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (AML) or little neuromuscular control. Patients who have late-stage AML can lose motor control, including the ability to speak. They can use BCI-powered EEG headsets that record brain signals and spell out their messages for others to read.

Other patients who can benefit from using BCI-powered EEG headsets include those with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, chronic peripheral neuropathies, and brainstem stroke.

Locomotion

Some researchers are currently developing BCI-driven wheelchairs to provide some form of mobility for paralyzed patients. This technology employs intelligent algorithms to ensure that the user gets assistance when they give commands to the wheelchairs.

Movement control

Another useful BCI application is restoring motor control in paralyzed patients. Experts have used BCI technology to develop exoskeleton prosthesis that allows patients to carry out motor functions that they lost along with their limbs. A study also revealed that tetraplegic patients could control an electrically driven hand orthosis using EEG signals from their brains. As such, the patient was able to control the paralyzed extremity.

Control of one's environment

Most patients who lose muscle control are often home-bound. As such, one pilot study aimed to use BCI technology to allow them to control systems in their environment, such as lights, stereo sets, television sets, telephones, and front doors.

Neurorehabilitation

BCIs are also proving useful in assisting patients whose neuromuscular functions have been impaired by a central nervous system (CNS) disease or trauma. The technology helps them relearn how to perform motor functions with artificial limbs, leading to functional recovery.

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A brain-computer interface (BCI), also known as brain-machine interface or mind-machine interface, is a direct link between the human brain and an external computer. The technology harnesses electrical signals produced by the brain. A device amplifies these signals and sends them to a piece of software that figures out how they should control the computer.

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Benefits of Brain Computer Interface Technology in Education

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Brain Computer Interface Helps People with Paralysis

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Brain Computer Interface Helps People with Paralysis

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This article and video helped me to see the brain computer interface technology in action so that I could better understand exactly how it works. I think that the technology could have many benefits for people with paralysis or other physical disabilities that limit their motor capabilities.

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Life-changing accident

Millions of people with paralysis reside in the United States. Sometimes their paralysis comes gradually, as occurs in ALS. Sometimes it arrives suddenly, as in Degray's case.

Now 64, Degray became quadriplegic on Oct. 10, 2007, when he fell and sustained a life-changing spinal-cord injury. "I was taking out the trash in the rain," he said. Holding the garbage in one hand and the recycling in the other, he slipped on the grass and landed on his chin. The impact spared his brain but severely injured his spine, cutting off all communication between his brain and musculature from the head down.

"I've got nothing going on below the collarbones," he said.

Degray received two device implants at Henderson's hands in August 2016. In several ensuing research sessions, he and the other two study participants, who underwent similar surgeries, were encouraged to attempt or visualize patterns of desired arm, hand and finger movements. Resulting neural signals from the motor cortex were electronically extracted by the embedded recording devices, transmitted to a computer and translated by Shenoy's algorithms into commands directing a cursor on an onscreen keyboard to participant-specified characters.

The researchers gauged the speeds at which the patients were able to correctly copy phrases and sentences - for example, "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." Average rates were 7.8 words per minute for Degray and 6.3 and 2.7 words per minute, respectively, for the other two participants.

A tiny silicon chip

The investigational system used in the study, an intracortical brain-computer interface called the BrainGate Neural Interface System*, represents the newest generation of BCIs. Previous generations picked up signals first via electrical leads placed on the scalp, then by being surgically positioned at the brain's surface beneath the skull.

An intracortical BCI uses a tiny silicon chip, just over one-sixth of an inch square, from which protrude 100 electrodes that penetrate the brain to about the thickness of a quarter and tap into the electrical activity of individual nerve cells in the motor cortex.

This is like one of the coolest video games I've ever gotten to play with.

Henderson likened the resulting improved resolution of neural sensing, compared with that of older-generation BCIs, to that of handing out applause meters to individual members of a studio audience rather than just stationing them on the ceiling, "so you can tell just how hard and how fast each person in the audience is clapping."

Shenoy said the day will come - closer to five than 10 years from now, he predicted -when a self-calibrating, fully implanted wireless system can be used without caregiver assistance, has no cosmetic impact and can be used around the clock.

"I don't see any insurmountable challenges." he said. "We know the steps we have to take to get there."

Degray, who continues to participate actively in the research, knew how to type before his accident but was no expert at it. He described his newly revealed prowess in the language of a video game aficionado.

"This is like one of the coolest video games I've ever gotten to play with," he said. "And I don't even have to put a quarter in it."

The study's results are the culmination of a long-running collaboration between Henderson and Shenoy and a multi-institutional consortium called BrainGate. Leigh Hochberg, MD, PhD, a neurologist and neuroscientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brown University and the VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology in Providence, Rhode Island, directs the pilot clinical trial of the BrainGate system and is a study co-author.

"This incredible collaboration continues to break new ground in developing powerful, intuitive, flexible neural interfaces that we all hope will one day restore communication, mobility and independence for people with neurologic disease or injury," said Hochberg.

Stanford research assistant Christine Blabe was also a study co-author, as were BrainGate researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Case Western University.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01DC014034, R011NS066311, R01DC009899, N01HD53404 and N01HD10018), the Stanford Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, the Stanford Medical Scientist Training Program, Stanford BioX-NeuroVentures, the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neuroscience, the Stanford Neuroscience Institute, Larry and Pamela Garlick, Samuel and Betsy Reeves, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the MGH-Dean Institute for Integrated Research on Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Stanford's Office of Technology Licensing holds intellectual property on the intercortical BCI-related engineering advances made in Shenoy's lab.

Stanford's departments of Neurosurgery and of Electrical Engineering also supported the work. Shenoy and Henderson are members of Bio-X and the Stanford Neuroscience Institute.

*CAUTION: Investigational Device. Limited by Federal Law to Investigational Use.

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Brain-computer interface advance allows fast, accurate typing by people with paralysis

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Millions of people with paralysis reside in the United States. Sometimes their paralysis comes gradually, as occurs in ALS. Sometimes it arrives suddenly, as in Degray's case. Now 64, Degray became quadriplegic on Oct. 10, 2007, when he fell and sustained a life-changing spinal-cord injury.

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This article outlines what micro-credentials are, and how they can be beneficial for people in lieu of a full degree program.

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We can all agree that "continued education" is key to all who wish to obtain the promotion they desire or the raise they deserve . However, sometimes going back to school to earn a college degree is not a feasible option. Many individuals simply cannot afford to go back to college. As earning a degree through online distance learning is an excellent option, it still takes the time and resources that you may not have. What else can you do to earn the accolade needed to get that promotion?

You should consider earning a micro-credential. Micro-credentials, also known as nano-degrees or digital badges, are awarded when students complete online courses, virtually attend a lecture series, write an essay, complete a project, or pass a test on a particular skill set. This type of mini-degree can be earned in a wide array of subjects or for topics focused primarily on your specific needs.

A micro-credential program is an abbreviated course of the college degree; therefore, time involved in this option is minimum compared to that needed to earn a full academic degree. Micro-credential programs can be completed in as little as one semester, depending on the topic.

Will you get a certificate of completion? Yes, you will; however, you may receive it digitally in the form of an image file. Digital badges are often awarded and can be displayed on your social media accounts, ePortfolio, or in a resumé. They are issued specifically to showcase your accomplishments and as proof of your program completion.

Whether you pursue a micro-credential while working towards a traditional college degree or as a way to continue your education once you have earned your college degree, nano-degrees will give you an edge with potential employers in the future. Seeking this type of credential shows that you are dedicated to learning and to professional growth. A majority of human resources personnel are interested in hiring a person with micro-credentials.

You can choose to earn micro-credentials in a variety of subjects. Educators and business administrators frequently take advantage of this type of opportunity, as well as, computer technicians, medical coders, web designers, and marketing specialists.
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Professionals are lifetime learners, no doubt. Even if you have an established career, everyone can use a lesson on the latest and greatest in technology and professional practice in their field. To earn credentials that do not include academic college credits, check out our choices for the 30 Easiest Online Certificate Programs in 2020.

How do you choose an "easy college bachelor's degree?" The reputation of an online degree continues to grow today and pursuing a bachelor's degree in this format is an excellent place to start.

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What are micro-credentials and how can they boost my education?

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We can all agree that "continued education" is key to all who wish to obtain the promotion they desire or the raise they deserve . However, sometimes going back to school to earn a college degree is not a feasible option. Many individuals simply cannot afford to go back to college.

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K12 education leaders representing schools and school systems, along with government, industry and EdTech stakeholders share their insights and experiences about digital transformation in K12. The inaugural K12 Digital Transformation survey and findings present a snapshot of perspectives from the HolonIQ K12 network.

K12 education at an inflection point, driven by technological advancements, cultural and economic shifts. Schools and systems are looking to create resilient learning ecosystems, supported by digital teaching and learning. To support K12 leaders in this endeavor, HolonIQ has developed the K12 Digital Capability Framework, established the K12 Global Network and launched the inaugural K12 Digital Transformation Survey. These resources provide tangible and actionable insights to help K12 leaders build successful and strong digital learning ecosystems.

This report summarizes results from HolonIQ's K12 Digital Transformation survey, conducted with the Global K12 Education Network. The survey references HolonIQ's open-source K12 Digital Capability (K12DC) Framework, which is informed by academic research and with input from K12 education leaders globally. The K12DC Framework offers an overarching view for schools to map and measure digital capabilities across the learner lifecycle, ultimately to support sustainable and resilient approaches to create digitally responsible, capable, and productive citizens.

HolonIQ's Global K12 Digital Capability Framework (K12DC) establishes a common language to enable discussions among educators, school leaders, policy-makers, curriculum developers, instructional coaches, solution providers, district-level administrators, tech faculty, and other stakeholders seeking to understand how digital transformation is taking shape in K12 education.

The Framework focuses on digital capabilities across the whole learner lifecycle. K12 digital capabilities have been mapped to four connected dimensions across the lifecycle, from People & Systems (PS) to Learning Design (LD), Learner Experience (LX) and Life-Ready (LR). The framework encompasses current capabilities such as digital infrastructure, content and curriculum, assessment and exam prep, but also looks ahead to emerging and future capabilities that will be needed to support learners for a digital future.

Figure 1. HolonIQ Open-Source K12 Digital Capability Framework

Teacher shortages around the world threaten K12 schools, so unsurprisingly, teacher retention is top concern for K12 Leaders. Additionally, preparing learners for the future and digital adoption concerns follow in a post-pandemic shadow.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the K-12 education system. One of the biggest challenges has been retaining teachers as some struggled to adapt to remote teaching during the pandemic and more are leaving the profession than entering it. Also, schools report that they struggle to prepare learners for an uncertain future, and across the system, from learners to leadership, wellness and wellbeing is of critical concern. These challenges will likely have long-lasting effects on how teachers teach and how students learn, making digital skills a critical part of their education and future success, so it's no surprise that digital transformation comes right after these other challenges.

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Figure 2. K12 Learning and Teaching Challenges

Figure 3. Importance of Digital to the future of K12 Education

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Just over one third of school self-assess as having high levels of digital maturity. They indicate that there is room for improvement and opportunities to build and strengthen digital capability.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront the importance of digital infrastructure and capabilities in K12 schools and systems. With the sudden shift to remote and hybrid learning, many schools struggled to provide students with adequate access to technology and digital resources. This has highlighted the need for schools to invest in digital infrastructure and approaches to better prepare for future disruptions. As 2023 continues, the K12 sector is likely to spend and invest human capital in these critical areas.

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Figure 4. K12 Digital Capability - Self Assessment

K12 leaders in education and edtech expect hybrid models of delivery to be the future of K12 education

For K12 schools, hybrid learning is still at its infancy, with schools and systems still trying to understand how the term and models are evolving. The majority of K12 respondents see the balance of face-to-face and digital learning markedly important over the next 10 years.

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Figure 5. Expectations on the Future of K12 Learning

Integrating digital in K12 is complex-involving a variety of stakeholders spanning teams and departments. To address this, HolonIQ created the K12 Digital Capability Framework to support schools with the challenge of digital transformation in K12 education. We centered it around the learner because for all K12 the learner is the top priority and it's a clear frame of reference to anchor future digital discussions.

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Figure 6. K12 Digital Capability Framework - Core Elements

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K12 schools and systems identify the dimensions of Learning Design (LD) and Learner Experience (LX) as the biggest areas to grow capabilities.

When we asked about their top priorities for improvement in K12 education, our network indicated that enhancing the learner experience and improving learning design were at the top of the list. This comes as no surprise since these two areas are closely tied to achieving positive learning outcomes. It's also worth noting that there's a strong interconnection between these two areas, as improving learning design can have a direct impact on the learner experience. This is especially important when considering the role of technology in the classroom, as edtech products don't always align with preferred learning design and approaches.

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Figure 7. K12 Digital Capability Priorities

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K12 Digital Transformation - 2023 Survey. Towards a hybrid future for K12 learning and teaching.

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K12 education at an inflection point, driven by technological advancements, cultural and economic shifts. Schools and systems are looking to create resilient learning ecosystems, supported by digital teaching and learning. To support K12 leaders in this endeavor, HolonIQ has developed the K12 Digital Capability Framework, established the K12 Global Network and launched the inaugural K12 Digital Transformation Survey.

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K-12 Education in 2031: What Changes Will We See?

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K-12 Education in 2031: What Changes Will We See?

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As we complete a second school year dramatically impacted by COVID-19, we should step back and ask what we have learned and what will the future of education hold. Clearly, learning has suffered in large, online environments where full classrooms of students had to try to learn together virtually. Even where schools did an admirable job adjusting to the situation, students have been impacted. Many have fallen behind academically and will forever struggle to catch up. As importantly, the corresonding isolation and loneliness from learning from home has impacted millions of students socially and emotionally.

With the end of this pandemic nearing, many hope students and schools will return to â€œnormalcyâ€ this fall, but will that be enough? Will traditional schools be equipped to help students catch up academically? Will they have the resources and skills to help students recover from increased social and emotional issues? Can we simply return to the way things used to be? The short answer is â€œno.â€Â School, as we knew it, has changed forever, and the future of education will now change even faster.

Predicting the Future

At first, parents will simply sigh and rejoice that the status quo has returned. We see it already as schools have re-opened across the country. Moms and dads are relieved to have their children back in school every day, spending time with their friends, and learning from their teachers. However, that initial euphoria wonâ€™t last. Many parents will begin to quickly realize that the time away from school was not nearly productive enough and that their children need more, much more. Try as they might, few schools will have the resources or the flexibility to adjust to these increased demands for support.

A silver lining of COVID-19 has been the energy shown by many parents to become much more knowledgeable and sophisticated consumers of education. They are more aware of how their children are really doing. They now know and understand how virtual learning works. They are more cognizant of the many tutoring options available. Innovative parents, now more empowered and informed by the numerous online and in-person alternative learning resources, are capitalizing on this previously unknown education marketplace to help their children catch up or get ahead. These early adopters will quickly be followed by other families who also watch their children struggle or perform below their potential.

Educational organizations providing high quality, more personalized tutoring services will be in high demand. Other parents will seek out a growing number of full-time, micro or virtual school options that can provide smaller classes, more customized instruction and individual mentoring. In these smaller environments, students will leverage the added attention and catch up and accelerate much more quickly than is ever possible in a classroom of 20-30+ students who are all learning at different levels and paces. As study after study has shown, the more personalized the education, the more learning a student achieves.

Looking ahead to 2031 and beyond: What will education look like

This will lead to a new era of education driven by an acceleration of more alternative public, private and charter school models built around the personalized needs of each student. While the traditional school models will continue, they will need to change and adapt. Empowered by this new education consumerism, many more families will choose schools (and teachers) that best meet their childâ€™s unique situation. Many students will attend multiple schools during their middle and high school years. A student may go to his/her local public or private school for part of the day, take an online course for credit with a rock star teacher in a virtual school that evening, and even attend another specialty school to take a unique course for part of a week.

For generations, parents have relied on their childâ€™s local public or private school to do all the educating. For many this has been successful, but, as we know, too many students have fallen through the cracks.

We have been waiting for more customization and specialization to come to education. Nearly every other industry has already been transformed by the changing demands of the consumer. Yesteryearâ€™s general stores, family diners, and local department stores essentially provided â€œall things to all people,â€ but were eventually replaced by more nimble competitors focused on the specific needs of a niche group of consumers. Yet, while these industries underwent massive change, our education system has remained largely intact for generations. In traditional schools, we still group students by age, even when some students are unchallenged and should be far ahead while others are way behind and struggle immensely. We still ask our teachers to do the impossible: meet the unique needs of every student in a large class with little extra help. That formula, designed in and for the industrial age, simply doesnâ€™t work in a future world that is rapidly changing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hurt our society in innumerable ways, and it will take years to fully recover. However, one bright side of this pandemic is that it marks the beginning of a new era of education consumerism where informed parents demand more customization and specialization around the unique needs of their children. This will result in more options and more ways for all students to find their success, so they are able to leave high school with the same enthusiasm for their futures as when they entered school as kindergartners so many years earlier. Letâ€™s hope Iâ€™m right for the benefit of every student we as a nation are charged to educate.

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K-12 Education in 2031: Dramatic Changes Coming - Emerging Education Technologies

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As we complete a second school year dramatically impacted by COVID-19, we should step back and ask what we have learned and what will the future of education hold. Clearly, learning has suffered in large, online environments where full classrooms of students had to try to learn together virtually.

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Discussion 6: Virtual Reality in Education

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Discussion 6: Virtual Reality in Education

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I wanted to pin this article from Dr. Greer for me to refer back to. This article was interesting to me because it outlined many different ways that virtual reality is already being utilized in classrooms today. I was able to see some exciting possibilities that could be coming to our classrooms soon as this technology continues to be developed.

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10 Best Examples Of VR And AR In Education

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10 inspiring examples of how XR technology (augmented, mixed, and virtual reality) is being used in the world of training and education to provide immersive experiences for students and professionals.

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How Virtual Reality is Used in Education

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How Virtual Reality is Used in Education

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ARVRedtech.com | AR & VR Education Technology

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The methods and tools used in the educational system have changed drastically over the years. Gone are the days when a simple chalkboard would suffice for instruction in the classroom. Today, educators are using all sorts of breakthrough technology as primary mediums of schooling, especially in the universities and other higher institutes of learning. In particular, the rise in popularity of virtual reality technology is astonishingly fast.

Students and teachers alike have willingly embraced the rapid developments in the area of virtual reality. In 2018, revenue from enterprise virtual reality products was just above the $800 million marks. Today, as VR technologies are being applied in various educational disciplines, the expected yearend revenue is much higher. Furthermore, experts predict that in 2023, the income from enterprise VR technology will reach US$5.5 billion .

Applications of Virtual Reality in Education around the World

At first, you might find it tough to develop practical uses of virtual reality for educational purposes. After all, VR is typically associated with gaming, which admittedly still holds a vast market chunk. But there is indeed a broad area of education that will benefit from virtual reality technology.

Medicine

Schools of medicine in different parts of the world are among the most ardent virtual reality technology supporters. In the Czech Republic, biology students in the Mendel Grammar School are learning about eye anatomy with VR's help. In China, VR applications have become instrumental in teaching medical students the acupuncture techniques at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

Law

You'd think it unlikely for virtual reality to be part of an aspiring lawyer's education. But London's University of Westminster has set up a virtual training center for criminal law students to search for clues to build a murder case.

Elementary Schools

Students of St. John's School in Boston, Massachusetts, are experiencing virtual reality differently. They are taking part in immersive education with the help of Minecraft and virtual reality applications.

Virtual Field Trips

Virtual reality is not only for the education of older students. Young learners also have a lot of benefits to enjoy from VR applications. In the United States, Pennsylvania State educators are taking students on virtual field trips to give them exposure to the real world without going outside the campus. The Arlington Science Focus School in Virginia uses the Oculus Rift to take their students on similar field trips .

There are now dozens of virtual reality apps with extensive collections of VR field trips. Parents can take their children anywhere around or inside the world, in outer space, or even back in time. Google Expeditions , for instance, can let you explore various famous destinations. AirPano is an excellent app for taking a virtual journey around the world . The Titans of Space is a perfect VR app that takes you around the solar system. With the Timelooper app , you can enjoy interactive visits to places and times of long ago.

Special Education

The use of textbooks or other traditional mediums of instruction is often unproductive for students with special needs. With the introduction of virtual reality technology, outstanding education students have become more interested and responsive. At Charlton Park Academy in London, teachers are now using assistive technology to address their students' unique needs better.

Recruitment

Although not an area of learning, recruitment is a significant university process. Today, all the top universities have virtual tours of their campuses up on their websites. These virtual tours let potential applicants experience what it is like to be in the university, even while they are just at home in front of their computers.

Advantages of Virtual Reality versus Traditional Methods

Virtual reality presents endless opportunities in the field of education. Here are some of the primary advantages that it can give.

VR makes learning more interesting

A lot of people, children, in particular, do not always have a very long attention span. This is even more so when it comes to school lessons that are not engaging. One of the most meaningful impacts virtual reality may make is that it has potential to make learning more enjoyable. Students are more engaged in the studies when immersed in the virtual world than if they are listening to a professor talking in front of the classroom or from an online meeting.

VR adds a new level of learning to lessons

Virtual reality allows the learner to experience their lessons on a whole new level. Instead of just reading a textbook about marine life at the bottom of the ocean, you can be there, which is very unlikely to happen in real life. According to studies, people retain only about 10% of the information they read, compared to 90% of the information they experience.

VR makes demonstration of practical skills easier.

Often in education, some procedures need to be followed or techniques that need to be learned. Conventionally, students learn these by reading step by step instructions. Sometimes the instructions are accompanied by helpful illustrations. With VR technology, you will not only see the actual procedures, but you can also practice the techniques yourself. In interactive VR programs, you can even see the result of your actions and thus get instant feedback. Indeed, this method is much better than just analyzing it all in your mind.

What is the Future of Virtual Reality in Schools?

With all the advantages of virtual reality, many wonders, will VR soon become a standard tool in education? It's certainly not impossible, especially since VR gadgets are now much more affordable than a few years back. As the prices continue to drop and as more educators become aware of VR's benefits, we can see it being part of the standard classroom setup soon.

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How Virtual Reality is Used in Education

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How Are Schools Using Virtual Reality? The methods and tools used in the educational system have changed drastically over the years. Gone are the days when a simple chalkboard would suffice for instruction in the classroom. Today, educators are using all sorts of breakthrough technology as primary mediums of schooling,

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This creator on YouTube makes many different kinds of videos that can be viewed through VR180 software to allow people to see content through a first-hand perspective.

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Adaptive Learning Lauren Allen Katie Pitts Sheridan Qualls