Category Archives: computing

The question: Can the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools help with students cognitive load to improve learning?

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Cognitive Load Theory is an essential concept in the field of education that explains how the human brain processes information and how the amount of information presented to the brain affects learning outcomes. The theory suggests that learners have a finite amount of cognitive resources, and if these resources are overloaded with too much information, it becomes difficult to learn and retain knowledge. As a result, it is essential for educators to present information in a way that reduces cognitive load and enhances learning. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT to improve learning outcomes and reduce cognitive load.

One way that AI tools can help with student cognitive load and improve learning is by teaching students how to curate information to make it more manageable. With the vast amount of information available online, it can be overwhelming for students to sort through it all and identify what is relevant to their learning goals. AI tools, like ChatGPT, can be used to help students narrow their focus and find the most useful and credible sources of information. By teaching students how to use these tools to curate information effectively, educators can help them become more efficient and confident learners. Additionally, the use of AI tools can provide instant feedback and guidance to students as they navigate through their research process, allowing them to make informed decisions and avoid information overload. Overall, the use of AI tools can help students develop important skills related to information literacy, critical thinking, and decision-making.

One potential benefit of using AI tools such as ChatGPT is that they can help students to develop their lateral thinking skills. Lateral thinking involves the ability to think creatively and outside of the box to find solutions to problems. ChatGPT and other AI tools can provide students with access to a vast amount of information and knowledge that they can use to solve problems and come up with innovative solutions. This access to information can also help students to make connections between different concepts and ideas, leading to deeper understanding and better retention of information.

However, there are some potential drawbacks to using AI tools with students. One concern is that students may become too reliant on the AI tools and fail to develop their own critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This reliance on technology can lead to a lack of confidence in their own abilities and a reduced ability to work independently. Another potential drawback is that the use of AI tools may be seen as a substitute for human interaction and personal attention, which is an essential part of the learning process.

Despite these potential drawbacks, the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionise the way that teachers approach teaching and learning. With the help of AI tools, teachers can provide students with personalised learning experiences that meet their individual needs and learning styles. This can help to reduce cognitive load and improve learning outcomes. AI tools can also provide teachers with insights into student learning that can be used to adjust teaching methods and improve student outcomes.

The use of AI tools in education is likely to lead to a shift in teaching pedagogy. Teachers will need to adapt to the new technologies and learn how to incorporate AI tools into their teaching methods. This will require a new set of skills and knowledge, including the ability to use and analyse data, to customise learning experiences, and to provide feedback to students. However, the benefits of using AI tools are significant, and it is likely that the use of these tools will become more widespread in the coming years.

The use of AI tools such as ChatGPT has the potential to improve learning outcomes and reduce cognitive load. These tools can help students to develop lateral thinking skills and make connections between different concepts and ideas. However, there are potential drawbacks to using AI tools, and teachers must ensure that their use does not replace human interaction and personal attention. The use of AI tools is likely to lead to a shift in teaching pedagogy, and teachers will need to adapt to the new technologies and learn how to incorporate them into their teaching methods. Overall, the use of AI tools has the potential to revolutionise the way that teachers approach teaching and learning, and it is an exciting development that holds great promise for the future of education. Personally, it is the path we should be taking.

App Development in Swift Playgrounds: Opening New Doors of Creativity for Students

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In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, coding has become a critical skill that students must learn. App development in Swift Playgrounds has opened up new doors of creativity for students of all ages. The tool has revolutionised the way students learn coding, making it more engaging, interactive, and accessible than ever before. The Swift Playgrounds app is a free resource from Apple that introduces coding concepts using an interactive interface. It is an excellent tool for students to learn coding in a fun and engaging way.

Apple Teacher: Clear Examples and Support for Teachers

One of the most significant benefits of Swift Playgrounds is the Apple Teacher program, which provides teachers with clear examples and support on how to use Apple technology in the classroom. The program is designed to help teachers integrate technology into their teaching, giving them the knowledge and skills to help students develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Apple Teacher provides free online courses and professional development resources to educators, covering a wide range of topics, including coding with Swift Playgrounds.

Swift Playgrounds has changed the way students learn to code, from primary to secondary education. The tool is highly accessible, and its easy-to-use interface has increased creativity in all learning areas, such as humanities, geography, history, math, and science. Swift Playgrounds has made it possible for teachers to teach coding in a more fun and engaging way, inspiring students to learn more and explore new ideas.

Accessibility: Cost and Durability

Another significant advantage of Swift Playgrounds is its accessibility. Being on an iPad makes it more accessible for students in low socio-economic communities for cost and the durability ability of the devices, reducing the growing digital divide. Swift Playgrounds is a tool that anyone can use, regardless of their background or financial status. It has opened up opportunities for all students to learn coding, regardless of their location or socio-economic background.

Developing in the App

In addition to being accessible, Swift Playgrounds has also made coding more manageable and less intimidating for students. The app is designed to be user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. Students can learn to code at their own pace, in a safe and controlled environment, without the pressure of getting it right the first time. This approach has helped many students to overcome the fear of coding and develop a love for the subject.

iPad development using SwiftUI in the latest version of Swift Playground allows for seamless integration between designing and publishing an app on the App Store. SwiftUI is a powerful framework that enables developers to create stunning user interfaces with minimal code, making it perfect for students and teachers alike. With the instant feedback built into the Playground app development area, students can easily iterate on their app designs and test the functionality of their code in real-time. Once the app is complete, it can be easily exported to Xcode and published directly to the App Store. This streamlined process allows for students to quickly turn their ideas into fully functional apps, providing an unparalleled level of creativity and learning opportunities in the classroom. The accessibility and ease of use of the Swift Playground app development area makes it an ideal tool for students from all backgrounds to learn app development and to gain valuable skills for the future.

Swift Playgrounds: Enhancing Learning in All Subjects

Swift Playgrounds has not only enhanced learning in coding but has also opened up new opportunities for students to apply their coding skills to other subjects. For instance, students can use Swift Playgrounds to create interactive maps in geography, animations in science, and data visualisation in math. The app provides a platform for students to explore new ideas and express themselves creatively, regardless of the subject area.

Moreover, Swift Playgrounds has made learning more collaborative and interactive. Students can work on projects together, sharing ideas, and collaborating on solutions. This approach has made learning more engaging, as students can work together to solve complex problems, while developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Swift Playgrounds has revolutionised the way students learn coding. The tool has made it more accessible, engaging, and collaborative, opening up new doors of creativity for students of all ages. The app has also made it possible for teachers to integrate technology into their teaching, giving them the knowledge and skills to help students develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The Apple Teacher program has played a significant role in supporting teachers, providing them with clear examples and support on how to use Apple technology in the classroom. With Swift Playgrounds, the possibilities for learning are endless, and students can explore new ideas and express themselves creatively, regardless of the subject area.

Why free resources such as Apple teacher should be shared

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Technology has revolutionised the world of education. With the right tools, teachers can now deliver more engaging lessons, personalise learning, and improve student outcomes. However, to make the most of technology in the classroom, teachers need the necessary skills and resources to integrate it effectively. That’s where the Apple Teacher, Microsoft Educator, and Google Educator programs come in.

In this article, I will focus primarily on the Apple Teacher program and how it has helped teachers use technology more effectively in their classrooms.

The Apple Teacher program is a free professional learning resource that provides educators with the tools and training to integrate Apple technology into their teaching practice. It is a self-paced learning program that provides clear examples and support on how to use Apple technology in the classroom. The program is open to all educators, regardless of their level of experience with Apple technology.

The program consists of a series of online tutorials and assessments that cover various Apple products and apps, such as iPad, Mac, and iWork. Each tutorial consists of a video, a hands-on activity, and a quiz. The tutorials are designed to be completed in a short amount of time and are easy to follow.

Upon completing each tutorial, teachers receive a digital badge that demonstrates their mastery of the concepts covered. Collecting these badges allows teachers to earn recognition as an Apple Teacher. They can then share their achievement on social media or their resume, showing their commitment to using technology in the classroom.

One of the most significant benefits of the Apple Teacher program is the support it provides for teachers in integrating technology into their teaching practice. The tutorials provide clear examples of how to use Apple products and apps in the classroom. For example, the tutorial on Pages shows teachers how to create interactive textbooks, while the tutorial on Keynote demonstrates how to create engaging presentations that can capture students’ attention.

The program also provides teachers with access to a community of educators who share best practices and ideas on how to use Apple technology in the classroom. This community allows teachers to connect with other educators who are facing similar challenges and share their experiences and ideas.

For many teachers, the Apple Teacher program has been a game-changer. It has provided them with the skills and confidence they need to integrate technology effectively into their teaching practice. For example, Mary, a fifth-grade teacher from Perth, had always struggled with engaging her students during math class. She found that her students were disinterested in the textbook and traditional lectures.

After completing the Apple Teacher program, Mary learned how to use Keynote to create interactive presentations that made math more engaging for her students. She also learned how to use GarageBand to create math songs, which helped her students remember key concepts more easily. The impact was immediate, and Mary noticed that her students were more engaged and excited about math than ever before.

Another example is John, a high school English teacher from Western Australia. He found that his students were struggling with writing, and he needed a way to provide more targeted feedback. After completing the Apple Teacher program, John learned how to use Pages to create interactive feedback forms. He was able to give students detailed feedback on their writing, which allowed them to improve their writing skills more quickly.

The Apple Teacher program has also had a significant impact on the way teachers approach professional development. The program allows teachers to learn at their own pace, on their own time, and from anywhere. This flexibility has made professional development more accessible for teachers, and many have found it to be a valuable addition to their personal and professional growth.

The Apple Teacher program has been an essential resource for teachers looking to integrate technology into their teaching practice. The program provides clear examples and support on how to use Apple products and apps in the classroom. It also provides teachers with access to a community of educators who share best practices and ideas on how to use technology effectively.

How to Develop Deeper Skills in Using ChatGPT

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In today’s digital age, artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly significant role in shaping our lives. ChatGPT, one of the largest language models developed by OpenAI, is transforming the way we communicate and access information. However, to get the most out of ChatGPT, you need to develop your skills in using it effectively. In this post, we will discuss how you can use ChatGPT to create more dynamic and varied content.

Though it can be a creative prompt, having a good foundation of knowledge is crucial when it comes to developing quality prompts and evaluating the responses generated by an AI language model like ChatGPT. With a strong foundation of knowledge, you’ll be able to craft prompts that are well-structured, informative, and engaging, and you’ll be better equipped to assess the responses generated by ChatGPT to ensure they meet your needs and expectations.

When it comes to developing prompts for ChatGPT, having a clear understanding of your topic is essential. You should have a good grasp of the key concepts, terminology, and issues related to the subject matter, as well as an awareness of the target audience for your content. With this knowledge, you can create prompts that are relevant and meaningful, and that will elicit the kind of responses you need to create high-quality content.

Once you have crafted your prompt and received a response from ChatGPT, it’s important to evaluate the output to ensure it meets your needs. This requires some degree of subject matter expertise, as well as an ability to assess the response in terms of its relevance, accuracy, and tone. If the output is not quite what you were looking for, you can refine your prompt and try again, or you can make adjustments to the response generated by ChatGPT until it meets your needs.

Four examples on how to get more out of ChatGPT.

1. Add in Human-Written Techniques

The first tip to develop deeper skills in using ChatGPT is to add in human-written techniques. Although ChatGPT is an AI-based language model, it still requires some human intervention to produce high-quality content. One way to do this is to ask ChatGPT to work according to good advice you have read elsewhere. For example, you can take some tips on persuasive writing from the Grammarly blog and ask ChatGPT to apply them to your topic.

Example prompt: Generate a persuasive essay on why people should switch to renewable energy sources using human-written techniques and incorporating the advice from a sustainability expert.

More detailed:

Prompt: Using the writing tips from the Grammarly blog, develop a persuasive article on the importance of developing copywriting skills in 2023. Remember to use strong persuasive language, ask questions to transition between paragraphs, back up main points with evidence and examples, and speak directly to the reader.

2. Use different styles or tones

Prompt: Write a satirical article on using ChatGPT to create more effective content. Be as ironic and sarcastic as possible, while still maintaining readability and coherence.

3. Write from Different Perspectives

Another way to develop deeper skills in using ChatGPT is to write from different perspectives. You can ask ChatGPT to write from the perspective of a group of characters with different backgrounds or viewpoints. This will help you to explore new ideas and perspectives and add depth to your writing. Additionally, you can write in different styles or tones, such as satire or irony.

Example prompt: Write a series of tweets in the voice of different political leaders discussing their views on climate change.

More detailed:

Prompt: Write a blog post on productivity for entrepreneurs from the perspective of a group of characters with different backgrounds or viewpoints. For each perspective, write in their own voice, using phrases that person would use.

4. Use Different Formats

ChatGPT can generate content in different formats, such as outlines, mind maps, bullet points, persuasive essays, chunks of text of less than 280 characters, and using the structure of what, why, and how. By varying the output format, you can create more engaging and visually appealing content that appeals to different audiences.

Example prompt: Create a mind map on the topic of using Notion to stay organized as a content creator, listing out the central idea, main branches, and sub-branches.

More detailed:

Prompt: Write a satirical article on using ChatGPT to create more effective content. Be as ironic and sarcastic as possible, while still maintaining readability and coherence.

5. Generate Content with a Specific Purpose or Goal in Mind

When using ChatGPT, it’s essential to give it context by telling it who your audience is and what you want to achieve with your content. For example, if you want to create content on how to grow your coaching business for business coaches, your content goal could be to motivate the audience to feel excited about growing their business while teaching them one tip. You could also specify the writing style to be clear, concise, conversational, down-to-earth, humble, and experienced.

6.Vary the output format

Prompt: Ask ChatGPT to produce an outline, mind map, bullet points, persuasive essay, or chunks of text less than 280 characters long on the topic of digital marketing. Additionally, ask ChatGPT to use the structure of “What, Why, and How” to generate content on the same topic.

Example prompt: Write a blog post on how to start a successful podcast for beginners, keeping in mind the audience of aspiring podcasters who want to learn the basics and the goal of providing practical tips to help them launch their own podcast.

More detailed:

Prompt: Develop a motivating blog post for business coaches on how to grow their coaching business. Use a clear, concise, conversational, down-to-earth, humble, and experienced writing style. Remember to give ChatGPT some context about your audience, content goal, and writing style.

Developing deeper skills in using ChatGPT is essential to create more engaging and effective content. By adding in human-written techniques, writing from different perspectives, using different formats, and generating content with a specific purpose or goal in mind, you can unlock the full potential of ChatGPT and take your content creation to the next level.

Why SwiftUI is a better option than Python for teaching coding in high school

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As a #digitaltechnologies teacher, I am always on the lookout for new and innovative tools that can help my students better understand the concepts I am teaching. In the past, I have considered popular programming languages like #Python and #Java for teaching app development. However, after evaluating various options, I have found that #SwiftUI is the best choice for my students. Not only does it make the development process faster and more intuitive, but it also provides students with a modern and visually appealing platform to build their skills on. In this blog, I would like to share my reasons for why I choose SwiftUI over other programming languages such as Python and Java for teaching app development to my students.

SwiftUI is a powerful tool for teaching coding to students in school. It has a number of advantages over using Python which is increasingly popular, making it a great choice for educators who are looking to engage and inspire their students.

One of the main advantages of SwiftUI is its ease of use. Unlike Python, which can have a steep learning curve for students who are new to coding, SwiftUI is designed to be intuitive and easy to learn. This makes it a great choice for students who are new to coding and for educators who are looking to teach coding in a way that is accessible and engaging.

Another advantage of SwiftUI is its visual nature. Unlike Python, which is a text-based programming language, SwiftUI is designed to be used with a visual interface. This makes it a great choice for students who learn best through visual cues and for educators who are looking to create more engaging and interactive coding experiences. Additionally, SwiftUI’s visual interface allows students to easily see the results of their coding, which can be a powerful motivator for them to keep learning.

SwiftUI is also a great choice for educators who are looking to teach coding in a way that is relevant and applicable to real-world situations. This programming language can be used to create interactive and visual applications for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This means that students can learn coding skills that are relevant to the current job market, which can help them prepare for future careers in software development.

SwiftUI also offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to teaching coding. As an open-source language, there are a lot of resources available to educators and students, including tutorials, videos, and sample code. This means that educators can easily customize their curriculum and create coding projects that are tailored to their students’ interests and abilities.

Importantly for students who want to move on to active app development and publishing on the App Store there is a natural and seamless pathway. From the beginning they have access to the industry level developer tools in SwiftUI makes it easy for students to innovate and build their skills and start creating applications that meet the standards of the App Store. They can use their knowledge of Swift to add features and functionality to their apps. Additionally, the swift language and the iOS platform is widely used across many industries int he form of apps, so students who learn SwiftUI will have a valuable skill that can be applied to other areas of app development. By learning SwiftUI, students can not only create great apps for the App Store, by using two resources, a computer and time with the imagination.

Lastly, SwiftUI is a modern language that is constantly being updated and improved. This means that students who learn coding using SwiftUI will be learning skills that are relevant and up-to-date, which can help them stay competitive in the job market. This also means that educators using SwiftUI can keep learning and implementing the latest features and tools the language has to offer.

SwiftUI is a powerful tool for teaching coding to students in school. Its ease of use, visual nature, relevance to the job market, flexibility and modernity make it a great choice for educators who are looking to engage and inspire their students. Its growing popularity in the industry, makes it a valuable language for students to learn as well. This can help them prepare for future careers in software development and stay competitive in the job market.

Go try it out…you won’t be disappointed.

Where to start

  • Swift: https://www.apple.com/au/swift/playgrounds/
  • Python: https://www.python.org/downloads/

ChatGPT, the computer teacher: How to use AI to teach coding in class

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My last article looked at some of the possible uses of  AI-powered tools like ChatGPT for History teachers.  Though many of the examples I used are applicable across all learning areas.  It simply a matter of learning the better questions to ask and how the word it of get the response that you wish.

As educators, we are always looking for new and innovative ways to engage our students and to make learning more interactive and effective. One way to do this is by using AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, which can help to make coding lessons more dynamic and interactive. In this blog post, we will explore three activities that you can use to teach Python coding in class using ChatGPT.

Today I’m going to discuss a couple of areas that a computer, digital technologies, or ICT teachers may consider to work more effectively.  The AI can produce lesson plans that are useable.  However, the creation of reliant and effective resources takes time.  As teachers time is the one thing we can get more off.

Before we start the information and code in this example hasn’t been tested, however in the majority of cases code generated by chatGPT is usable straight away.  The blog will focus on the process and its possible tasks.  

The first activity is a coding challenge. This activity is designed to help students develop their coding skills by working on a series of coding problems. To do this, you can use ChatGPT to generate a series of coding problems for your students. These problems can be tailored to the specific needs of your class and can include a range of difficulty levels. Once your students have completed the coding challenge, you can use ChatGPT to evaluate their work and provide feedback on areas where they need to improve.

Take this simple tasK; You can ask ChatGPT to produce three different solutions to the same problem using different control structures.  The students then analyse and discuss which they think is the best solution from the variety of control structure for this problem.  Have them use a table of pro/cons for each of the programs and then write a summary recommendation with justification.

Using an If-Else Statement:

Using a While Loop:

Using a For Loop:

This can generate class discussion of higher value and in a shorter period of time.  You could follow up on whether they have a different and more efficient solution they could suggest and have them code that.

The second activity is a debugging challenge.  You can take one of your existing code snippets and ask ChatGPt to introduce a deliberate and have the student tourble shoot the code.  IN this case I asked it to highlight the bug for illustration purposes.  

Third activity:  It is good practice have regular retrieval tasks within your lesson.  However, its also good to develop new possible questions.  The advantage of using ChatGPt is it can generate new questions with our subconscious  bais on knowing what we have taught.  It can also generate questions that we may not consider, increasing the variety and breadth of their practice.  A quick way is using the curriculum points from your authority to generate questions from.  Simply copy and past and ask for sample students qesutions of the complexity you wish.  

Using theses curriculum points, lets see what questions it can generate.

Nice an easy problem generation.

If any students has been struggling in one particular area, you can narrow your focus for that individual students and quickly generate a range of questions for them.  We do this by focusing on one curriculum point and ask for questions only on that point: Lets focus on one-dimensional arrays.

Very quickly we can generate a variety of questions to test our students.  You can specify enough questions for 1 per person in your class and then have them share their answers with the rest of the class as an activity.  This can be done on the fly in class as needed.  You can use these to build a bank of possible questions to feed into other tools such as quizlet, cahoot, quizzes etc. 

Where can you go from here?

ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for computing  teachers looking to create interactive and engaging coding lessons. The ability to generate coding problems, tutorials, and games tailored to the specific needs of your class can save time and make it easier to differentiate instruction. The ability to introduce deliberate mistakes and have students troubleshoot the code can also provide an opportunity for hands-on learning and problem-solving. Additionally, ChatGPT can be used to generate sample student questions on specific curriculum points, providing a quick and easy way to create a variety of practice questions for your students. While the code generated by ChatGPT may not always be perfect, it is a great starting point and can be easily edited to fit the needs of your class. Overall, ChatGPT can be a powerful tool for computing  teachers looking to make their lessons more interactive and effective.