TheFlippedScientist

As an innovative teacher, I am always on the lookout for innovative ways to engage my students, especially when tackling the intricacies of Physics. Recently, I stumbled upon Google NotebookLM . This Gemini powered tool has not only transformed the way I curate my lessons but also how my students interact with the content through summary notes, a study guide and being able to interact with content through a chatbot. For those unfamiliar, Google NotebookLM is an AI-driven platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing notes. It doesn't just organize information—it brings it to life! The most exciting feature I've been experimenting with is its ability to generate two-person conversational podcasts based on the class notes and subject specific websites I have uploaded. Imagine taking your lesson plans and notes, feeding them into an AI, and receiving a dynamic conversation between two people discussing the very topics you want your students to grasp. That's exactly wh...

Helping organise and attend the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE) Hui 2024 in Auckland was nothing short of extraordinary. Over two days, the conference seamlessly blended technology, culture, and education, creating an unforgettable experience for all participants.  A Fusion of Technology and Kaupapa Māori The event kicked off at the Microsoft House, where we witnessed a harmonious weaving of advanced technology and kaupapa Māori. The mihi whakatau, both inspiring and modern, set the perfect tone for the days ahead. Special thanks go to Dan Te Whenua Walker for his incredible korero, which enriched our understanding and appreciation of integrating cultural values in educational technology. Inspirational Keynotes and Workshops The line-up of speakers was nothing short of stellar. Each session offered unique insights and practical strategies that we can apply in our educational contexts: Traci Sietu delivered a powerful keynote and an engaging session on culturally respons...

I recently attended the Education in AI conference in Brisbane, Australia. I was particularly intrigued by a session led by Jason Lodge, Deputy Associate Dean (Academic) and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Queensland. His insights on "Learning and Assessment into the Future" offered a transformative perspective on generative AI. Lodge emphasized that what makes generative AI revolutionary is its potential to be a relational, rather than merely a transactional learning tool. This distinction could reshape the future of education in profound ways. Transactional learning tools have long been a staple in education. From the 16th century with books to calculators and the computer software of the last century, these tools have served primarily to convey information or facilitate specific tasks. They are designed for efficiency, productivity, and time-saving.  For example, b ooks provide access to a vast repository of knowledge.  Calculators enable...

As the Director of e-Learning at Marlborough Boys' College, I find myself constantly navigating the evolving landscape of educational technology. The latest buzz is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential to save time for teachers with developing new worksheets or lesson plans in the blink of an eye. I have watched on my social feeds as my international colleagues have attended the most recent ISTE conference in Colorado and been introduced to plethora of AI tools that promise to free up and save time.  While this promise is alluring, a closer examination reveals that the history of time-saving technologies tells a different story. Moreover, our understanding of time itself, especially from indigenous and non-capitalist perspectives, challenges the very notion of time as a commodity to be saved or lost. Throughout history, many innovations have promised to save us time. From the invention of the vacuum cleaner to the rise of personal computers, each technological leap was ha...

As teachers, we are acutely aware of the importance of student attendance for academic success and overall well-being. In recent times, the New Zealand government has taken a keen interest in this issue, acknowledging a concerning trend in declining school attendance rates. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has set forth an ambitious goal to have 80% of students attend school for 90% of the term, highlighting the government’s commitment to reversing this downward trajectory . The government’s Attendance Action Plan emphasizes the significance of attendance and proposes initiatives to address the root causes of absenteeism. But is this absenteeism a local or global phenomenon? and how can it be solved? Global Trends in Student Attendance Globally, the picture of student attendance is complex and multifaceted. While there is a surge in demand for higher education, with projections of an additional one billion post-secondary graduates by 2050 , the scenario at the primary and secondary lev...

As a teacher passionate about integrating AI into education, I’m excited to share the PREPARE model , developed by Dan Fitzpatrick. This model is a fantastic tool for crafting prompts that yield creative and effective assessment and learning tasks. Let’s dive into each component of the PREPARE model and explore how to apply it to a senior physics creative learning task. Prompt: Setting the Stage Begin with a clear, concise command. For a senior physics task, you might say, “Create a lesson plan that explores the concept of quantum mechanics through interactive simulations.” Role: Defining the AI’s Identity Assign a role to the AI to provide context. For instance, “You are a virtual teaching assistant experienced in physics education and student engagement.” Explicit: Clear Instructions Be specific about your expectations. “Include objectives, activities, and assessment methods that align with the Next Generation Science Standards.” Parameters: Establishing Boundaries Set the scope ...

Physics is a fascinating subject that reveals the secrets of nature and the principles of motion. To describe the physical phenomena and the relationships between different quantities, physics uses a lot of formulae. However, learning physics is not just about memorizing these formulae and plugging in numbers. It is also about internalizing these formulae, which means understanding their origin, derivation, and interpretation. Internalizing formulae can help you to apply them more effectively, solve problems more creatively, and appreciate the beauty of physics more deeply. In this blog post, I will show you how to internalize physics formulae better, using the example of simple harmonic motion. What is simple harmonic motion? Simple harmonic motion (SHM) is a type of motion that happens when something moves back and forth around a fixed point, and the force that makes it move is always pointing towards that point, so the displacement from that point is always in the opposite direction...