It is difficult to make a blanket statement about whether or not artificial intelligence (AI) is bad for students to use. The potential impact of AI on students will depend on several factors, including how it is used and the specific context in which it is used.

AI can enhance students' learning experience significantly. For example, AI-powered tutoring systems can provide personalized and tailored feedback to students, allowing them to learn more effectively and efficiently. AI can also help automate tedious tasks, such as grading homework assignments, freeing teachers to focus on other aspects of teaching and learning.

On the other hand, there are also potential concerns about using AI in education. For example, relying too heavily on AI-powered systems to teach and evaluate students may lead to a lack of critical thinking skills and creativity. In addition, there is the potential for AI systems to perpetuate bias, either in the data used to train them or in the way that they are designed and implemented.

How will AI impact education, and how are you planning to implement it?

More: ACEd.Tech/s2e5

The actual practice of a fully funded esports program will include a curriculum for different classes, not just CTE courses. This episode will cover getting started for those with many limitations.

Funding will be an essential aspect as your esports program grows. This is how we started the program in a limited environment. First, without administrative support, there is no esports program district-wide. However, any program that benefits students will ultimately benefit the school district. Thanks to one school principal who submitted a proposal for an esports budget, we have accomplished one year of competitions. District funding will be necessary for the following. Teachers are already passionate about gaming; there has to be a stipend for them. Currently, we have a yearly stipend of $1,000 at our district for Esports Coaches who do not get paid through other after-school programs. Next is the staff that will manage the program. In our case, I am the district’s Esports Coordinator. We are lucky enough to receive a stipend for a Shoutcaster or commentator for live streaming. Security will be necessary, as well as custodial staff. This is very important. Although this is a low-impact program, consider a nurse. Finally, equipment that will be used is needed for the tournaments to be successful.

At the school level, consider having fundraising available for the esports club. They will need to eat at the tournaments, after all. More than that, they need equipment, club shirts, etc. In the U.S., two websites to promote at your school districts are mrg.fyi/PledgeCents and mrg.fyi/DonorsChoose. This will help individual teachers or esports coaches to have more funding sources.

Next is the hardware and software. The school district should purchase enough equipment to hold a tournament in the school district. To support diversity and inclusion, a great starting game that will support elementary to high school is the main Esports game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Therefore, the hardware proposed in this case will be the Nintendo Switch. Approximately 5 Nintendos with five games and ten pro controllers should allow for a good tournament. Game setup and rules need to be considered and set up. In many cases, network security prevents video game access for online play. This setup allows for in-person matches, which do not require online gaming.

Another is the bracket management system. There are many, but the two I will recommend because they are free are Start.GG and Challonge. Challonge is spelled like challenge, but with an o instead of the first e.

Finally, purchasing access to streaming services on twitch and youtube will not be necessary, but a service like streamyard can help.

One final thought. Most tests are computer-based. Typing skills are necessary. The game I will recommend for Esports Tournaments is NitroType. It is a racing game that requires typing. It is web-based, but most school district networks allow this online gaming.

One common misconception is that video games are for boys. My daughters participated in a previous district tournament at 6 and 8 in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Squad Strike 3v3. My eight-year-old daughter took third place in the Elementary Tier. My students took first place in the Secondary Tier, led by a female team captain who is also the club president.

In that competition, we had students who were labeled 504 and SpEd. One of those students was playing with his feet. I will not explain why but look up a popular gamer known as brolly legs. Esports is the same as any other school sport, with the added benefit of being more inclusive, not just for those who play but also for those who do not.

Targeting the whole population rather than some is a crucial benefit for schools for student retention. Since it is a no-pass-no-play rule, the students retained are some of the best.

Recruitment needs to be done with purpose. Allow teachers to have game day and see which students, especially the quiet ones, do well in the game associated with the district. In order to have a variety of students, some may need to be recruited more than others. For example, if the population is 50-50 male females, and your esports team is more males than females, there must be a recruitment change. The goal of Esports recruitment in Education should be diversity and inclusivity.

For full description, visit ACEd.Tech/Esports

Before examining some studies, we need to dispel some misconceptions about esports. Moral Panic is a fear of a new cultural change that exceeds the threat posed to people—the 19th century vilified reading, specifically novels, that were once thought to corrupt the reader. Similarly, other media went through moral panic during its respective timeline, from comic books to movies and, not so recently, video games. Video Games tend to get vilified for inciting violence, corrupting the players, and causing lethargy and addiction. The reality is that video games are an easy target, just like the previous media were, because it is much more challenging to solve the root cause of the problems associated with novels, movies, or video games: trauma and mental health.

Speaking with a middle school principal, he wanted a program that would include all students. This strategy would improve student achievement and retention, which has been crucial since the pandemic. His idea of Esports became a bi-monthly tournament in our school district, with more students joining each time.

Unlike traditional sports, Esports is more than games. According to the National Institute of Health, "Video gaming may be associated with better cognitive performance in children." In a study by James Rosser Jr et al. on surgeons who played video games, they found that "Past video game play in excess of 3 h/wk correlated with 37% fewer errors." An example is NASCAR's Ross Chastain was told on October 30th, 2022, that he needed to pass two more to advance or he would lose the race. Using his GameCube skills in the video game NASCAR 2005, he hit the wall hard instead of hugging the curve and continued to speed up, passing five and moving on to championship 4.

However, for students, "video games have many benefits, including developing complex problem-solving skills and promoting social interaction through online gaming," according to WebMD. Esports is more than sports. Esports supports many career paths, from writing for social media, management, speaking in a live stream, and much more. For example, one of my students wanted to avoid competing. She was a referee. 

For students, this will improve attendance and grades, but more importantly, mental health and multiple skill types, which are highly transferable to careers.

Video Games are misunderstood but are great for education. Primary, secondary, and district administrators should understand the importance of an esports program in a school environment.

For complete Show Notes, visit: https://wke.lt/w/s/4P5KTH

Chrome under attack for second time this month — here's what to do

Grow with Google

Discover professional certificates developed by Google and designed to connect you to over 100 top employers who are hiring for related roles.

Recorder for Google Pixel instantly transforms audio into text so you can search, edit and share your favorite audio moments. And it all works offline too.

Google Workspace for Education rebrand toolkit

Learn to code with Grasshopper, now in Spanish

More options for learning with Google Workspace for Education

Fundamentals

Standard

Teaching and Learning UPGRADE

Plus

Google Cloud solutions can help schools improve the student experience, from matriculation to graduation.

Run Photoshop or AutoCAD from a Chromebook using Virtual Desktops

Provide support and answer questions using a virtual agent

A peek at what’s next for Google Classroom

Google CS First integrates Scratch without having to go to a different website or create another account.

Learn about new safety and engagement features in Google Meet.

Coming Soon (Some are paid features0

Chromebooks get an education refresh

New features for schools and educators, like a native screen recorder.

Pre-Provision Tokens for Zero Touch Enrollment

"Learn with Google Arts & Culture" brings together lesson plans, technologies and tips for educators in one place.

Version History is coming to Jamboard!

Livestream will be available by others here:    After editing, we will air the podcast.

Guest info (anything you want to share, feel free to add):

High School CTE Teacher

Google for Education Certified Trainer & Innovator

Leader for Google Educator Group of South Texas

Ambassador to WeVideo, Flipgrid, Wakelet, & DonorsChoose

Social media contacts:

(Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Website):

Twitter @eduGOOGdroid

ACEd.Tech

Intro:

Today’s guest is Mr. G, who will be talking to us about how to create a Choose your own Adventure slide deck or form.

Tell us a bit about yourself, who you are, what you do.

I have a podcast called ACEd Tech.

I recently graduated from the Google Innovator Academy #VIA20

I’m just generally passionate about EdTech

(If you want to change any of these questions, go ahead. Please add any questions you would like us to ask.) Example: Ask me about …..my garden…..

Question:

How are you doing? What would you like to chat about today?

There are ways to create a choose-your-own-adventure games using Google Slides or Google Forms

You created choose your own adventure with google forms tell us about that.

At first, breakout edu was popular. Then, digital breakouts were created. On Google Forms, a breakout which may include a “password” may not work because it can be easily hacked. Instead, a choose-your-own-adventure would make it better.

What prompted you to create this?

Based on my Google Innovator project, I tried to create a game on Google Forms.

How does it work?

In Google Forms…

In Google Slides ...

How can others get involved in this?

Here’s a link to one I made using forms: https://forms.gle/Q4kJLHLQR1iGWPcKA

With Google Slides and Google Forms it will take practice and patience.

Here’s a link to my student using Google Slides https://preview.tinyurl.com/tyca21

Do you have other topics you would like to chat about?

Join your local Google Educator Group. If you want to investigate what a GEG is, GEG-SOUTX link is here: https://geg.soutx.us/join

Please add the links to any resources here.

END OF EPISODE:

Podcast Outline:

1st week of the month:

2nd week of the month:

3rd week of the month: Let’s Talk about TED. Agree upon a TED Talk, new or old, then take two different perspectives. Discuss and analyze the Talk.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a comment to let us know.

Odd episodes: Please don’t forget to subscribe to hear more about what is going on in education - on both sides of the Pond.

Remember we are always looking for guests to share the great things they are doing in their classrooms, so if you know someone who likes to chat, or if you’d like to be a guest again, please visit Guest form link and complete the contact form to let us know. Thanks!

Bonnie is the founder of LEXEND and the creator of the LEXEND fonts. She has a particular interest in reading performance, typography, perception, cognition, and the visual field.

Visit

The tool is Lexend fonts.

Visit

Making the web more beautiful, fast, and open through great typography

Where Lexend fonts are available

Visit

Google

Read, understand and navigate the content of the web easier with Helperbird. Including immersive reader

FamilyBookform is an education technology product for Social Emotional Learning Projects. Children complete story collecting projects to create books and complete curriculum aligned SEL Projects.

Ambassador code is: 6KFM6P

Carey created FamilyBookform as a writing & communication tool for students to easily collect personal oral stories, family histories & photos, using speech-to-text & collaboration, to create polished books for personalized PBL. The process is educational, developing Social Emotional learning & 21st century skills. Their content enriches lessons & books can be graded, included in portfolios, gifted or sold to families. The books are emotional & valuable, for everyone involved.

YouTube

Write of Passage pilot featured on Channel 7 TV. Students interview aged care residents to help collate their life stories into personalised memoir books. Pr...

Teachers signup free & can create a free Collaborative class book, automatically collect student's content to create a printable digital book:

Visit

FamilyBookform is an education technology product for Social Emotional Learning Projects. Children complete story collecting projects to create books and complete curriculum aligned SEL Projects.

FamilyBookform: integrated into Google Classroom, available on Chromebooks & any device connected to WiFi.

FamilyBookform is an alternative to Word/Docs for scaffolding & documenting PBL. Students collect oral stories, using speech-to-text (any language) & collaboration, to automatically create printable digital books of great value. Student's have agency & the process is educational. Student's content enriches existing classes, and books can be graded, included in portfolios, gifted or sold. Businesses can sponsor projects, so it's free for schools. Free to try.

The Collaborative Class book is proving very popular and would be a perfect blended learning project for schools returning in the Fall: COVID-19 & Me Automatically collect student's contributions into a Class book. Featured in ISTEs Spring Literacy Journal:

Visit

Explore how the FamilyBookform online tool facilitates the framework of 'Universal Design Learning' to save you time in delivering personalised and differentiated Project Based learning to enrich curriculum-aligned lessons and assessments. Presented by Carey Furze, Fouder of FamilyBookform.