AI in Edu: News, Tools, & Views (June 20)
Welcome to my weekly digest of AI in education news, tools, and views to help keep you informed. Let’s get started:
Using AI in Computer Science and Math Lessons
This Edutopia article explains how teachers can use AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude as behind‑the‑scenes assistants to design well‑scaffolded, interactive computer science and math units—without replacing the human element. AI helps generate tailored lesson plans, problem sets (e.g. puzzles, scavenger hunts), auto‑build review tools like Google Forms, and formatted materials (markdown, LaTeX, rubrics). This saves time, boosts collaboration, and enriches student engagement.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/using-ai-for-computer-science-math-lessons
3 ways to rethink reading intervention with AI
eSchoolNews reports that AI tools are transforming reading intervention by offering personalized and accessible support. For instance, Immersive Reader helps students by reading text aloud, highlighting words, and providing translations, which boosts comprehension and confidence. Speech-to-text and text-to-speech features reduce reading barriers by allowing students to hear and speak words as they learn. Additionally, AI can suggest personalized book recommendations to spark interest. These tools support and empower teachers, not replace them, and many are freely available.
From English to Automotive Class, Teachers Assign Projects to Combat AI Cheating
EdSurge reports that teachers across subjects are shifting from traditional essays and Q&A assignments to project-based, AI‑resistant tasks (e.g., engine redesigns, interactive Odyssey analyses) that demand critical thinking, collaboration, and ethical AI use. Strategies include in‑class work, pen‑and‑paper stages, peer editing, and progress meetings to expose cheating. Educators advocate embracing AI as a tool—not an enemy—by adapting lessons to promote problem-solving, student discourse, and authentic learning experiences.
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How AI Helps Our Students Deepen Their Writing (Yes, Really)
In this Education Week post, two high school teachers advocate using generative AI like ChatGPT within a workshop model to enhance—not replace—student writing. Four key rules guide its use: students draft independently first, struggle before prompting AI, craft specific prompts, and critically evaluate AI feedback. AI serves as a thought partner, offering insights that help deepen analysis, refine voice, and boost creativity. Done thoughtfully, AI integration supports critical thinking and authentic authorship.
3 ChatGPT Features Worthy of a Teacher’s Attention
This Edutopia post on ChatGPT offers three key features especially helpful for teachers: custom instructions to tailor prompts and tone, browsing to pull in real‑time content for lessons, and GPT‑4 Turbo's code interpreter for generating data‑driven visuals and handling complex formatting. These tools help automate tasks like resource creation, messaging, and content generation, while preserving the educator’s role in reviewing and refining AI outputs to ensure accuracy and relevance
https://www.edutopia.org/article/chatgpt-features-useful-teachers
How I use the AI Assessment Scale: Part 1
Leon Furze details applying the AI Assessment Scale (AIAS)—a nuanced tool widely adopted in K–12 and higher education—to guide transparent conversations on appropriate AI use in assessments. He outlines its core principles: moving beyond binary rules, fostering teacher‑student clarity, and leveraging the scale for assessment design. He also clarifies what AIAS is not: not an integrity/security tool, a prompt list, nor a usage‑benchmark.
https://leonfurze.com/2025/06/11/how-i-use-the-ai-assessment-scale-part-1/
And More…
EdTool - AI teaching assistant
Maptale - Maps of people and things you care about
Nuenki - Learn a language while you browse the web
PI - Create presentations and documents with AI
Fluing - Instantly turn any documents & ideas into any diagram by AI
3D Pottery (game) - Google Arts & Culture
Arc Review: A Sleek AI-Powered Alternative To Google Search - Tech&Learning
Ohio State launching new initiative to make every student 'fluent' in AI by graduation - Columbus Dispatch
More Districts Are Training Teachers on Artificial Intelligence - Rand
Veo 3 Now in Canva! - YouTube
The Complete List of ChatGPT Features (Free + Paid) - Medium
Gemini 2.5 Flash and Pro are now generally available, and Google is introducing 2.5 Flash-Lite, its “most cost-efficient and fastest 2.5 model yet.”
Google Search Live: Talk, listen and explore in real time with AI Mode
Adobe Firefly Revolutionizes Creative Ideation with New Mobile App - Adobe
Introducing S1 - advanced text-to-speech model
Perplexity Update: How I use AI for Search - WoderTools
OpenAI o3-Pro Is So Good That I Can’t Tell How Good It Is - Medium
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