AI Vermont for Elementary Educators

 On Saturday, September 28 AI-Vermont will be hosting elementary educators for a day long exploration of artificial intelligence.   When asked to prepare an interactive experience for educators, I thought of the different ways I've used AI as an educator to assist me with instructional design and which one of these might be most useful to elementary educators. 

But soon I found myself drawn back to using AI and computer science to CREATE, MAKE, and LEARN that AI is not magic and computer science skills are still relevant skills to be teaching our students. 
 
So in our workshop, we will create a "Snap Chat" like project that uses  pre-trained models and two extensions (Video Sensing and Face Detection) available in the Machine Learning for Kids version of Scratch.  All the resources can be found on the Machine Learning for Kids website.

We'll also use the website to experience Training an AI model by collecting images as data and using them to Train and Test the model to see if it can differentiate between our hats and our shoes.  My hope is that this will allow participants to better understand what is meant when we talk about "training" the AI and see how easily biased the data can be. I do believe that our elementary students should be aware of what's under the hood with the AI features in the tools and toys that are increasingly becoming part of their lives.

Join me for this interactive mini experience with AI   using these slides 

Create Make Learn Fall Course launches Sept 21

 Many of you have asked us to offer a 'non-summer' version of the  Create Make Learn Institute.   We are excited to announce that this FALL will be the first FALL Create Make Learn Institute kicking off at The Generator Makerspace in Burlington, Vermont on September 21.

Yes, it's quick turnaround time, but we could think of no better time than Fall to come spend 4 Saturday's creating and making with colleagues as you create confidence with Makerspace and STEAM tools. 

The course will model personalized learning practices and provide you will opportunities to create confidence with the following topics: 

• Create and Practical Problem Solving
• Design Thinking
• Cardboard Tools
• Laser Cutting
• 3D Printing
• Vinyl/Craft Cutters (i.e. Cricut)
• Circuits 
• Makey Makey, Microbits & Micro-controllers
• Physical Computing
• Create With Code
• Hand Tools
• Meaningful Making
• STEAM Infused Project Based Learning

Click here for or a more detailed overview of the  draft schedule, 

The topics each week are subject to change to meet the interest and needs of registered participants.

Won't you join us to experience a little JOY this Fall.  Register at www.CreateMakeLearn.org

Cambridge Rotary Sponsors Girls and STEM Project

This June, I once again witnessed the amazing  support from  Rotary International to their local communities.   On their website, Rotary International is described as 

"Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves."

Tech Savvy Girls Camp 2018

Through their support of Girls and STEM, our local Rotary clubs are indeed creating 'problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action".  For years,  the Rotary Club of Newport has made it possible for  young women like, Sydney (see video below) to spend a week with their peers creating confidence with technology through  creative and practical problem solving at TechSavvy Girls summer camp.

This June, the Cambridge Area Rotary Club sponsored a Girls in STEM event at Cambridge Elementary School that engaged 3rd and 4th grade girls with Circuits and Code.  The event, designed and lead by Faith Horton (Cambridge Elementary) and Lucie deLaBruere (Create Make Learn) provided the girls with the opportunity to express their creativity while creating confidence with computer science and circuits.

THANK YOU to the Cambridge Area Rotary!

We used Scratch (a coding platform from M.I. T) to start coding firefly stories. 

In no time at all, the girls coded a backdrop with blinking fireflies and learned how to animate firefly sprites that could tell stories as they moved across the screen. 

Soon, we turned our focus to batteries, led lights, and switches to build simple circuits.  Inspired by colored LED and empowered with a wire stripper, the girls  put together circuit assemblies that would become part of a firefly model.  

   

Using creative and practical problem-solving, we used our circuit assemblies in creative firefly models whose abdomens lit up.   Colorful paper and craft supplies assembled with tape and glue fueled by creativity yielded some amazing fireflies.

Watch Cambridge girls empowered with creativity, circuits, and code!

As our time together for this session came to an end, the girls left with light up fireflies in hand and a greater awareness of how creativity, code, and circuits can empower them with new tools for creative and practical problem solving.   Hopefully many will be back during our week long exploration of many different ways to play with circuits and code.   Here's a sneak preview of different ways we will play with circuits and code at Cambridge Elementary later this summer. 

AI-Vermont - Playground Session: Creative Computing with Block-Based Code and AI

 

I'm super excited to be part of the AI-Vermont Playground where we will use an accessible block based platform for engaging students with creative coding:  Creaticode.com 

Use these slides to engage in our playground session.

Here is a DEMO of the project we will be making.  Although you can see the Demo without being logged into Creati-code.  The interactive chatbot will only work with CHAT GPT if you are logged into Creati-Code (for accountability purposes).  This connection to Chat GPT is filtered to school appropriate Feel free to make an account as a student to try it.   (Teacher accounts are also available, but are not immediately approved)

https://play.creaticode.com/projects/667ca29d19f407016ce86be1?version=1

AI for Educators Discussion at MGI

 

I got the opportunity to lead a  discussion on AI at Middle Grades Institute this week. 

The goal for our conversation was to connect with thought partners on the topic of AI in education.

I chose to use the Compass Protocol from SRI as a framework for the discussion. We started by thinking about our own personalities and needs and formed discussion questions based on those 4 compass points.

As a person who identifies with the North Compass Point, you have probably already tried AI tools.  We shared AI tools that help us be more efficient and effective with instruction as well as AI tools that support constructionist practices. 

We considered some of the Big Picture questions that are being asked by those of us who align with the EAST compass point. 

And those who identified with the Southern Compass were eager to ask some important questions about diversity, inclusion and equity.

And we concluded our discussion with suggestions of how we learn more and the conversation about AI continues to evolve.

Here are a few ideas for staying connected to learn more. 

• MGC Follow-up events on AI (tba)

• Create Make Learn
  (focus on Creativity & Constructionist uses of AI)

• UVM AI for Educators Course (Syllabus)

• AI-Vermont

• AOE -  grant for (ISTE AI course)  

• Vermont-CSTA (VT CS Teachers Association) 

 Feel free to complete this Google Form if you would like to get notified as opportunities to stay connected about AI in education in Vermont you can. 

 If you'd like to use these discussion starter slides with your colleagues, you may use them or join our discussion. 

Dynamic Landscape 2024

 I'm looking forward to sharing with colleagues at
Dynamic Landscape Conference 2024
May 16 and 17 

Creative Computing using Turtle Stitch and Turtle Art

A hands on session where you will create with code you can touch using Turtle Stitch and Turtle Art.
and export your code in a format that can work with embroidery machines, craft cutters (i.e. Cricut), laser cutters, and 3D printers. Teaching computational thinking by programming Turtles using Logo was part of Seymour Papert's work more than 50 years ago and continues to be an accessible and pedagogically sound approach to including computational thinking in your learning environment. Let's create with Code!

Slides

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Create an AI chatbot using

Scratch and AI code blocks

from Creaticode

Looking for a way to introduce AI to your students by putting them in the drivers seats as creators, designers, and coders of AI apps?  Then join us for this hands-on session where YOU will create your own chatbot using SCRATCH and AI blocks.  Creaticode is a Scratch-based accessible tool for middle and high school students that can help you design  project based learning where students are using and creating  their own AI applications that are fueled by wonder, curiosity, and inquiry. You will leave this session with a working Chatbot that can be used in any content area.

Slides

TEST chatbot

5 Reasons To Join Us This Summer

5 reasons to join us at 

Create Make Learn Summer Institute 
in Bellows Falls on August 5-9, 2024

Register at www.CreateMakeLearn.org

Come and be INSPIRED

CREATE Confidence with new tools

MAKE a meaningful project

LEARN Design Thinking
& other ways to engage students with hands-on minds-on learning

Don't take our word for it.

Just listen to last year's participants who rated

Create Make Learn Summer Institute 5 out of 5! 

The Joy of Learning Through Creating and Making

Additional Comments from Participants (2023)

"Create Make Learn is a state of mind that really reinforces best practices in education while including inclusive practices".

"This experience will forever change the way I think and teach, and sparked an interest in me that I did not know I had."

"This has allowed me to design a whole new experience for my students. Without this I wouldn't have had the confidence to start to have students further explore makerspace activities"

"Great support, lots of choice, ability to make something meaningful"

"The flexibility of the instructor to switch and meet the needs of the group was spectacular. It feels like every person received what they needed."

"I love the way that this was set up. I feel that it provided a great balance of direct instruction, guided instruction and independent practice. We were able to bounce ideas off of each other and work collaboratively while also working on independent projects."

"I really appreciated the time to work at our own speed, and then the fluid choices of the day. Inspire, create confidence, make something useful"

"I accomplished a lot this week as I practiced and honed my skills, while also acquiring new ones. The class had a great balance of independent work and group discussions, which fostered a stimulating and productive learning environment."

Learn more at  www.CreateMakeLearn.org

Come and be INSPIRED

CREATE Confidence with new tools

MAKE a meaningful project

LEARN Design Thinking
& other ways to engage students with hands-on minds-on learning