Update 125 Been a long time

Howie Gordon
Feb 3
5 min read

It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

Wiz Khalifa - See You Again ft. Charlie Puth

When I sit down to write this broadcast I try and think of what song best describes the thoughts in my head. And yes it\s been a long time since I last wrote.

AI Month

Many things are happening all around us and AI month is about to start in Israel. Education Minister Yoav Kish. declares 2025 as year of AI revolution in Israel.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-837133

Speak to your computer coordinators in the school and be aware. Lots of things are happening. Lots of innovation all around. Whether you embrace it or resent it, it is part of our lives and it is important to be in the know. There are restrictions in place for the younger grades and exciting opportunities for the older grades.

Check out the Portal for all the information.

https://pop.education.gov.il/tchumey_daat/english/

You can find different practices here as well created by the English Inspectorate for teachers

https://pop.education.gov.il/teaching-tools/teaching-practices/search-teaching-practices/?learningTopics=73203&page=1

Blast from the past

Mr Roboto by Styx came out in 1983 - This was then futuristic sound and teh fear that the robots and androids are coming.

I was still in school and even then there was the trepidation that will robots ever take over?

I have mentioned before that AI cannot be separated from HI - Human intelligence or human interaction.

I really believe that we are on the forefront of something big and if handled with care can make our lives and the pupils lives so much more interesting.

Here are a few ways as suggested by Chat GPT

Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize teaching in heterogeneous classrooms by enabling personalized learning experiences tailored to each student’s needs. One of its most powerful applications is the creation of adaptive learning materials. Teachers can use AI to generate multiple versions of lesson plans, worksheets, and assignments at different difficulty levels, ensuring that each student receives content suited to their abilities. Additionally, AI can scaffold instruction by providing guided exercises with hints and step-by-step explanations for struggling learners while offering advanced enrichment tasks for those who need a challenge. By transforming text-based lessons into visual aids, audio explanations, or interactive simulations, AI also supports diverse learning styles, making education more inclusive.

Assessment and feedback are critical components of effective teaching, and AI can help by generating customized quizzes and tests with varying difficulty levels. It can instantly analyze student responses, providing personalized feedback that helps learners understand and correct their mistakes in real time. Teachers can also use AI to create project-based or inquiry-driven tasks that align with students' interests and abilities, encouraging deeper engagement. Additionally, AI-powered language tools can translate lesson materials for non-native speakers and simplify complex text for struggling readers, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder learning. For students with disabilities, AI-driven speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools make content more accessible.

Beyond direct instruction, AI can serve as an individualized tutor, offering students additional practice, explanations, and instant responses to their questions. Chatbots powered by AI can guide learners through topics at their own pace, making learning more interactive and responsive. At the same time, AI helps teachers by automating time-consuming tasks such as lesson planning, grading, and student progress analysis. By tracking learning patterns, AI provides valuable insights into student performance, enabling teachers to intervene early when additional support is needed.

Finally, AI fosters creativity and critical thinking by generating customized writing prompts, discussion questions, and interactive learning experiences. Whether through AI-powered storytelling, debate topics, or gamified learning activities, students can engage with content in innovative ways that encourage deeper thinking. By leveraging AI, teachers can create a more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environment, ensuring that every student is met at their level and given the tools to succeed.

Quotes about learning and life

These last for weeks - basically the whole of January has seen many of us glued to our TV screens in the hope for better times.

Here are some quotes that I believe will put things into perspective

“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.” — Jiddu Krishnamurti

“He who laughs most, learns best.” — John Cleese

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” — Henry Ford

Guess the song 🎶🎤🎧📢

Click on the link to the Padlet

https://padlet.com/howie_gordon/guess-the-song-5azd6xmbgxwraj0j

Each broadcast I will add a new Guess the Song picture. Some will be easy and some more difficult. Let’s see how well you do.

Try this one - It’s quite difficult. A line from a song

No one guessed right this week. I gave you the answer.

“I want to break free” by Queen

And a Mashup from Glee with the Styx classic.

Mr Roboto and Counting Stars

Throwback to Previous Posts

I posted this post this in September 2022

“Look for the good in everything

Look for the people who will set your soul free

It always seems impossible until it’s done

Look for the good in everyone” Jason Mraz

And on that note - from the same broadcast

Despite threats of a strike and a little uncertainty, we all went back to school. Young and old, teachers and students entered school for the new school year.

Make it a good year and a year that counts.