Virtual Teacher

NLRAI

FUTURE PROOFING

by CATHY BROWN No:278 20 11 2024

Design, Prompt & Editing by Cathy Brown AI Image Ideogram, Old Joke New Design
Hello [NAME],
This is the last newsletter of the year,
Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah,
looking forward to a fabulous 2025 with more amazing
adventures to come.
You're receiving this email because you've subscribed to my Virtual Teacher newsletter.
I'm thrilled to have you join me, on this exciting journey into AI, Education & WHAT MATTERS.

Read the details. Use Logic. Weigh the facts. Do your own Research. Make up your own mind.

What is mattering at the moment:

More and more people are talking about the use of AI to enhance education.
Yong Zhao is worth listening to, there is a link to one of his short videos below.
Zhao’s ideas challenge traditional educational structures.
Proposing an approach that views students as creators and leaders
rather than passive recipients of standardized knowledge.
Sal Kahn and Nick Potkalitsky are witnessing the extraordinary results using AI.

Looking for a place to START using AI
NLRAI is the the place.
Check out the video below "Future Proofing Students TODAY"
and introduce something AI TODAY - your kids will love it.
are simple to use single purpose AI assistants both FREE,
NO login, NO data collection, NO Privacy issues and they save heaps of time.
If your school or educational institution is interested in guidance for implementing
these kinds of learning experiences,
the NLRAI program is perfect,
please reach out to me at cathylynnebrown@gmail.com
or

Check out my AI Consultancy Page
Check out Virtualteacher.com.au, a one-stop destination for quick creative ideas in the world of
AI & Education. Use the Videos directly in your class, and learn along with your students.

Enough of the chat, check out the Amazing Tools &
Absolutely Splendid ideas I have to share with you today,
in the spirit of

EASIER, MORE PRODUCTIVE, & A WHOLE LOT
MORE FUN!


"Today, I witnessed something extraordinary in my classroom
that challenged everything we think we know about AI in education.
Instead of handing students a rigid playbook of dos and don'ts with AI,
I decided to flip the script entirely."
Here's what's on the MENU today:
  • AI Future Proofing Students TODAY! Here’s why this really matters: AI is the future.
  • BORED KiDS - Recipe for Bored Kids - Ever wondered what makes students disengaged and uninspired?
  • THE COBRA Story - Unintended Consequences and the Cobra Effect: When Good Intentions Backfire.

  • READ, WATCH & LISTEN - Some great stuff

  • TECH THE HALLS - In the interests of JOYFUL TEACHING CHRISTMAS SPRITE YOURSELF

  • LIGHT IT UP - Electrical Circuits
  • VT YouTube - PodCast Video - Implementing NO to LOW Risk AI
Let'screate a ripple effect of learning, sharing, and growing together.Passany good idea on to colleagues, and encourage them to subscribe toVirtualTeacher for more great ideas.
PS
Virtual Teacher is..........
FREE FOREVER


AI Future Proofing Students TODAY!

Here’s why this really matters: AI is the future. We’re preparing kids to not only keep up with tech but to lead it. Using NLRAI (NO to LOW Risk AI) tools, kids get to learn how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and how to have fun with it.

IN THIS VIDEO, I dive into NLRAI tools that make AI education accessible, safe, and exciting for primary school classrooms. Discover how tools like Google’s Teachable Machine, Canva Text-to-Image, SuperTask and QuickDraw are transforming learning, helping students understand AI and preparing them for the future.

Here is the DEEP DIVE Podcast
on
Using NO to LOW Risk AI - NLRAI

made with NOTEBOOKLM

You should try notebook LM it's FREE and You will love it.



BORED KiDS

𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝘩𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑?

𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐛𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬.

I've just created the ultimate "Recipe for Boredom"
a tongue-in-cheek breakdown of how rigid teaching can extinguish
the spark of curiosity in classrooms.

It's time to reinvigorate education with curiosity and student-driven learning.

𝑊𝘩𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝘩𝑖𝑠 ?

𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞
"𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄" 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 very active "𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄."
NOW absolutely doable with AI



The
COBRA
STORY

The Cobra Effect: When Good Intentions Backfire

In British-ruled Delhi, the government introduced a bounty on cobra skins to reduce the deadly snakes plaguing the city. At first, the reward program seemed successful, with a noticeable drop in cobras on the streets. However, the incentive backfired when locals began breeding cobras to claim the reward. When authorities terminated the bounty, breeders, in defiance, released their live cobras into the streets, worsening the problem they had aimed to solve.
This story, now known as the Cobra Effect, illustrates how well-intentioned incentives can create “perverse incentives” that make a problem worse. This effect has been seen across various industries and fields including Education.

READ

WATCH &

LISTEN

READ: "After conducting a huge research project on the effects of walking in classrooms and schools, the researchers at the University of Illinois concluded that movement (especially walking) improves cognitive ability, creativity and a child’s ability to understand." noting that "However, in many classrooms in the world, our children are forbidden to move, they can’t change seats, select materials, or even go to the bathroom without asking permission.
WATCH: The Ethics of AI - Bias and Errors This examines the ethical issues of ChatGPT and similar AI technologies, focusing on errors, bias, and misinformation. Learn how these systems work, their potential pitfalls, and effective classroom strategies to teach to lessen their risks.

LISTEN: DEEP DIVE Podcast - Using NO to LOW Risk AI - NLRAI Are fear & compliance stifling AI innovation in classrooms? NLRAI offers safe, compliant tools that empower students while protecting privacy & ethics.

WATCH: The Future of Education 2020 NAIS Annual Conference speaker Yong Zhao. "I would like everybody to see the child before they see the curriculum," he says.

READ: "New research from Harvard shows that AI tutors double the rate of student learning, reduce time to competency & increase student engagement & motivation compared with in-person classes." This immediately sparked a Blooms 2 Sigma moment with me, but as always, i suspect the devil is in the details and about what exactly we are measuring.

WATCH: Sal Khan | How AI Will Revolutionize Education - Whether we like it or not, the AI revolution is coming to education

In the interests of JOYFUL TEACHING
CHRISTMAS SPRITE YOURSELF
& follow the Yellow, Pink & Blue Block Code.
Sticky tape a A4 green sheet of paper to a ruler get up - sing & dance this code
& TECHthe HALLS in style.
The code is based on Using Scratch Jnr for
Christmas and making Sprites jump.

Get up and dance the code.

Can YOU work it out?

Try writing code for other actions songs. OH! What fun.
Download the words and code here.

PRINT the code out on A3 and have the
kids do the actions themselves.
is a standout Christmas destination. This interactive platform offers a variety of engaging activities that blend festive fun with educational elements.

Check out the

The PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE
from the Little Shop of Horrors?
It is one your kiddos will love. Ask them to do a RECOUNT of the story, dictate it into an audio to text application like word or google docs. Then name the EMOTIONS throughout and DESCRIBE the facial expressions that go with them. GREAT IDEA!!

All these links and more on the

LIGHT IT UP

I love this activity for Christmas. Yes that's my finger in the gif above.

LEDs - We made also sorts of shapes from the silver foil, Christmas trees, stars,
cars, lighthouses etc.

These little batteries were 1.5 volts. I used batteries up to 9 volts, so that we could run more LEDs in the artwork.
I purchased 200 of these LEDs 5mm from an ebay store bay store for just over $11.00AUS - Free postage, and they have been so much fun to work with.

The lithium coin batteries I also purchased in bulk online, free deliver for 100 - $14.00.


WATCH: The Power of Circuits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOFp8bHTN30

VT YOUTUBE

check out the next Deep Dive Podcast
NLRAI
The Podcast is fun and makes the info really accessible. I used Notebook LM - give a try.

View the Full AI Play list on the Virtual Teacher Youtube Channel

THANKS

FOR READING

I love to hear from you. Leave a comment or just say hi by sending an email to cathy@virtualteacher.com.au.😉
If you’re having fun, your students will too.
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This Newsletter is not free, despite the misleading advertising above. The Fee is now due. Each week you must help one colleague on the Internet who has less knowledge than you.Help that person even if you have to visit their classroom or do a little research and get back to them. Trust me, this will help a lot of people get their computer classrooms running better. OK I'm trusting you!!!
The opinions expressed here are purely those of the editor, Cathy Brown. All other small print clauses apply. Such as: Use at your own risk. Nothing in life is guaranteed.
If it doesn't work for you me send an email and I'll try to figure it out.
Editor: Cathy Brown cathy@virtualteacher.com.au
Before we go I have a question for you: Would you be interested in learning more about AI and how to integrate into your teaching? Would you like more information about inservice and training.
No need to decide just yet, just email me if you'd like to start the ball rolling.

© Cathy Brown 1998 - 2024 © All images & Videos Cathy Brown Located in Sydney NSW Australia all rights reserved.
No unauthorised reproduction without written permission. Webmaster & Designer - Cathy L. Brown

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