By Jethro Jones
5
3737 ratings
The podcast currently has 18 episodes available.
In this episode of Vision for Learning, host Jethro Jones talks with Tim Desmond, a seasoned educator, entrepreneur, and writer with over 25 years of experience in educational innovation. Tim is the founder of New Educator AI, a platform aimed at preparing educational leaders for the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI in education. The conversation delves into the evolution of AI technology, its impact on the educational landscape, and strategies for incorporating AI effectively in teaching and learning. They discuss the importance of directing AI creatively to generate engaging content, the potential of AI to democratize education, and the short-term challenges and long-term benefits of integrating AI into educational practices. Tim underscores the importance of active involvement and adaptability in navigating the AI era in education, while also highlighting the role of AI in enhancing personalized learning and the need for a paradigm shift in our approach to using AI tools.
About Tim Desmond
Tim Desmond is a career educator and entrepreneur with more than 25 years experience innovating in education. He is the owner of Thorn Publishing LLC and the founder of New Educator AI.
New Educator AI is dedicated to preparing educational leaders for the AI era, ensuring future generations are adept in using AI safely and responsibly.
In this episode we talk about an AI enhanced classroom.
About Bonnie Nieves
Bonnie Nieves has an M.Ed. in Curriculum, Instruction & Educational Leadership. She is a high school teacher in Massachusetts, a science and edtech consultant, presenter, and author. Bonnie is the founder of Educate On Purpose coaching where she provides online courses and virtual and in-person professional development training for schools and individuals.
In this discussion, Jethro and Damon dive into the use of progressive web apps (PWAs) and local hosting of educational tools to create safer and more controlled learning environments.
They touch upon their personal experiences with AI, the benefits and functionalities of PWAs, and specifically discuss a tool called Audio Pen AI.
Further, they explore the concept of hosting educational chats and software locally, using examples like Campfire by 37 Signals, to prevent unnecessary exposure to the internet for students.
The conversation also covers the potential for schools to adopt locally hosted software for educational purposes, ensuring a safer, more reliable, and financially sensible approach to student technology usage.
01:02 The Future of Software Development
02:31 Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
05:20 Localized Educational Tools
05:45 Creating a Safe Digital Environment for Students
08:33 The Potential of Local Networks in Schools
24:45 Educational Software and Data Privacy
This simulcast episode of Transformative Principal and A Vision for Learning features Ryan Palmbaum, founder and CEO of Dabbl Discovery, which is an educational platform offering bite-sized video learning aimed at helping people explore new interests and career paths through content created by experts across various industries.
Ryan, an ex-collegiate and professional soccer player who lived in over ten countries before turning 20, discusses the importance of broad learning and not solely specializing in one area.
He emphasizes the value of becoming a 'jack of all trades' to connect disparate industries and opportunities. The platform prioritizes verified, quality content from educators and experts, employing a vetting process for creators.
Ryan also outlines how Dabbl boosts the learning experience through an adaptive algorithm and gamification, distinguishing it from other social media platforms by providing a more fulfilling and educational consumption experience.
The conversation touches upon the broader future of learning, envisioning a pivot towards more specialized, less time-consuming learning paths and the importance of exploring a wide range of career opportunities at an early age.
Overall, the discussion underscores personal responsibility in learning and the potential of platforms like Dabble Discovery to transform how individuals explore and engage with educational content.
00:45 Meet Ryan: From Soccer Player to EdTech Innovator
03:52 The Philosophy Behind Dabbl Discovery
05:33 The Importance of Micro Learning and Expert Content
07:27 Personalizing Learning with Dabbl Discovery
10:51 Keeping Learning Engaging and Fun
12:11 Comparing Dabbl to Other Platforms and the Future of Learning
16:32 Ryan's Vision for the Future of Learning and Closing Thoughts
In this episode, Jethro interviews Lauren Owens and they discuss her journey from teaching Spanish and student leadership to her current role as the executive Director of Technology at Agua Fria, where she has played a significant role in integrating artificial intelligence into schools.
Lauren shares her insights on the indispensability of merging technology with curriculum and the importance of AI literacy in education.
She stresses that AI has been part of educational systems for decades and highlights the necessity for creating frameworks like the AI care model (clarity, accuracy, relevance, ethics) and the stoplight system (red, yellow, green) to guide safe and effective AI use among educators and students.
Furthermore, Lauren talks about the efforts to prepare students for the workforce through academy models and project-based learning, emphasizing digital mindfulness.
She also discusses the challenges and learning experiences encountered in promoting AI integration within school systems, suggesting that broader inclusion and engagement could enhance these initiatives.
00:32 Key Takeaways from the Conversation on AI in Education
02:00 The Importance of AI Literacy in Education
03:28 Challenges and Strategies in Implementing AI in Schools
08:30 Creating a Framework for AI Literacy Among Teachers
14:54 Launching AI Literacy for Students: Plans and Expectations
19:36 Reflecting on the Journey and Future Steps
This episode of 'A Vision for Learning' features a discussion with Aaron Makelky, a high school social studies teacher and entrepreneur from Casper, Wyoming, about the future of learning and the integration of artificial intelligence into education.
Aaron shares insights from his experiments with using ChatGPT in classroom assignments, emphasizing the role of AI in automating tedious tasks and allowing teachers and students to focus on deeper learning.
He advocates for a shift from traditional teaching methods to incorporating AI tools to prepare students for their future careers.
The episode also touches on the potential of teachers leveraging their extensive networks for professional growth and the importance of educators embracing new technologies as experiments to enhance the learning experience.
00:23 Introducing Aaron Makelky: A Teacher's Journey into AI and Entrepreneurship
02:11 Aaron's Entrepreneurial Shift and the Value of Time
06:00 Leveraging AI in Education: Aaron's Experiments and Insights
17:43 The Future of Education: Embracing AI and Beyond
32:58 Connecting with Aaron McKey and Final Thoughts
AI in Schools, lack of policies, experimenting with teaching students to use AI, lessons learned. A vision for the future of education
**About Aaron Makelky**
Aaron Makelky, a husband, father of three, leader, and teacher, holds a successful career in public education and coaching. Based in Casper, Wyoming, he currently teaches high school social studies and embarked on a business venture in December of 2023. In his newfound entrepreneurial pursuit, he has immersed himself into the world of consulting and online business, delving into the Vision Pursue's Performance Mindset for athletes and coaches.
Aaron relishes the opportunity to explore technology, aiding his students in harnessing its potential. In the spring of 2023, he utilized Chat GPT in his own class assignments to gain a thorough understanding of its applications. He encourages his students to leverage writing tutors and custom chatbots, which he has been experimenting with since the fall of 2023. Aaron actively crowdsources his teaching methods from his students, integrating hands-on learning strategies and simulations, along with Spotify playlists for most of his lessons. He recognizes the crucial role of preparing students for their futures, acknowledging the need for transformation within the public education system.
Website: www.aaronmakelky.com
LinkedTree: www.linktr.ee/aaronmakelky
In this episode of A Vision for Learning, host Jethro Jones invites AI literacy consultant, educator, and academic researcher, Nick Potkalitsky. They discuss the significant role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the current and future education system. They explore the importance of building trust and transparency with students while integrating AI into learning practices. Nick shares insights into his teaching methodology, emphasizing that the AI tool works best at the beginning and end of the writing phase. However, he underlines the importance of ensuring AI does not replace critical thinking or become a helpline to avoid hard work but remains a useful tool that enhances learning. They also discuss the positives and pitfalls of plagiarism in the AI era and the ethical implications of AI use in both student learning and teacher resources creation.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
00:55 The Role of AI in Education
02:11 Addressing Plagiarism in the Age of AI
05:07 The Impact of AI on Teaching and Learning
15:08 The Changing Landscape of Writing with AI
19:00 The Future of AI in Education
About Nick Potkalitsky
Nick Potkalitsky is an AI Literacy Consultant, 7-12 Language Arts Instructor, and Academic Researcher in AI, Linguistics, Rhetoric, and Instruction. He has worked in both private and public settings with students from middle school to graduate school, bringing a wealth of knowledge about these various institutional spaces and students' social-emotional and academic development across this age range to my work developing responsive AI systems. On his Substack, Educating AI, he is currently collaborating with a growing team of researchers, designers, educators, and entrepreneurs to develop a cutting-edge, evidence-based AI literacy program that utilizes skills- and knowledge-generation criteria to guide specific implementations and integrations of AI into teacher work cycles and student case usage. In addition, he collaborates closely with several ed-tech firms developing and testing the next generation of AI-infused instructional tools, aiming to design products that prioritize the needs of teachers and students. He is excited to assist teachers, schools, and districts in creating lasting and meaningful solutions at all scales and stages of the AI integration process.
In this episode of 'A Vision for Learning', host Jethro Jones interviews Jamie Donally, a technology enthusiast and education consultant, known for her work in instructional technology and staff development training particularly in the field of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in classrooms. Jamie began her career as a math teacher and moved into instructional technology where she saw potential for immersive learning. Jamie provides insight into the practical applications of technology in education, emphasizing the importance of understanding objectives and goals before deciding on the implementation of technology. She also discusses the significant aspect of collaboration across different departments in school and highlights the need to be cautious about the information shared on these platforms due to privacy concerns. In their discussion, two books authored by Jamie, exploring AR and VR implementation in classrooms are mentioned. In addition, Jamie recommends several useful resources for AR and VR in the classroom.
About Jaime Donally
Jaime Donally is a passionate technology enthusiast. She began her career as a math teacher and later moved into instructional technology. Her desire to build relationships has created opportunities to collaborate with students and educators around the world. She provides staff development and training on immersive technology as an edtech consultant, and her latest adventures include the launch of Global Maker Day and the #ARVRinEDU community. She’s also an author and speaker on the practical use of augmented reality and virtual reality in the classroom.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation
00:55 Discussion on Technology in Classrooms
01:52 Exploring Meta Glasses and its Applications
06:22 The Future of AR and VR in Education
09:04 The Role of AI in Personalized Learning
09:55 The Risks and Challenges of Technology in Education
12:00 The Process of Evaluating Technology for Teaching
14:47 The Impact of Technology on Teaching Quality
18:14 Creating Customized Learning Experiences with AR and VR
21:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Welcome to A Vision for Learning on the BeatPodcast Network. I'm your host, Jethro Jones. Download the top 10 learning apps for Apple Vision Pro at avisionforlearning.com. Thanks for tuning in. Today, we discuss my experience one week after getting the Apple Vision Pro.
A few things to note: First, it's not uncomfortable wearing it all day. Surprising, since I don't even like glasses. Second, my eyes get tired only when watching videos, like YouTube or movies. Another odd negative – sometimes it feels like suction cups on my eyes and leaves bags when I remove the headset.
On a positive note, productivity is excellent. Using it for productivity is fantastic; having a Mac virtual display and connecting to my computer is game-changing. The "locking in" aspect also proves powerful, making it harder to be distracted.
Some people complain about the guest mode. I never thought it would mean multiple users on the device. Would I like more users? Absolutely! It'd be great if my wife could switch profiles like on Apple TV and access her stuff with her iCloud account. But I never expected that, so guest mode seems nice to me.
I can say, hey, no need to worry about someone using this. They can try it out, use the apps I provide, and move on. Resetting it after each use is a feature and, for schools, setting it up for each kid makes sense, giving them access while keeping it safe.
This next piece is funny—the Apple Studio Display from a couple years ago seemed too expensive, but now I've paid $3,500 for another monitor. The Apple Vision Pro outshines it in many ways: multiple windows, immersive space—I love it.
I look forward to multi-touch and using more than just my pointer finger. However, I've mis-tapped unintentionally since I don't usually think about finger placement on a screen. It's more about learning and understanding.
While controllers have their benefits, not needing to suit up and lock in is great. An immersive environment with 10 fingers will be cool. Multi-touch is coming—allowing all 10 fingers to interact with screens will be nice when it arrives.
Lastly, the app selection remains weak for now. But as immersive virtual reality develops, we'll see more apps designed specifically for it.
In immersive iPad apps, it engulfs everything as expected. Developers must discern when this approach is suitable or not. Many apps in the app store don't make sense for the Vision Pro, except for some three-dimensional features.
For instance, OmniPlan 4, a powerful project management app. I've used it before, but it didn't fit my thought process and wasn't beneficial for me. A multitude of apps in the store don't seem fitting for the Vision Pro and might not need to be one.
Regarding Microsoft's involvement with Vision Pro apps, I'd say there isn't much novelty.
Not really. There's not. Something like Node, for example, is an excellent idea for an Apple Vision Pro app because, in theory, if it becomes immersive, your line map can fill up your entire space, which could be cool. Sadly, that's not what they've done. They've just made it a window with Vision Pro elements. I think they'll likely adapt and change it to fill the entire area. But do you want that immersive or access other windows simultaneously? These questions need answers.
Another thing about apps, especially iPad apps unoptimized for Vision Pro, is that tap targets don't always work the same. You can't always get reactions, like tapping not working all the time. It can be frustrating. But again, this takes time to happen, and we're waiting.
For example, here's a great app designed for the Apple Vision Pro: timer Pomodoro. It puts a timer in your physical space and counts down without taking up room. You can move it behind you to check the time left. That app is cool.
There are apps that make sense and are better in this setting than others. One tool I like is Crouton—an app I use weekly to plan meals and use recipes. It's fantastic in this app because it looks nice. Is it necessarily better in the Vision Pro than other things? Not really, but there are nicely done features I enjoy.
Again, do I want that one to be immersive? No, better as a window. Deciding which apps are immersive and which aren't is essential.
I believe the screen size naturally limits what we can do. I'm quite interested in this. After a week, I'm enjoying it and think it's cool. Excited to see the creativity people bring to this platform.
If you want to know about cool apps I've found, go to a vision for learning.com and enter your email at the bottom. I'll send you the best education apps right now, keeping the list updated.
By doing that, you'll also be notified when new podcasts are released. Some of these apps are iPad apps not yet optimized, but maybe they will be soon.
If you enjoy this, take a moment to open Apple podcasts or Spotify and leave a five-star rating and review. Many have already done so, and I appreciate it. Let me read one quick review: AThurston said they'd give more than five stars if possible. Thank you for that review.
K DuMont said "Jethro nailed it with this podcast, describing practical use of Apple vision pros insightfully. They're excited for applications in personal learning and education."
I appreciate everyone who's liked this podcast. If you enjoyed it, please leave a rating - it helps others see it. Thanks again for listening to a vision for learning on the B podcast network.
Welcome to A Vision for Learning with your host, Jethro Jones. Follow me on social media @jethrojones. Today's question: Should I buy this for use in school? Can it be a tool in school? Is it too costly? Should every student have one? Is it worth it? I've used it since its release last week. It's great for productivity, and some features are incredible, like reading. But let's discuss its use for school.
Apple designed a few things from the start that matter. First, they created an easy-to-access guest mode as a default. It lets you share the device with others and decide if they can access all apps or only opened ones. You can also choose to mirror the display on another device, like a Mac computer or Apple TV.
Another education tool is guided access, an accessibility feature that keeps the device in a specific app. It allows you to set up a passcode and restrict users to the chosen app, preventing them from accessing other apps. This can be useful in educational settings to focus students on the task at hand.
So, should we use this device for school? Consider its features and weigh the benefits against the costs before making your decision.
wants to escape, a separate passcode is needed, distinct from your optic ID. You can share it or keep it secret. If you want students to focus on one app, you can set that up. A challenge: once removed, you must recalibrate for each user. This could be time-consuming but also a learning opportunity.
With fingers as input and eye tracking, there's no need for controllers. My oldest daughter with Down syndrome quickly figured it out. A side note: when using guest access and turning on mirroring, the tool to invoke mirroring is always visible and easy to tap accidentally. This can be frustrating for new users.
Apple designed this device for people over 13, possibly due to its size. It doesn't fit smaller heads well. When my 12-year-old tried it, she had to hold it up to keep it on her face.
and maintaining eye alignment proved challenging. However, placing a beanie on her head resolved the issue, allowing hands-free use and unobstructed IR blasters and cameras.
Firstly, guest mode and guided access are crucial. Secondly, the device isn't designed for young children. Thirdly, while sturdy, it's also delicate. Kids can become immersed in the experience, making it nerve-wracking for parents. Exercise caution with children using the device.
Apple recommends covering the glass front. With kids and glass being a risky combination, extreme caution is advised. Additionally, the screens viewed by users are rumored to cost a thousand dollars each.
The band attaching to the headset detaches easily, so avoid carrying it by the strap. Instead, place your thumb on the nose area and two fingers on top when handling it.
Regarding eye health concerns, an ophthalmologist will join me in a future discussion. The device has screens inches away from users' eyes, raising potential questions about long-term effects on vision.
Away from my eyes for hours, I haven't experienced the same reaction as staring at my phone for lengthy periods. A couple of differences exist. Firstly, I sit up straighter. Secondly, I focus more on posture and positioning due to the large device on my head, ensuring it stays in place. A sudden movement made me feel discomfort in my neck and back, reminding me to be cautious about how I move.
Regarding eye strain, I haven't felt the fatigue usually associated with computer screens or iPads. When I have an ophthalmologist on the show, I hope to gain insight into this phenomenon. Will VR cause similar eye strain? Research is needed to determine this.
Interestingly, a company uses VR to treat lazy eye. Instead of wearing an eye patch, children can watch a show in VR goggles for an hour daily to address the issue.
Now let's discuss cost. At $3,500, this device may seem expensive for children. Cheaper VR alternatives exist; however, one significant advantage is the Apple ecosystem of apps already available. Many iPad apps could likely be used similarly on the Apple Vision Pro.
Ultimately, the real benefit will be apps designed specifically for this device.
I'm eager to see what's available for the Apple Vision Pro. Vijay Ravindran discussed Floreo, utilizing virtual reality headsets to help those with autism interact better. These use cases are incredibly powerful as they address challenges in teaching and open doors for individuals with disabilities by custom designing experiences.
If you're already using apps with your students, many will likely work with the Vision Pro right away. But should you get it for your school? That depends on factors like the age of your students, their ability to handle expensive devices, and the comfort level of wearing it.
Take Jig Space, an app that allows users to explore an F1 car and other complex objects in three dimensions. It's impressive and has the potential to change education significantly. While not the first virtual reality headset, the difference lies in Apple's existing ecosystem of compatible apps.
Last week, Shannon Putman and I discussed intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation and how such technology could motivate students. There are numerous apps already created that can be integrated into the classroom experience.
In the midst of the Apple Vision Pro release, various apps are designed as rewards. One app, especially suitable for schools, is called Illustrated. This Apple Arcade game features puzzles where students recreate famous paintings like those in the Van Gogh Museum. Each painting has a story and description, making it an educational experience.
The Apple Vision Pro encourages creative app development, and I anticipate unique creations for educational purposes. If you use it in schools, contact me; I'd love to discuss its impact on education.
After a few days with the Apple Vision Pro, I'm eager to hear from those using it in school settings. Reach out and share your experiences, cool apps, and how they work or don't. Thank you for listening to A Vision for Learning. Share this with friends and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ensure it's five stars with kind words. See you next time on A Vision for Learning.
The podcast currently has 18 episodes available.
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