INTERFACE Magazine, Issue 123, July 2024

This year’s INTERFACE Minecraft Student Competition is up and running, and it’s time for your students to get their thinking caps on and their blocks moving.

The challenge is to design, create and manage a marine habitat – either a natural or artificial environment – in Aotearoa New Zealand. It must be biodiverse, sustainable and with a focus on Kaitiakitanga*. Come up with an idea, construct it in Minecraft, record a short video tour, and submit your entry.

PLUS, there’s some extra help this year. We’ve teamed up with wildlife experts across the country, who are willing to share their skills, knowledge and experience with you and your students as you plan your entries.

age categories. great prizes.

Entries close end of

For full details – including judging criteria and entry form –go to interfaceonline.co.nz/minecraft2024

*Kaitiakitanga is a concept of guardianship, encompassing the processes and practices of protecting and looking after the environment around us.

9 Accessit Library Roadshows are back – reimagined and ready to go! Accessit Library’s hugely popular Roadshows have been reimagined and are coming back throughout New Zealand in August.

10 Get your school protection with new Cyber Assistant Are you ready to take the lead in safeguarding your school’s digital future? The Ministry of Education is calling on educators to join the groundbreaking pilot of its new Cyber Assistant Tool. Designed to bolster schools’ resilience against cyber security and privacy threats, it represents a pivotal step towards ensuring a safe and secure online learning environment for all.

12 Are you getting a helping hand from AI in the classroom? From Face ID to Alexa, route planners to shopping suggestions, artificial intelligence is powering our daily digital lives.

The technology is predicting, responding, advising, analysing, personalising, and creating like never before. And as AI turns its sights on the classroom, there’s plenty for educators to ponder.

16 Conjuring up new ways to teach with AI At Maeroa Intermediate School, Magic School – an AI-powered teaching platform – is casting a classroom spell for teachers, reducing their workload and helping them to focus on the core responsibility of their job, that of educating students.

17 Digital dinosaurs are bringing learning to life with AR Captivated by the augmented reality component of a new learning app, Mel Doney eagerly accepted being part of a pilot programme for the activity. And the AR activities quickly helped her students grasp computational thinking concepts.

18 Three awesome days Xploring digital learning People came from near and far, and it was great to see so many of you at this year’s INTERFACEXpo events in Lincoln, Rotorua and Auckland. Thanks to everyone who joined us. Your engagement and enthusiasm helped to make it such a successful event. We hope you all enjoyed the day as much as us. In our photo review, it certainly looks like you did!

21 INTERFACEXpo 2024: Thanks to this year’s sponsors

22 File Share: two pages of online resources for educators.

24 Competitions: Heaps of great prizes to be won!

VIEWS

AND VIEWS NEWS AND VIEWS NEWS AND VIEWS

CONTENTSAND VIEWS NEWSAND VIEWS NEWS AND VIEWS NEWSAND

EDITOR

Greg Adams 027 255 1301

Greg.Adams@interfacemagazine.co.nz

It was great to see so many of you at INTERFACE Xpo last month. The three events –in Lincoln, Rotorua and Auckland – were buzzing, as you can see on pages 18-21.

Everyone who completed the delegate feedback survey (and gave us their name) went into the draw to win an E88 Drone and a USB Cassette Capture. Thanks for taking the time to complete this, as it always gives us plenty to think about and make next time even better! The first name drawn was Teresa Rush, St Joseph’s Catholic School, Waihi. Congratulations! Your prizes are on their way … including, as promised, a pencil!

ANIMAL EXPERTS READY AND WAITING TO HELP AND ADVISE

There’s some extra help for everyone in this year’s INTERFACE Student Minecraft Competition, which is supported by the Marine Stewardship Council. We’ve teamed up with wildlife experts across the country, who are willing to share their skills and knowledge with you and your students as you design and build your habitats. Find out more at interfaceonline.co.nz/meet-the-wildlife-experts/

MEET OUR LATEST

COMPETITION WINNERS

Last issue, we had some great prizes to give away. Thanks to everyone who entered. If you missed out this time, check out pages 24 and 25 for our latest giveaways.

Keeping their device and keyboard super clean from now on will be Karen Franicevic, Kaikoura Primary School, Canterbury, who wins a Gel Dust Cleaner and a Keyboard Cleaning Brush combo.

We had a pack-of-10 Bite-Animal Anti-Break Data Cable Protective Covers up for grabs. Giving these cute critters a new home is Jessica Kestle, Oratia District School, Auckland. The USB Current and Voltage Power Tester goes to Matt Harrison, St Oran’s College, Lower Hutt.

Lastly, congratulations to the four winners of a Thumbs Up Adjustable Holder. Simone Heeney (Green), ACG Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, Nirvana Withers (Blue), St Francis Xavier School, Whangarei, Alana Thompson (Yellow), Valley School, Pukekohe, and Jacqueline Christie-Cumming (Orange), Buller High School, Westport.

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Michelle Durbin 09 575 2454

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EVENT MANAGER INTERFACE Xpo

Paul Colgrave

Paul.Colgrave@interfacexpo.co.nz

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NEW ZEALAND INTERFACE™ (ISSN 1177-973X) is published six times a year by G MEDIA PUBLISHING LIMITED

© G MEDIA PUBLISHING LIMITED 2024. Editorial opinions are not necessarily those of the publisher. We do not endorse or accept responsibility for any third party featured in this publication, unless stated otherwise. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information in this magazine, the publisher does not accept liability for inaccuracies, omissions or misinterpretations that may occur, and urges readers to always check online resources before using them in class.

RESOURCES TO TEACH ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FISHING

To celebrate World Ocean Day, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has posted information and resources for teaching about sustainable fishing.

“World Ocean Day is a great moment to show your class how sustainable fishing contributes to protecting our ocean,” said MSC. “Our ocean supports life on Earth in many different ways. It feeds billions of people, regulates the world’s climate and is home to an extraordinary variety of life. But the ocean is now unquestionably under pressure. Over a third of global fish stocks are exploited at an unsustainable rate. Together, we can spread the word and help ocean lovers to understand what sustainable fishing means and what they can do to protect the ocean.”

More at bit.ly/worldoceanday2024

SCHOOLS NEEDED TO HELP DEVELOP A NEW CYBER SECURITY TOOL

Want to improve cyber security protections at your school? Join the Ministry of Education’s pilot for its new Cyber Assistant Tool. You’ll get early access and help to identify how to improve it. Find out more on pages 10 and 11, or contact digital.services@education.govt.nz

VIDEOS AVAILABLE ON PRIVACY AWARENESS

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner holds Privacy Week each year to help promote privacy awareness, inform people of their rights under the law, and help educate agencies about their responsibilities. If you missed it – or would like to know more – you can check out the action in recorded webinars on the Privacy Commission’s YouTube Channel. Topics include: AI tools; young people’s attitudes towards privacy; personal genomics; and ‘Sharenting’, where parents overshare information about their children.

More at youtube.com/@PrivacyNZ

‘WORLD FIRST’ INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE PROJECT WINS AWARD

Congratulations to Grok Academy and Tātai Aho Rau Core Education for winning the Digi Matihiko Award at the Māori Language Awards. The recognition is for Pūkenga ā-Ipurangi

Aotearoa, the te reo version of cyber-security course Cyber Skills Aotearoa. The programme consists of unplugged and online resources that provide teachers and students in Years 9-13 with classroom-ready activities and challenges to develop students’ cyber security skills and dispositions.

“This may be a world first – a broad, online cyber-safety programme in an indigenous language,” said Core Education’s Tumu Whakarae Hana O’Regan. “We plan to continue to create resources about our online environments in te reo Māori.”

More at grokacademy.org/cyber-nz/

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS FOR NETSAFETY WEEK

Netsafety Week 2004 takes place next month (28 July-2 August), offering practical tools and support to help Kiwis enhance their digital lives while minimising potential harm. Hosted by Netsafe, activities include the launch of the Snapchat Family Toolkit for Snapchat safety and The Netsafe-Tea, a 25-year birthday celebration and fundraiser.

More at netsafe.org.nz/advice/ our-work/netsafety-week/

NZ’S LARGEST CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT NEEDS YOU

Encourage your students to head into the garden (or local park) for one hour on any day between Saturday 29 June and Sunday 7 July, and count all the birds they see or hear for the NZ Garden Bird Survey. More information and submission details at gardenbirdsurvey.nz

Auckland’s Northcote Intermediate is hosting the Fuse Cup, a Rocket League esports competition on 25 July. Played on the Xbox Series S, the winners will be crowned National Champions and invited to represent NZ at The FUSE Esports Festival in Australia in November. More at wkf.ms/4axJsH9

JOIN THE ROCKET LEAGUE NZ CHAMPS 2024

New Japanese POW doco challenges historical views

‘Shuriken – Prisoners of Culture’ is a documentary that explores a Second World War incident just outside the Wairarapa town of Featherston that left dead 48 Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) and one guard. The video and related learning resources are available free from ETV.

In early 1943, a group of recently-arrived prisoners refused to work and staged a sit-down strike. A guard fired a warning shot, which may have wounded Lieutenant Commander Toshio Adachi, prompting the prisoners to rise to their feet and leading the guards to open fire.

Vincent O’Sullivan explores the implications of this event in his play, performed in Hamilton in 1995 and in Japan shortly after. ETV has been gifted the documentary ‘Shuriken – Prisoners of Culture’, which covers the play’s production and the subsequent challenges when businesses were discouraged from sponsoring the event.

Cross-curricular learning

This documentary is ideal for investigating different perspectives on a historical event in secondary schools. The play is also available on Playmarket for schools wanting to explore cross-curricular learning experiences with their senior students using a local historical event.

Collaborating with Adrienne Livingston, the daughter of former Hamilton mayor

and Shuriken play producer Lois Livingston, has enabled ETV to provide educators with a comprehensive collection of articles, activities and images related to the documentary.

This has been an immensely rewarding project, allowing us to work with numerous individuals to highlight the significance of this often-overlooked historical event.

“The cast for Hamilton’s production of Shuriken about the Featherston Prisoner of War camp during World War II says the controversy about the play has helped its publicity. The Waikato Chamber of Commerce has said the play could harm business relations with Japan.” New Zealand Herald, 1995.

“Adachi has made it his mission to make sure these events are not forgotten. He attended a 50-year reunion at the former site of the camp and plans another trip to New Zealand to try and have a monument erected in memory of the officers who died under his command.”

The Japan Times, 1995.

“Shuriken producer Lois Livingston said while she could understand the ex-POWs would feel sensitive towards the play’s contents, it was 50 years after the event and time to move forward.” Waikato Times, 1995.

Resource pack

All schools can access the Shuriken resource pack, which includes supplementary videos, NCEA history assessment booklets, and activities designed to support active learning while viewing the documentary. Additionally, ETV subscribers can access an interactive version of the documentary that bookmarks various conflicting perspectives throughout the film.

Article by ETV’s National Support Manager Courtney Robinson

ETV is a school-based subscription service. A free three-month trial is available for teachers to delve into the extensive video library.

For more information go to etv.nz or call 0800 438 388

Re-energising learning with Promethean ActivPanels

Under the passionate leadership of Tone Kalose, a south Auckland school is weaving a tale of transformation. With a rich cultural tapestry encompassing Pacifica, Ma -ori, Indian, Asian, and Pakeha/European students, this high equity index school is not just a place of learning but a thriving community. And at the heart of its educational renaissance is an unlikely hero: the Promethean ActivPanel

From Home Learning to ActivPanels: A Digital Revolution

Manurewa South Primary School faced a stark reality during the Covid-19 lockdowns. With limited access to digital tools at home, students were often unfamiliar with educational technology devices. This digital divide became painfully clear as the school struggled to engage and instruct its young learners remotely, resulting in slower academic progress for many.

Determined to turn the tide, the school embarked on a mission to bridge this gap, focusing on enhancing digital equity. Digital equity, as described by Matt Highfield, ensures “all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy. Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.” (From ‘Digital Inclusion to Digital Equity’, Medium.com, 2018)

Embracing Innovation: The ActivPanel Advantage

Enter ActiveVision and Promethean. Recognising the potential of these cutting-edge tools, Manurewa South started to integrate ActivPanels into classrooms. The results were transformative. Student engagement soared, teacher capabilities expanded, and the overall learning environment became more dynamic.

The school’s latest addition of nine V9 Premium ActivPanels marks a significant milestone. These interactive panels have seamlessly integrated into the teaching ecosystem, offering features such as work sharing, screen recording, coconstruction of learning materials, and active student participation.

Teachers have particularly embraced ‘Explain Everything,’ a new application in the Promethean ActivPanel software suite. This tool facilitates collaborative whiteboarding, aligning perfectly with the Digital Curriculum and key competencies, and fostering a robust, student-led learning environment.

“We couldn’t imagine teaching without the ActivPanels,” said Eric, a Year 5/6 teacher. “Students are more confident, more engaged. The learning is richer, and they challenge each other. We use the panel for demonstrating writing structure and walking through work expectations. The panels save us from double handling materials; we annotate directly over resources and save back to Drive for sharing with students and parents.”

Looking Ahead: Sustaining the Digital Momentum

Manurewa South’s journey with Promethean is far from over. With the steadfast support of ActiveVision’s ongoing professional learning and technical assistance, the school is poised to further integrate these technologies, ensuring every student has the tools to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

Article supplied by ActiveVision

About ActiveVision

For more than 27 years, ActiveVision has been a trusted audio-visual specialist across the country. As a 100 per cent Kiwi-owned company, it offers bespoke solutions tailored to the needs of both educational and commercial clients. Its exclusive distribution of Promethean panels in New Zealand means they provide the latest, most innovative technology on the market.

ActiveVision’s commitment to excellence and passion for creating collaborative spaces make it the go-to choice for schools seeking to enhance their digital capabilities. With their expertise, clients can work, create, connect, and communicate seamlessly anywhere in the world. Learn more at activevision.co.nz

Accessit Library Roadshows are back –reimagined

and ready to go!

Accessit Library’s hugely popular Roadshows have been reimagined and are coming back throughout New Zealand in August! If your library team or designated Accessit Library guru is due for some quality professional development, then these are must attend events.

Join Accessit Library for their upcoming Roadshows, a morning of networking, reconnecting and learning. Leave feeling re-invigorated and ready to take your school’s library experience to the next level.

The company’s experienced librarians will share ideas on how to promote collaboration across school departments, take a deep dive into areas of Accessit you may not have used before, and learn about some of the great new features that have recently been released.

Early bird tickets for the events are on sale until Sunday 7 July and every attendee will go in the draw to WIN a 2-hour, one-onone remote training session with one of our support superstars – an awesome prize valued at $250!

Find out more about Accessit Library at accessitlibrary.com/roadshow

INTERFACEXpo Discounts

It was amazing seeing so many of you at the INTERFACEXpo events last month! You’ll have seen and heard how you can do more with Accessit, and it’s clear that many schools are learning how to get more from their investment.

From those of you wanting to add non-book assets like sports gear, Chromebooks and instruments to your database, to those wanting to empower teachers to give students a place to research subjects with our topic dashboards – Accessit can help and save you time!

The team’s mission is to ensure that you continue to get the most value out of your investment in Accessit, and the speciallydesigned support service packages give you one-on-one time with an Accessit

team member, who is an experienced school librarian to help you do just that.

• If you are a new librarian, want to get more out of your setup or want to delve deeper, the Health Check and Health Check Plus packages will be perfect to ensure you’re getting the most out of Accessit.

• Short on time or need guidance at the end of the year? The Stocktake package is designed to get your plan ready, ensuring you have the right advice during your stocktake.

We have limited time deals for INTERFACE Xpo attendees, so if you’re interested in an Accessit Service package, find out more by reaching out to us on support@accessitlibrary.com

Article by Accessit Library.

Get your school protection with new Cyber Assistant

Are you ready to take the lead in safeguarding your school’s digital future? The Ministry of Education is calling on educators to join the groundbreaking pilot of its new Cyber Assistant Tool. Designed to bolster schools’ resilience against cyber security and privacy threats, it represents a pivotal step towards ensuring a safe and secure online learning environment for all.

At a time when education is increasingly intertwined with digital platforms, ensuring our tamariki’s safety and privacy online is paramount. As they eagerly enter their classrooms or log into virtual learning environments each day, there’s a fundamental expectation: that their personal information remains protected and their online learning experiences are secure.

However, for school educators and administrators, navigating the complex landscape of digital security can feel like traversing uncharted waters, especially with limited resources at hand.

How can schools confidently safeguard their students and staff from cyber threats?

Enter the Ministry of Education’s groundbreaking new tool: the Cyber Assistant Tool. Currently under development, this innovative resource promises to revolutionise how schools approach digital security, offering a lifeline to educators seeking guidance in fortifying their online learning environments. With an invitation for schools to participate in the tool’s pilot phase, slated for a wider launch next year, the Ministry aims to empower educational institutions with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the digital realm safely.

Empowering kura with cyber confidence

At the heart of the Cyber Assistant Tool lies a simple yet powerful concept: empowerment through knowledge. Designed to help kura and schools assess their resilience against cyber threats, the tool guides educators through a comprehensive self-assessment process, gauging their digital environment across key domains of cyber security, cyber safety, and privacy. By completing

a series of modules tailored to their specific needs, schools receive personalised recommendations, outlining the top five actions necessary to bolster their digital defences.

Tailored solutions for every school

One of the most compelling features of the Cyber Assistant Tool is its adaptability. Recognising that each school faces unique challenges and constraints, the tool delivers bespoke action plans, complete with practical advice, implementation guidance, and customizable templates. From mitigating cyber security risks to responding swiftly to potential threats, the tool equips schools with the strategies needed to safeguard their digital assets effectively.

Efficiency in action

In an educational landscape where time is of the essence, the Cyber Assistant Tool offers a streamlined approach to digital security. By investing in proactive measures rather than reactive responses, schools can minimise disruptions to teaching and learning, ensuring uninterrupted educational experiences for all students. With self-assessment modules designed to be completed in less than 20 minutes each, the tool prioritises efficiency, enabling educators to focus on what truly matters: the holistic development of their students.

A collaborative approach to cyber protection

Beyond its immediate benefits to individual schools, the Cyber Assistant Tool holds promise for the broader educational community. While the Ministry respects the privacy of individual school results, aggregated data and insights gleaned from the assessments will inform a comprehensive overview of cyber protection across New Zealand’s

schools. By leveraging this collective intelligence, the Ministry can better allocate resources and support initiatives aimed at bolstering cyber resilience nationwide.

Joining forces for a secure future

As the Ministry invites schools to participate in the pilot phase of the Cyber Assistant Tool, educators are encouraged to seize this opportunity to enhance their cyber security protections. By actively engaging with the tool and providing feedback, schools not only fortify their own defences but also contribute to the ongoing refinement of this invaluable resource.

In an age increasingly defined by digital innovation, the Ministry’s Cyber Assistant Tool represents a safe and secure way forward, illuminating a path toward a more resilient, empowered educational landscape. As schools embrace this transformative tool, they embark on a journey of discovery, harnessing the power of knowledge to safeguard the futures of generations to come.

Article by the Ministry of Education’s Digital Services team

Small actions. Big impact.

The Ministry of Education is seeking schools and educators to pioneer its new Cyber Assistant Tool pilot. Crafted to enhance schools’ defences against cyber threats to privacy and security, this initiative marks a significant stride towards establishing a protected online learning ecosystem for everyone.

Why participate?

As part of the pilot, your school will gain exclusive early access to the Cyber Assistant Tool, providing invaluable insights into your digital security posture. Through a personalised risk assessment and action plan tailored to your school’s unique needs, you’ll receive clear guidance on the next steps to fortify your defences. The more modules you complete, the more targeted and effective your action plan will be, empowering you to address vulnerabilities head-on.

Shaping the future of education

Your involvement in the pilot isn’t just about improving your school’s digital security – it’s about shaping the future of education nationwide. By sharing your feedback and insights, you’ll play a crucial role in refining the Cyber Assistant Tool, ensuring it meets the evolving needs of educators across New Zealand. Plus, the data and insights gathered during the pilot will inform critical decisions on funding allocation, ensuring that schools receive the ongoing support they need to stay ahead of emerging threats.

How to join the pilot

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Spaces in the pilot are limited, so act fast to secure your spot. To join, reach out to the Ministry of Education’s Digital Services team at digital.services@education.govt.nz and express your interest in participating.

Want to know about all things digital from the Ministry of Education?

Get the latest updates on digital initiatives, cyber security, new services, tips, and advice straight to your inbox with ‘Digital Download’.

As the Ministry of Education continues to provide new digital services, initiatives and advice available to kura and schools, stay informed by signing up to its regular e-newsletter. It covers:

• Guidance on digital security, online safety and privacy;

• Early access to new services;

• Upcoming events and how to be involved; and

• Everything digital from the Ministry.It’s your gateway to information to proactively keep your school’s digital learning environment secure.

Find out more and sign up at bit.ly/sub2DD

Are you getting a helping hand from AI in the classroom?

From Face ID to Alexa, route planners to shopping suggestions, artificial intelligence is powering our daily digital lives. The technology is predicting, responding, advising, analysing, personalising, and creating like never before. And as AI turns its sights on the classroom, there’s plenty for educators to ponder.

Hey Siri … what’s with artificial intelligence in education? AI. It seems like these two letters are on many people’s mind. Artificial Intelligence. Of course, it’s not a new concept, not by any means. But the latest developments in this technology that enables machines to simulate human intelligence, especially computer systems, enabling them to learn, read, write, create, and analyse, is making its mark in classrooms.

When was AI first used?

Ancient Greek philosophers contemplated the essence of consciousness, human thought, and learning. Leonardo Da Vinci’s Automa Cavaliere (Automaton Knight) was a humanoid automaton designed and possibly constructed around 1495. In 1763, Thomas Bayes developed a framework for the probability of events, called Bayesian reference, which was an early form of machine learning.

In 1921, Czech playwright Karel Capek released a science fiction play ‘Rossum’s Universal Robots’, introducing the idea of artificial people, which he named robots. A few years later, Japanese biologist Makoto Nishimura built Gakutensoku, a giant humanoid writing robot and US company Westinghouse created Televox, which executed commands given over the telephone.

Machines that think

Our modern understanding of the concept of artificial intelligence dates back several decades. In 1949, computer scientist Edmund Callis Berkley wrote ‘Giant Brains, or Machines that Think’, which compared the newer models of computers to human brains. A year later, Alan Turing – of the Turing Test and Imitation Game fame – published ‘Computing Machinery and Intelligence’ and in 1956 John McCarthy coined the term ‘artificial intelligence’.

The first chatbot, ELIZA, which emulates a Rogerian psychotherapist, was released in 1966. (You can still chat to the program, as a number of versions are online, such as psych. fullerton.edu/mbirnbaum/psych101/eliza.htm) In the 1980s, Mercedes-Benz tested the first driverless car and, after a failed attempt, chess-playing computer Deep Blue beat the reigning world champion Gary Kasparov in 1996 (in 19 moves, if you were wondering).

The first Roomba was released in 2002 and from 2006 companies such as Twitter, Facebook, and Netflix started utilising AI as a part of their advertising and user experience (UX) algorithms. Apple released virtual assistant Siri in 2011 and Amazon’s Alexa first appeared via an Echo in 2014.

Generative AI

The technology has been around in various guises for decades. However, something has changed. The last couple of years have seen a remarkable and radical shift in the ways it can be used, especially in education and in the classroom, in the form of what’s called Generative artificial intelligence (Generative AI, GenAI, or GAI). This is artificial intelligence that’s capable of generating text, images, videos, or other, often in response to our questions and prompts.

In 2020, we took our first steps when OpenAI started beta testing GPT-3, a tool that creates content – such as articles, poetry and code – that’s almost indistinguishable from those created by humans. Improvements in deep neural networks, particularly large language models, has led to a flurry of new tools, including chatbots, such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot, text-to-image creators, like Midjourney, DALL-E and Firefly, and text-to-video generators, like Sora.

Using the power of AI

Different types of AI tools are already widely used to do things like filter spam emails, make recommendations on websites, or help with navigation apps. The common feature is using data to make predictions.

However, a new wave of AI-powered apps and tools are transforming the educational landscape, offering teachers innovative ways to enhance teaching and learning experiences, including:

• Personalised Learning: AI tools can analyse students’ learning patterns and adapt lessons to meet individual needs.

• Automated marking and feedback: AI-driven grading tools, can, save teachers time by automatically assessing assignments, quizzes, and exams, as well as providing immediate feedback.

• Classroom Management: AI tools can assist in managing classroom activities.

• Data-Driven Insights: Platforms like Google Classroom utilise AI to provide insights into student performance and engagement, and identifying those who may need additional support.

• Administrative Tasks: AI tools can streamline administrative tasks such as scheduling, attendance tracking, and communication with parents.

• Resource Creation: AI can assist in creating educational content.

• Professional Development: AI-powered platforms offer personalised learning paths for teachers, helping them stay updated with the latest teaching methodologies and subject knowledge.

Potential pitfalls

AI in schools, while beneficial, has potential downsides. It can lead to data privacy concerns, as sensitive student information is collected and stored. Additionally, AI systems may perpetuate biases present in their training data, potentially disadvantaging certain student groups. Over-reliance on AI tools might reduce human interaction, essential for emotional and social development. There’s also the risk of widening the digital divide, as not all schools have equal access to advanced technology. Lastly, the implementation and maintenance of AI systems can be costly and require ongoing teacher training, which may strain school resources.

TELEVOX, C.1928, ANSWERS TELEPHONE CALLS AND EXECUTES COMMANDS

One significant challenge of using AI in schools is verifying student authorship. AI tools, like automated writing assistants and content generators, can produce high-quality work that may not accurately reflect a student’s own abilities or effort. This can make it difficult for teachers to assess genuine understanding and progress. Additionally, plagiarism detection becomes more complex as AI-generated content can evade traditional detection methods. This issue necessitates the development of new strategies and tools to ensure academic integrity and accurately evaluate students’ true capabilities.

Generating AI-rt

There’s been a proliferation of text-to-image generating tools for creating art using the power of AI. Using them is simple. Just explain in words what you want and the site does the rest, some provide a handful of alternatives. The results can be amazing, hilarious and downright bizarre. Most require you to sign in (which usually helps cut out advertising and scams).

Some sites, like Adobe Firefly, take it one step further, as they let you manually manipulate images, using editing tools.

Some you could try are:

• Google’s Gemini (gemini.google.com/app)

• Open AI’s DALL.E 2 (openai.com/dall-e-2) – an upgraded DALL.E3 is also now available to paying customers.

• Adobe Firefly (firefly.adobe.com)

• Image Creator (bing.com/images/create)

• NightCafe (creator.nightcafe.studio)

• Craiyon (craiyon.com)

You can create video, too.

OpenAI – maker of ChatGPT – has revealed a new tool that can generate videos from text prompts. Named after the Japanese word for ‘sky’, Sora (openai.com/sora) can produce realistic and imaginative footage up to a minute long from a user’s text instructions on both subject matter and style.

Personal teaching assistants

One area that could have significant impact is the introduction of chatbots that can act as personal teaching assistants, each serving different purposes to enhance the educational experience. These could include:

• FAQ chatbots can answer frequently asked questions from students and parents regarding school policies, schedules, assignment deadlines, and other routine inquiries. They help reduce the administrative burden on teachers by providing

instant, accurate responses.

• Tutoring chatbots can be designed to assist with specific subjects or concepts, offering explanations, practice problems, and personalised learning resources. They can adapt to individual student needs, providing targeted support to enhance understanding and retention.

• Homework help chatbots can guide students through their homework assignments, offering hints, step-by-step solutions, and clarifying instructions. They ensure that students have the support they need to complete their work outside of school hours.

• Engagement chatbots can gamify the learning process by providing interactive quizzes, challenges, and rewards. They can make learning more engaging and fun, motivating students to participate actively in their education.

• Administrative chatbots can handle routine administrative tasks such as taking attendance, sending reminders about upcoming assignments or events, and collecting feedback from students and parents. They help streamline classroom management and communication.

• Feedback collection chatbots can gather real-time feedback from students on lessons, assignments, and overall learning experiences. They enable teachers to adjust their teaching strategies based on student input, improving the effectiveness of their instruction.

• Communication chatbots can facilitate interaction between teachers, students, and parents. They can send updates, announcements, and personalised messages, ensuring that important information is shared efficiently and effectively.

Chatbot builders

There are a number of tools available for creating your own chatbot teaching assistant. They range in ability and sophistication but, generally, provide a fairly straightforward way to build-your-own option. Some you could try to get you going are Dialogflow (cloud.google.com/dialogflow), Mizou (mizou.com) and SchoolAI (schoolai.com)

What can you do now?

Schools should take proactive steps to integrate AI effectively and ethically into their educational environments. Some key actions to consider are:

• Develop an AI Strategy: Create a comprehensive AI strategy that outlines goals, appropriate tools to use, and the expected outcomes.

• Invest in teacher training: Provide teachers with professional development opportunities to understand and effectively use AI tools is crucial. Training should cover both the technical aspects and the pedagogical integration of AI in the classroom.

• Ensure data privacy and security: Prioritise the protection of student data by implementing robust data privacy policies and ensuring that any AI tools used comply with relevant regulations and standards.

• Promote ethical use of AI: Establish clear guidelines on the ethical use of AI, including how to address biases in AI algorithms and ensure fair treatment of all students.

• Foster digital literacy: Incorporate digital literacy into the curriculum to prepare students for an AI-driven world.

This includes teaching about AI, its benefits, and its potential risks, fostering critical thinking about the technology.

• Pilot AI projects: Start with pilot projects to test AI tools in specific areas, such as personalised learning, administrative tasks, or student support. These pilots can help identify best practices and potential challenges before scaling up.

• Engage stakeholders: Involve all stakeholders, from teachers and students to parents and the community, in the AI integration process is vital. Their input can provide valuable insights and help build a supportive environment for AI initiatives.

Looking ahead

The future of AI in learning is promising and exciting, and holds

Advice, guides and information

The Ministry of Education / Te Tahuhu o Te Ma - tauranga is developing policies and advice about Generative AI (bit.ly/ ministryai) to support schools and teachers and school with these new tools.

NZQA is also producing guidance on the use of AI and when its use is acceptable in assessment (bit.ly/nzqaai).

For a different perspective, The Australian Government’s Department of Education has unveiled the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Schools, which aims to “guide the responsible and ethical use of generative AI tools in ways that benefit students, schools, and society.” (bit.ly/ausframeworkai)

Netsafe offers AI school policy and class charter templates

Netsafe has added to its existing education resources a new school policy and class charter documents for using artificial intelligence (AI). These may be a good starting place for your school team to consider how to incorporate this topic into your existing policies and classroom practices.

During the next few months, these documents will be accompanied by a modular toolkit to help teachers familiarise themselves, and then their students if they wish, with the

transformative potential across various aspects of teaching and learning, including personalised learning, teacher support, virtual tutoring, adaptive learning, data-driven decision making, and lifelong learning.

AI technology can help to create more inclusive learning environments by providing assistive technologies for students with disabilities. For example, speech-to-text applications, language translation, and customised learning interfaces can make education more accessible. The future will also likely see a greater emphasis on teaching students about the ethical use of AI and understanding AI’s impact on society.

Ultimately, while AI does have challenges, there’s little doubt that it will change from now on the way we all teach and learn.

opportunities and issues around the use of generative AI as a research/homework tool.

You can download both documents at netsafe.org.nz/ ai-school-policy-and-class-charter

AI 101 for Teachers

Created by Code.org, ETS, ISTE, and Khan Academy, AI 101 for Teachers (code.org/ai/pl/101) is a free course for educators interested in AI and its transformative potential in education. A series of engaging and informative videos aim to demystify the technology, explore responsible implementation, address bias, and showcase how AI-powered learning can revolutionise student outcomes.

Some other organisations offering AI-related advice and guides for education include:

• TeachAI’s AI Guidance For Schools Toolkit (teachai.org/ toolkit)

• AI for Education’s Guide to Developing an AI Policy For Your School (aiforeducation.io/ai-resources/ai-policyguide-school)

Conjuring up new ways to teach with AI

At Maeroa Intermediate School, Magic School – an AI-powered teaching platform – is casting a classroom spell for teachers, reducing their workload and helping them to focus on the core responsibility of their job, that of educating students, writes David Taylor and Linda McPhail.

From creating engaging lesson plans to generating interactive resources, MagicSchool (magicschool.ai) offers more than 60 tools that harness the power of AI to support our teachers in various aspects of their work.

One of the ways that they’re using it is to re-level texts, such as journal articles or articles sourced from the internet, ensuring that reading materials are at an appropriate difficulty level for their students. Educators are creating comprehension questions for both written works and videos, helping to assess students’ understanding and critical thinking skills. In addition, teachers are generating basic maths problems to reinforce fundamental concepts, making learning more engaging and interactive for their students.

Real-time feedback

Not only does the platform include resources for teachers but also it offers the ability to roll out different AI apps to the students.

A class of GaTE students have been using MagicSchool AI to provide real-time feedback on aspects of their persuasive writing. They have learned how to ask specific questions to refine the quality of feedback, explored different grade levels of feedback and selected the best fit for their understanding and asked wide ranging questions that cover vocabulary, sentence structure, paragraph links, topic sentences, quality of evidence and punctuation, just to name a few.

Students have also used an AI generated rubric to analyse the effectiveness of MagicSchool AI. Here’s what a couple of students said.

“AI has taught me to include more research-based evidence and to add more variety in my sentence structure. I know that one problem with AI is that the information it gains might be

biassed.” (Keely, Year 8)

“Through the AI feedback, I have learned to stick to the tried and tested writing structure and to spell cataclysm correctly. Some areas [for me] to improve are to more directly address the counter arguments and to improve the flow of ideas within my paragraphs.” (Daniel, Year 8)

Attention and guidance

Most students found the feedback to be of significant value, helping them make adjustments to their writing that improved the overall piece. However, they sometimes found it challenging to read and understand the feedback well enough to apply it and this is where the teacher stepped in with support, as and when students required it.

One of the benefits of AI feedback is that it does not fix the writing issues for the student. Instead, it identifies what parts need attention and, with some guidance, puts the onus back on the student to reflect and make the necessary changes. From just one piece of writing, there has been a significant shift in the writing skills. The role of the teacher also shifts from group/ability teaching a set of skills, to roaming and working one-to-one on some just-in-time teaching around the AI identified needs.

Greater understanding

Our teachers are finding the use of AI allows them to create resources in a shorter time frame than previous and some mention that it even prompts them to think about things they have not yet considered. The ability for all students of different reading levels to have access to the same research information has been beneficial to student learning, with teachers noting a greater understanding of inquiry concepts.

Moving forward, we intend to roll out MagicSchool further and look into paying for the upgrade to allow access to a greater number of functions.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, we were talking about student-centred learning and student agency. With AI giving students the chance to get instant feedback, set goals and be independent in their learning, this is the first time we have felt that we’re truly able to achieve these goals.

David Taylor and Linda McPhail teach at Maeroa Intermediate School in Hamilton.

If you’d like to know more, David is happy to share his experiences with MagicSchool at dtaylor@maeroa.school.nz

Digital dinosaurs are bringing learning to life with AR

Captivated by the augmented reality component of a new learning app, Mel Doney eagerly accepted being part of a pilot programme for the activity. And the AR activities quickly helped her students grasp computational thinking concepts, as she explains.

Teaching students in Years 3 and 4, I appreciate the challenge of balancing curriculum subjects, with a focus on literacy and numeracy, while fostering key competencies and values through engaging and meaningful learning opportunities.

In my role as an IT lead, I’ve attended numerous technology conferences in the last six years, evolving into an advocate for integrating digital technologies into daily operations. Two years ago, I encountered ByteEd’s Play Code Learn series. Initially captivated by its augmented reality, which introduced newcomers to cutting-edge technologies, further exploration revealed its potential to significantly aid both my students and me in our learning.

The activity uses a hands-on, ‘unplugged’ approach to teaching computational thinking and digital technologies. When starting my journey, I decided to use Dinosaur Steps, the first resource in the series, which comes with physical components in a kit, the app and an online teachers’ portal with supportive educational resources. To build my own confidence, and reduce my planning time, I decided to follow the pre-prepared 10 lesson module, with slides and handouts. The lessons offer a simple introduction to digital technologies through non-digital methods, aiding teachers with limited confidence or access to hardware to teach New Zealand Curriculum technology progress outcomes effectively.

Showcasing skills

My students grasped computational thinking concepts through activities relevant to their lives, connecting unexpectedly with other curriculum subjects. During lessons, they skilfully applied their learning to various topics. Notable instances included using pattern recognition and sequencing in mathematics, character descriptions in narrative writing and oral language practice. They also explored

palaeontology and habitats in science, and incorporated digital technologies into the arts through binary pixel art and dance ‘tuts,’ showcasing their interdisciplinary prowess.

Students frequently experienced ‘aha’ moments when they related digital technology concepts to everyday life, like recognising morning routines as algorithms. Their excitement was palpable when they first interacted with the app, witnessing dinosaurs come to life through augmented reality – a priceless expression on their faces.

Enthusiasm and exploration

Witnessing the New Zealand Curriculum’s key competencies in practice has been remarkable. Students demonstrate logical, creative, and analytical thinking, problem-solving, and understanding cause and effect. They exhibit self-management through resilience, independent learning and embracing challenges. Proficiency in language, symbols and digital literacy is evident, along with effective communication. Moreover, they actively participate, demonstrate collaboration, listen attentively, empathise, negotiate, and consider diverse perspectives, embodying a holistic educational experience.

Students previously familiar with digital technologies swiftly grasped concepts, reinforcing prior knowledge. Others, new to the subject, were eager for further engagement. Remarkably, all students, regardless of ability, expressed keen interest in interacting with Explorer Ed and his Dinos, demonstrating a universal enthusiasm for learning and exploration.

What is augmented reality?

This is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world when they look through the camera of a phone or tablet.

Bug-spotting accuracy

Data from the student testing part of the pilot project revealed significant improvements in computational thinking. For instance, the ability to select correct algorithms rose from 75 per cent to 96 per cent and bug-spotting accuracy went up from 65 per cent to 96 per cent. Additionally, more students could define a computer program (from 35 per cent to 67 per cent accuracy), indicating an enhanced understanding of digital concepts.

I look forward to advancing my students’ understanding of computational thinking with the next activity. Building upon the foundations already laid, this will introduce new concepts like iteration, inputs, outputs, and functions.

A personal goal is to continue to assist educators who wish to learn more about integrating digital technologies into classroom learning. By participating in the pilot programme, I feel more confident in my own understanding of computational thinking, enabling me to better support others in their classroom endeavours.

Mel Doney teaches Years 3 and 4 at Rangiora New Life School in Canterbury.

MEL WITH HER CLASS

Three awesome days ploring digital learning

People came from near and far, and it was great to see so many of you at this year’s INTERFACEXpo events in Lincoln, Rotorua and Auckland. Thanks to everyone who joined us. Your engagement and enthusiasm helped to make it such a successful event. We hope you all enjoyed the day as much as us. It certainly looks like you did!

Narakeet (narakeet.com) is an AI voice generator that will let you quickly and easily create voiceovers. There are around 700 realistic-sounding, AIcreated voices and more than 90 languages to choose from. Just type or upload your script. You’ll get 20 recordings for free. No registration is needed.

Train your own AI assistant at FTK (projectftk.com) in a matter of minutes. Simply upload a lesson or activity, provide additional instructions, and choose configurations, such using only your content or incorporate knowledge from the web. Once done, share it with your students, giving them their own AI-powered helper.

Had a discussion with Gemini, Meta, Claude or ChatGPT and want to keep the results? AI Archives (aiarchives.org) is a Chrome extension that lets you save all your generative AI conversations. Use the URL to share and create citations. Manage your saved and previous posts in the dashboard.

Play the part of project manager for a complex job, such as a new construction or software development in MIT Project Management Game (bit.ly/ MITprojectmanager). Along the way, players learn how to manage budgets, schedules, and staff and time management skills. Play as individuals or a class.

How do you travel from one country to another? Test your border knowledge and journeying ability at Travle (travle. earth). The game provides the two counties and challenges players to travel from one to another in the shortest route possible by going through the least number of countries.

From the Smithsonian, Runaway Robot (runawayrobot.si.edu) is an interactive, choose-your-own adventure game for secondary students that explores the relationships between science and religion. It’s a bit quirky but will engage players’ curiosity, individual identities and experiences, and ideas about the world.

Convert WEBP images to a JPG file quickly and easily at WebP2JPG (webptojpgonline.com). Click to upload or drag and drop the WEBP file into the site’s conversion box. Select ‘Convert’ and then download the resulting JPG file. There’s no size limit and files can be processed in bulk.

Capture visual thoughts and ideas with Excalidraw (excalidraw.com). This virtual collaborative whiteboard lets you easily sketch diagrams. There are also libraries of shapes and icons that can be imported.

Use CramJam (cramjam.io) to create quizzes from a PDF or photo. Upload the file (it must be text, not images or videos) and select the format of the study material – quiz, notes, lecture, or assignment. Choose the quiz length, as well as the difficulty of questions (easy, medium or hard), and hit ‘Generate Quiz’.

Why does food brown when cooked? What is flavour? Why does food stick to stainless steel surfaces? Discover the molecular reasons behind how foods behave at The Science of Cooking (scienceofcooking.com). Learn about cooking techniques, recipes, ingredients, and the science behind them.

Food for Thought (foodforthought.co. nz) is a free, school-based nutrition education programme. Aimed at Year 5 and 6 students, it teaches skills to make informed food choices through inquirybased learning. Sessions take place both inside and outside the classroom (including trips to local supermarkets).

If you’re looking to get all the nutrition facts about juices and smoothies, check out the Juicing Calculator (sprintkitchen.com/juicing-calculator/) Using your specifications, it will identify the number of calories and produce a nutrition facts label, as well as compare your juice’s sugar content to a soft drink.

Exploring Africa (exploringafrica. matrix.msu.edu) brings the region into your classroom through a range of resources about the world’s second largest continent, both in size and population. From news, information and special topics to case studies, activities and lesson plans, there’s plenty to engage students.

Is Brazil bigger than Belarus? How does Egypt compare to Estonia? Compare sizes of countries – and US states – with The True Size Of (thetruesize.com)

Simply enter a country’s name into the search box then enter a second one. Both countries will be highlighted. You can then drag and drop one onto the other.

Royal Geographical Society’s Geography Directions (blog.geographydirections. com) offers a diverse collection of articles on the current and most pressing issues facing people, cultures and environments around the world. The wide-ranging contents offer analysis, insight and commentary.

Royal Society Te Apārangi (royalsociety.org.nz) supports science and technology in education by sharing news, information and expertise. Under the ‘What We do’ section, you’ll find support and resources, including articles and guides to download, access to learning programmes and links to providers.

It may take a bit of time to work out but Line Rider (linerider.com) is an awesomely fun and engaging physics simulation game. Simply draw a line to maximise a toboggan rider’s course, using gravity, slopes and angles. Once you’ve mastered that, add one or two more riders for added challenges.

Search more than 4,000 STEM activities at How To Smile (howtosmile.org). Selected by the site’s moderators from science museums, media, universities, and other educational organisations, all are free to use, and you can search by topic or filter by age, material and learning time to find exactly what you need.

SMARTPHONE SUNSHADE WITH SUCTION CUP

Struggling with sunstrike on your smartphone’s screen? Get rid of the glare and reflection with a funky, mini sunshade. Simply attach and adjust the position using a suction cup holder, so it’s providing shady cover in just the right spot. Measuring 22cm high and 28cm across, it’s easy to carry and hold in place.

We have three smartphone sunshades as reader prizes, one blue, one pink and one in camouflage. Choose your colour preference when entering.

Entries close Monday 12 August.

Sometimes it can be hard to know just how much power is left in a battery. Well, not any more thanks to the Universal Digital Battery Tester. Place the battery in the appropriate position between the two testing points and see the power level on the easy-to-read LCD bar graph display: green means plenty of charge; yellow indicates a low battery; and red is exhausted. Made from durable plastic, this handy tester allows you to easily measure C, D, N, AA, AAA, and 9V batteries, as well as 1.5V Button Cells. There’s one Universal Digital Battery Tester up for grabs. Enter online.

Entries close Monday 12 August.

To

REUSABLE WRITE-ON CABLE LABELS

If you’re finding it hard to distinguish one wire from another, help could be at hand to give you much more visually successful cable management. Clearly and easily tell cables apart by attaching a colourful and re-useable label. (They use ‘hook and loop’ fastener strips that can be used again and again.) On the label, you can write what the cable is or what it’s for. So, no more having to follow the wire to the device to determine what it does!

We have a bag of 20 Write-On Cable tags up for grabs. Enter online and they could be yours.

Entries close Monday 12 August.

PORTABLE MINI LAPTOP MIRROR

Mirror, mirror on the wall, what’s the portable mirror with a touch-oftechnological digital difference? The Portable Mini Laptop Mirror, of course! This compact, folding mirror comes within a unique, stylish and fun case that’s shaped as a mini laptop – with a folding design and full QWERTY keyboard imprint. Whether you use it as a make-up or travel mirror (or even a mirror for classroom activities and experiments), it’s easy to carry in your bag or pocket and protected with the hard plastic outer case.

If you’re looking for a mirror with a touch of processing panache, we have a Portable Mini Laptop Mirror to give away.

Entries close Monday 12 August.