EDT115 Adam Sparks Part 2 - Teaching Writing in the Age of AI, Short Answer, SchoolAI, Pear Deck, MagicSchool, Screencastify Submit

Adam Sparks is back to continue our conversation about writing
instruction in the age of AI. We’re diving into even more
actionable strategies, from using tools like ShortAnswer to
embedding more writing across the curriculum to help students
recover those lost writing reps. Plus, we tackle big-picture
topics like teaching students to use AI effectively, leveraging
AI in scoring state-level assessments, and being intentional
about making learning relevant. And stick around for updates from
Pear Deck, MagicSchool, and Screencastify Submit.


#EduDuctTape Episode 115



Today's Sponsor

Swivl - bit.ly/mirrortalkjake




SoapBox Moment - “Cholesterol, Cheating, and Heartaches
from AI-Detection Tools”

President John F. Kennedy’s Address at Rice University on
the Nation’s Space Effort -
jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/address-at-rice-university-on-the-nations-space-effort
(Copyright Status: Public Domain)




Today’s Guest: Adam Sparks
taught for 7 years before recently finishing his Masters in
Learning Design and Technology at Stanford. At Stanford, Adam
designed a writing  tool called Short Answer that he now
builds full time. As a part of his work with Short Answer, Adam
leads PD with schools across the country on adjusting writing
instruction in the wake of AI.


Contact Info:   Email:
adam@myshortanswer.com, Website: myshortanswer.com, Twitter:
@mrsparkstweets Bluesky: @adamsparks.bsky.social




Educational Duct Tape Question: How should educators
teach & assess writing in the age of AI?

Step 1: Clear classroom policies (see the previous
episode)

Step 2: Shortform, formative, targeted, in-class writing
(starts in the previous episode)

Dylan William

Short Answer - myshortanswer.com

Dylan Wiliam webinar recording:
myshortanswer.com/webinar-recording-for-ai-k12-assessment-a-conversation-with-dr-dylan-wiliam



Step 3: More writing across the curriculum

Making up for lost writing reps

The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Clearinghouse
- wac.colostate.edu/repository/teaching/intro



Step 4: Teach kids to use AI effectively

OpenAI blog post - “A Student’s Guide to Writing with
ChatGPT” -
openai.com/chatgpt/use-cases/student-writing-guide

Brainstorm, research, debate partner, organize
writing…

SchoolAI - schoolai.com



Step 5: More state level assessments relating to writing
instruction

More urgency around the “and write” part of literacy
is about how “to read and write”

Leveraging AI in the scoring of these assessments

Computers in education journal - "Can AI provide
useful holistic writing instruction?" -
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X24000584

"Comparing the quality of human and ChatGPT feedback
of students’ writing" -
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959475224000215



How to de-emphasize the desire to cheat: Be intentional
about the relevance of learning

Arran Hamilton, Dylan William, & John Hattie
article - “The Future of AI in Education: 13 Things We
Can Do to Minimize the Damage” -
osf.io/preprints/edarxiv/372vr

Literacy as a predictor of health & well-being

Ability to communicate as important in all walks of
life

Authenticity of writing

Carrie Spector’s article with Denise Pope &
Victor Lee - “What do AI chatbots really mean for
students and cheating?” -
acceleratelearning.stanford.edu/story/what-do-ai-chatbots-really-mean-for-students-and-cheating



Short Answer Mailing List -
us21.list-manage.com/contact-form?u=4c662a781896ad760601bc399&form_id=43697352749ef4d4954f28529a0593f4




Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:


Pear Deck Adds Auto-Graded Questions -
youtu.be/G7hpt8vtZHk?si=RRtfJCJEXyMRhfT_&t=83


Customize Tools in MagicSchool -
youtube.com/watch?v=A13c9rYytUQ


New Screencastify Submit Features