EdWeek shared the results of a recent survey that shows that almost all teachers and students (85% and 86%, respectively) are using AI tools, and that has led to some shared concerns. Both groups feel that peer-to-peer connections are hurting, and that critical thinking and research skills are threatened.

Both students and teachers agree that more training and better guardrails are needed. Sounds to me like more schools should be working with PD trainers to empower their communities. 😉

Google released a bunch of news related to education, most notably that their “purpose-built model for learning” (dubbed LearnLM) was shown in gold standard RCT research trials to help students complete new problems after a tutoring session with the AI. They also found a very low level of factual errors (0.1%) in their testing.

Cracking the challenge of AI tutoring is a noble cause. It certainly seems like the best application of AI tools directly with students that can also potentially free up teachers to focus on Tier 2 interventions and small-group enrichment opportunities.

In a report this month, the maker of the Claude chatbot described the attackers as “using AI not just as an advisor, but to execute the cyberattacks themselves.” This new generation of agentic AI—that can make some decisions independently in pursuit of complex or long-term directives from users—offers bad actors a new tools for poking at security holes but also gives cybersecurity officials new tools for detecting and stopping attacks. It seems likely that this type of security risk will only increase in the near future.

Much of the educational technology sector is composed of companies that make games and learning apps for students. While many of these are amazing, it’s also important to remember that finding the right online activity—game, lesson, simulation—can still be very challenging. Teachers often struggle to find free tools that align closely with the lesson that they’re trying to teach.

But chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and especially Claude are excellent at creating computer software code to generate bespoke apps and websites. With the right prompt and some tweaking you can get really great activities. But the easiest way to level up the engagement and interaction for students is to put them in the role of vibe coder.

What’s the Goal? Get kids excited about coding and making things online without needing the software development experience that professionals have

How do I get started vibe coding with students?

I like to start with a simple assignment that does two things. First, it provides a ton of structure that my 8th graders need when they’re trying something new with technology. Second, it provides required places where they will gain a deeper understanding of a science idea while also learning another trick, in this case how to change HTML code to customize a web app. Want to try it out yourself? Click the link below to make yourself an editable copy of the document I give to students. It includes a link to a custom Gem that guides them through making something really amazing.

App Building Assignment (in Google Docs)

When you try out vibe coding with your students, be sure to tell me how it goes!

Late October and early November were a busy time as Paul spent a day in Stockton, California kicking off the AI for Educators workshops that will be coming to a host site near you sometimes this fall. He also shared feedback strategies with the current cohort of Kenan Fellows, and then headed to Atlanta. There he trained the gracious and curious staff of Dar un Noor Academy. It was a fun and effective workshop facilitated by the good people at Solution Tree and their PD branch.

The upcoming month will be quieter as the holidays approach, but Paul has some availability in January for teams that want to kick off the second semester with a renewed sense of what AI tools can do to support their efforts to improve student learning.

Stay tuned for more examples of lessons from Paul, and from the amazing teachers that he gets to learn with around the USA. Paul will be presenting at the Science for All Summit in February and the NCTIES conference in March. If you’ll be at either of those events, please reach out!

Paul (and the Codium Educational Consulting team)

P.S.

Don’t forget to email Paul with examples of how you’ve used the tools and strategies that he shared with you.