Matt Esterman

Every educator will need to learn to lead and manage these new entities. It’s different to humans, different to orchestrating a classroom.

On tonight!

Honestly just jump in and try it by asking it to help with a lesson they’re about to teach, tell it to be creative and/or radical 😊

The Next Word The Next Word: ai and teachers

A big thank you to everyone for #EduSkyAU chat.

A special thank you to @mesterman.bsky.social for his insights and provocations around #AI in schools.

Matt's book, that he co-authored with Dr Nick Jackson, The Next Word is available here - nextwordnow.com

Well that went fast!! Thanks Adam @ Adriano for leading the charge. Have a wonderful week everyone!!

I’m co-hosting webinars in March with Western Sydney Uni if you know someone who needs some friendly support!

www.eventbrite.com.au/e/educator-i...

#EduSkyAU

A6 #EduSkyAU we also have to remember most teachers haven't engaged with AI at all, or in a meaningful way for their practice. They got through COVID and just as they took a breath (if they stayed in teaching) then AI came along... and most aren't on Bluesky. Or Linkedin. We need to keep things open

A6 #EduSkyAU kinda mixed this with A5... but looking at the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers... quite a bit of what we do can be done by AI... you can listen to two AI people chat about it here: notebooklm.google.com/notebook/daa...

A5 #EduSkyAU if you take a role description of a teacher, break each point into sub-points, then those into lists of sub-tasks, then those into the steps to actually achieve it (take a breath realising what cognitive heaviness Ts use) then realise AI can assist or do many, many of those tasks...

A5 #EduSkyAU as a digital colleague - testing ideas, identifying gaps in thinking, offering contrary views, generating samples of work for Ss to critique, prepping for difficult conversations, clarifying comms/arguments, planning excursions...

A5 #EduSkyAU planning lessons & units (of course), building their PL plan, creating individual learning plans or activities for every student in a class, adapting programs when classes need different paths, alternate assessment tasks w matching rubrics, coaching themselves for interviews...

A4 #EduSkyAU teachers have never been more qualified and trained, curriculum more sophisticated & full, students required at school so much, never more research into all aspects of education, we've never been more connected for comms, so what is holding us back? Let's use AI to work out a new path

Have you sent those notes as photos to ChatGPT and asked it to summarise it? Suggest other ideas? Organise into a table? It can read handwriting... fun experiment and also useful. #EduSkyAU

A4 #EduSkyAU that we see great people returning to teaching, because it has become less focused on things we have bolted on and stacked up on top of teachers and schools.

A2 #EduSkyAU that schools, systems and connected organisations can themselves become radically more focused on student growth and progress (without forcing themselves further into student lives) and continue to offer that stable launchpad for young peoples' futures.

A4 #EduSkyAU that we can finally utilise technology to reduce the black & grey admin tasks teachers should never have been tasked with, to focus on the blue tasks of connecting with and supporting learners. Before students disconnect from education because there are other options.

A2 #EduSkyAU we'll have AI co-workers, AI leaders, AI managers and AI students to help us hone our craft with the humans. There are already AI CEOs and other members of teams/organisations. Done well, these will take away tasks which detract from human thinking and don't undermine the benefits.

...also AI interaction by students can be some of the most visible thinking and learning for Ss if we bother to look at how they use AI. Imagine being able to see how Ss chat with AI as a form of learning. Visible. & historical. They can look back and see how far they've come over time. #EduSkyAU

I hear that. And also have heard this for 20+ years, and not just in relation to technology. Part of the issue is that the metrics we use to assess student success rarely have time or priority for critical thinking that takes time, is messy, and deeply personal. But...

A3 #EduSkyAU students are deeply concerned their teachers/schools/systems have no idea what's going on. They feel they are not asked about any decisions to be made, or even whether they use AI and how, there's just an assumption they do and it's bad. I've heard this directly from students.

A3 #EduSkyAU the gap between teacher/staff and student understanding and use. It's so hard to be in a position of accountability and responsibility when you have as much control over the situation as you over the weather. We must respond, learn, adapt but can't control.

Trouble is, it's not like other tools - most tools haven't talked back, or offered to do parts of a task (or the whole thing). It's been an incredible leap for many educators to go from spellcheck to an entire document being generated. An incredible opportunity too though! #EduSkyAU

A2 #EduSkyAU I also talk about spheres of influence. Your position now may shift and change, just like when research uncovers new possibilities. It's not easy, but people do look to us remain the tree in the wind. Adapting to weather and climate but trying to stay rooted to what matters.

A2 #EduSkyAU one of the difficult parts is balancing the individual, school, and wider professional/societal expectations. This holonomous relationship needs to be clarified in schools and systems to teachers know what the guardrails are within their work. Outside of school is a different beast.

A2 #EduSkyAU - my position? Mindful, strategic use of AI depending on the role and level and mission of the person. When I was in school, it was to leverage the tools available just like other technologies. The tech is different, but we can still remain true to our mission.

A1 - What I find is quite jagged & lumpy. Every school and system are on a journey. I have the privilege of seeing across fences and it’s a sky full of stars… #EduSkyAU

#EduSkyAU - even we forget the hashtags!

#EduSkyAU Q1 - What is the general position of your school/system toward the use of AI (teachers/students/everyone)? (How do you feel people? Stressed? Loving it? Everything?)

It's all thanks to @brookssensei.bsky.social @adrianodiprato.bsky.social and all those involved in getting #EduSkyAU off the ground. It's got that old Twitter vibe!

Fire, Ready? Aim - The Jagged Reality of AI in School, Tuesday 18 February 5:30pm AWST, 7:30pm AEST, 8:30pm AEDT hosted by Matthew Esterman

Welcome to #EduSkyAU chat.

Our guest host tonight is @mesterman.bsky.social, Adjunct Fellow, Western Sydney University

TIPS
1) Click on the #EduSkyAU hashtag & select Latest
2) Use the hashtag in all posts & replies
3) Respond to Q1 by using A1 in your response

Good evening everyone! My first #EduSkyAU so be gentle! How are you all doing and where do you hail from? I'm in Sydney - usually!