Posts

What's the best GenAI tool for language learning?

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  Check out the video for an interesting comparison between ChatGPT , Bing , and Bard when it comes to learning a language. Here's how they are rated: Speaking and listening How easy is it to speak and listen with these GenAI? ChatGPT 2.5 (mobile app) - 2.5. Speaking works, but ChatGPT doesn't listen back.  ChatGPT Mod   4.5 ( modified Chrome voice extension ) - Good for speaking and listening Bing 3.0 - voice features (Speaking and listening) are easy to use but no way to trigger a voice response and 30 response limit Bard 4.0 - Speaking and listening features, but mobile not as good as ChatGPT. Speed and accent Which of the GenAI allows you to modify the accent (speed and actual voice accent)? ChatGPT 1.0 - the unmodified version does not let you change speed or accent ChatGPT Mod  4.0 (modified Chrome voice extesion) - this allows you to adjust listening speed and it gives you a choice of accents for popular languages Bing 1.0 - no change of listening speed or a

Learning Design in the age of Generative AI

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Donald Clark has published a very interesting blog post about how 'Learning Designers will have to adapt or die' and suggests 10 ways for them to upskill to AI. Just how AI will affect the job market has been a hot topic for discussion recently. The Economist's message is that the West suffers from too little automation, not too much, and we shouldn't worry .  Anecdotally, I have heard of two very different sides to how generative AI is affecting work right now. A partner's colleague who works in educational publishing has reported that this publisher has stopped working with the three freelance graphic designers they regulalrly contracted work to, and instead have hired a ' prompt engineer ' for their illustration needs. On the other hand,  Mexican friend who works for a PR agency told me her boss has embraced the changes and is giving the team (copywriters and illustrators, etc) weekly training sessions on how to get the best out of AI tools, and is encou

AI has Killed the Metaverse

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  I heard it first on Facebook, it sounded so sublime. A virtual world beyond what we see in space and time. A place where we could live and work and play. A digital dream where anything was okay.  But now AI's killed the Metaverse. and we never saw it coming at all. AI killed the Metaverse.  And now we're left with nothing at all. Remember the Metaverse ? That place that resembled Second Life but which was actually many places (Meta Multiverse?) and where you could use VR, and where the avatars didn't have any legs ? What's happened to it? I think the buzz around ChatGPT, MidJourney, and all things AI has basically killed it off as anything to get excited about. To use Gartner hype-cycle-speak, the Metaverse is probably languishing in the Trough of Disillusionment with little chance of dragging itself up the Slope of Enlightenment.  It doesn't surprise me. Although, I briefly got excited that the initial flicker of virtual worlds becoming the next big thing again,

Research & Teaching vs Teaching & Research : TESOL 2023

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I'm currently attending the 2023 TESOL Convention in Portland, Oregon, USA. At the opening on Wednesday, the Presidential Panel was on 'Inspiring the Future of Research in ELT ' and featured Joyce Kling (President, TESOL International Association (2022–23); Senior Lecturer, Lund University, Sweden) and Jun Liu (President, TIRF; Rector, City University of Macau, China; Past President, TESOL International Association (2006–07) as modeators, and David Nunan (Trustee, TIRF; Professor Emeritus, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Past President, TESOL International Association - 1999–2000), Peter De Costa  (Coeditor, TESOL Quarterly; First Vice President, AAAL (2022–23); Associate Professor and MATESOL Program Director, Michigan State University, USA), Shondel Nero (Inaugural Recipient, TIRF James E. Alatis Prize (2016); Professor of Language Education, New York University, USA). and  Özgehan UÅŸtuk  (Chair, TESOL Research Professional Council; Postdoctoral Fellow, Th

ChatGPT and Assessment (Part 3): University Assessment

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"ChatGPT-3 does not provide you with an answer to your prompt, it provides you with an output. That is a different thing altogether" (Kate Lyndsay, 2022) Continuing the series on ChatGPT and Assessment ( Pt 1 and Pt 2 ), let's look at how the emergence of tools such as ChatGPT has disrupted the nature of education (see ChatGPT and Education ), especially University Assessment.  Designing Assignments in the ChatGPT Era has this to say:  "Some instructors seek to craft assignments that guide students in surpassing what AI can do. Others see that as a fool's errand - one that lends too much agency to the software...Either way, in creating assignments now, many seek to exploit ChatGPT's weaknesses."  The article then goes into detail of how to do this. Either way, it recognises that assignments, and clearly (although not stated here) assessment in general has been disrupted and there is no going back.  Educators have started initiatives to take advantage o

ChatGPT Educational Challenges #8: Pandemic impacts on the education system.

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  The last of the Major Educational Challenges Facing Teachers today according to ChatGPT was how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts on virtual learning and the education system. This is the advice the software provided for teachers:  1. Be prepared Be prepared to adapt to virtual and online learning, and be familiar with the technology platforms and tools that will be used for remote instruction.  2. Communicate with students and families Communicate regularly with students and families to keep them informed of changes and updates to the virtual learning experience.  3. Set clear expectations and boundaries Clearly communicate expectations and boundaries for virtual learning, such as attendance, participation, and deadlines.  4. Use a variety of teaching methods Incorporate different teaching styles, such as visual, auditory, and hands-on activities, to engage students and cater to different learning styles.  5. Provide support for students Provide support for students who may be strugglin

ChatGPT Educational Challenges #7 - New Research and Best Practices

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  When asked about how to keep up with new research and best practices, as part of the Major Challenges Facing Teachers today, ChatGPT suggested the following:  Teachers can first read educational journals and publications: Read educational journals and publications such as Education Week, The Journal of Educational Research, and The Educational Forum to stay up-to-date on new research and best practices in education.  Then, I recommend Attending professional development workshops, conferences, and webinars to learn about new research and best practices in education.  Also important is to join professional organizations: Join professional organisations such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) to stay informed about new research and best practices in education.  You can also utilise online resources such as the EdTech Review, EdSurge and EdTech Times to stay informed about new research and best pra