https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/hadleyherald/2025/03/10/march-updates-2025/
Hadley Herald:
March 2025
Image made with Adobe Firefly: “Banner with cute little AI Robots performing tasks in a classroom, they all have 2 eyes and look friendly. 3d rendered.”
Contents:
- Podcast Version
- TurnItIn Updates (now at all High School sites/programs)
- A note about AI Detection
- Clever Substitute Logins!
- Approved AI Tools for Teachers and Students!
- BriskAI
- MagicSchoolAI
- Canva
- Adobe Express
- SchoolAI
- Canvas Updates
TurnItIn for High Schools
We have been using Turnitin for our 4 brick and mortar buildings for some time now, I am happy to announce that we are able to extend this to our online program, Eugene Online Academy High School. For all high school teachers curious about the Canvas integration and how to set it up in your course(s), please see the Instructional Tech Hub’s help article.
AI Detectors- AI detectors often promise a lot, but in reality the game of trying to pin down if a text is AI-generated or human-generated comes down to the process in which we engage in writing with our students. The writing process where drafting, revision, and workshopping is utilized results in the lowest AI engagement and boosts human engagement. Turnitin does provide an embedded AI Detector tool, however, they are not as accurate as we’d like. AI Detectors rate the overall predictability of speech/text in a document. Which anyone can trigger if they are using formulaic language, learned language patterns (as many of our ELD students may experience), or even if they use a grammar tool such as Grammarly or advanced spell check mechanisms.
Please see this article for more information.
Clever Updates- Substitute Logins!
Teachers can now create a Substitute Login Badge for Clever! This allows substitutes teacher-level access to all of the teacher’s applications in Clever via QR Code login. Note that badges are only good for 5 days and do need to be generated by the teacher ahead of time, so their use-case is really only for planned absences.
For more information see their documentation here.
AI Approved Tools
We are now able to promote certain tools at the free level for which we have obtained signed Data Privacy Agreements with the vendor. Data Privacy Agreements dictate which set of data points vendors are allowed to collect on our students, how they store that data, and how they in turn use that data. These agreements are integral to protecting staff and student data in today’s world evermore present with cybersecurity threats and bad actors wanting to obtain data. The following tools are available at the free tier and are allowable for student interaction when used in conjunction with their terms of service and regulations.
BriskAI– A chrome browser extension primarily focused on teachers and creation of materials sourced from live webpages. Unlike other tools, BriskAI allows teachers to source an article directly and have the tool import or create a new material in Google Docs or Slides, using the web. Additionally, even at the free tier, BriskAI allows for ‘Boosts’ which are student-centered activities in which they interact with a chatbot like service about an article or resource, and can engage in learning or tutoring regarding the material, or materials set by the teacher. These sessions are accessible to students even when class is over (but always closable by the teacher), conversations are transparent and recorded for teacher review, and all data is kept secure, private and not sent to the training model or other data collection. Like other models, harmful language is flagged and can notify the teacher.
MagicSchoolAI- A website filled with tools for teachers to create a large variety of resources. The free version includes 40+ tools tailored to teachers and every day tasks. Additionally it comes with MagicSchool Student where teachers can create Rooms with specific tools, that can be customized for specific purposes, and combined. We currently already have over 400 teachers in our district utilizing this tool, and now we can do so with data privacy in mind. Their YouTube channel has a ton of free videos and tutorials on ways to use their technology in the classroom with students.
Canva for Edu- Canva for Education is a free, user-friendly design platform tailored for teachers and students, offering a vast library of templates, graphics, and tools to enhance learning experiences. Its AI features include AI-powered image generation, background removal, and automatic resizing to streamline content creation and improve visual presentations effortlessly. Educators can also leverage AI-assisted design suggestions to create engaging educational materials quickly and efficiently.
Adobe Express- Adobe Express for Education is a free, web-based design tool that empowers students and teachers to create visually engaging content through an intuitive interface and a rich library of templates and assets. Its AI features include background removal, auto-resizing, and AI-enhanced photo editing tools, simplifying the design process for users of all skill levels. Educators can leverage these tools to craft presentations, infographics, and social media content quickly and effectively.
SchoolAI- SchoolAI offers student-facing chatrooms powered by AI, providing a safe and interactive space for learners to ask questions, collaborate on projects, and receive instant, personalized feedback. These AI-driven chatrooms can assist students with homework, clarify complex concepts, and suggest resources based on individual needs, making learning more engaging and accessible.
Canvas Release Summaries
1. Canvas Release Notes (February 15, 2025):
- Copy Course Page Enhancements: The Copy Course page has been updated to Instructure’s latest design language, InstUI. Notable improvements include defaulting to term dates upon selection, requiring administrative assistance to modify term dates, and displaying both local and course time zones when they differ.
- Question Bank Migration: Instructors can migrate Classic Quiz question banks to New Quiz item banks using the updated “Convert content to New Quizzes” checkbox during course copy.
2. Canvas Release Notes (January 18, 2025):
- AI-Supported Translations (Coming soon to us, currently delayed): With the relevant feature options enabled, AI-supported translations are available in Discussions, Announcements, and Inbox messages. This allows content to be translated into the user’s preferred language, facilitating better communication in multilingual settings.
- Discussion Checkpoints: Instructors can set multiple due dates for graded discussions, supporting different stages like initial posts and follow-up replies. This feature enhances the management of discussion timelines.
- SpeedGrader Enhancements: SpeedGrader has been enhanced for faster load times and improved stability, streamlining the grading process for instructors.
3. Canvas Release Notes (December 16, 2024):
- New Analytics Enforcement: The New Course and User Analytics feature is enforced for all Canvas institutions, and the feature option is removed from the user interface. This change standardizes the analytics experience across all courses.