• The answer is personalized chatbots.
• AI-powered chat systems that draw from only the content the user provides them
• An instructor can load the resources for a particular lesson, model, or class into one of the systems and have it work with students to help them learn that content
• NotebookLM and Zapier are free systems that can do the same.
• NotebookLM is trained on the material (Google Docs, PDFs, and text) that a user directly supplies to it (known as “source grounding”).
• The app references only user-vetted content during analysis; the chatbot does not pull material from the internet or any other extraneous source. Another benefit for individuals concerned about privacy and intellectual property rights is that the model does not train on user activity.
• Perhaps one of the greatest strengths of Zapier’s approach is that the platform provides a user-friendly template via the Instructions tab in the Directive text box.

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• The primary purpose of a syllabus worksheet is to provide students with a clear and concise overview of the course essentials.

• This includes crucial information, such as

      
   
  • deadlines;
      
  • required materials;
      
  • assignment expectations;
      
  • late policies;
      
  • grading schemes; and
      
  • instructor’s contact details.
• • strategies for recovering from a failed summative assessment;
      
  • the value of group work;
      
  • the student’s responsibility in the learning process; and
      
  • the basis for grades.
• Similarly, clearly outlining the steps a student should take if they struggle with assessments can demystify the process and reduce anxiety.
• Conclusion: Creating a culture of success

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• A single experience isn’t the same for everyone. Although individuals may be on the same team or enrolled in the same class, they are traveling on different paths and have different goals.
• The right tools are essential for success, but they aren’t the same for everyone.
• It is crucial to provide individuals with access to the materials that will enable them to succeed, but it is also necessary to let each person select the tools that fit their methods of learning and working.
• You can’t understand the directions without a knowledge of the context.
• Telling students that they can find the answers to their questions if they just read the syllabus makes sense only if students know how to read the syllabus, know what clues to look for, and have a broad understanding of the contours of the campus culture and the semester structure.
• We all read the “syllabus,” but we didn’t have the knowledge that have made it meaningful. Our students may similarly lack needed context.
• Regardless of our titular role, our job is to cultivate the distinct, individual skills and experiences that each person brings to the team or the classroom.
• Achievements are evanescent, and we need to remember to remind individuals of what they have accomplished.
• I take this as a reminder of my responsibility to not let others’ achievements fade, to remind myself, my colleagues, and my students of what we have accomplished and what we can accomplish in the future.

7 more annotations...

• We need to be open and honest and transparent if we’re using AI,