Created a Mizou vocabulary bot on 'Means of Transport' (MC)

 https://mizou.com/ 

MY PROMPT

ESL Grade 5 Students will practise the vocabulary  referring to different means of transport: land; air; and sea. The chatbot will ask a series of multiple choice questions about means of transport. In each question, there will be 4 possible answers. 

Three chatbot options are provided. 

In this case, I chose the second one. 

A more detailed prompt then appears. I can still edit this detailed prompt should I wish to. 

I then clicked 'GENERATE'. 

I  then got a Preview, which I could try: 

If I am happy with the result, I can then click 'Save' or 'Publish' in the top right corner. 

For 'Save', the bot is 'private'. But I can administer it already. (''Invite Ss")

For 'Publish', then other Mizou users can find it in Mizou Library. 

For the above one, the Teacher Share Link is: https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=155907

Created a Mizou chatbot for guiding students' through the initial stages of a Writing task

Mizou: https://mizou.com

THE APP:

- Mainly for building chatbots (like prompt bots). 

- For: 

• Grammar; vocab.
• Conversation (on a topic; eg, holidays)
• Brainstorming
• Practise; existing knowledge;
• Summarising

======================================

MY ATTEMPT: 

STEP 1: My initial prompt: 

Grade 7 ESL students are learning to write a letter of complaint. But they have no idea how to write this letter. They will learn how to organise a letter of complaint, and the language that is usually used in a letter of complaint.

STEP 2: Improved prompt by the app which I can editt

STEP 3: Generate. 

STEP 4: The following 3 target bots are suggested for me to choose from: 

A. ‘Interactive Guide:

Guide students through the structure of a complaint letter, providing prompts for each section to help organize their thoughts.

B. Writing Assistant: Draft your letter

Assist students in drafting their complaint letters by suggesting phrases and vocabulary commonly used in such letters.

C. Feedback Bot: Complaint Letter revision

Review students' drafted letters, offering constructive feedback on organization, language use, and clarity.

STEP 5: I chose A.  The following 2 bots generated: 

Teacher’s Version:

https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=155760

Students’ Access Version:

https://mizou.com/login-thread?ID=J4SgvOXU5HBSzsV4utbTuJ_Q2BREp7l3j_sh4XNNZPM-144181

===========

OBSERVATIONS AND TAKEWAYS

1. A chatbot created can be administered via a link. The teacher might be able to see students' attempts (which I have not tried yet). 

2. Easy to build. 

3. A variety of language learning purposes all in the form of chatbots. 

-----------

THE LMS function

a. Each chatbot task can be administered via a link.

b. When Ss join, they put down their names, and proceed. 

c. At the end of their task, they 'submit'. 

d. The teacher can then see the following on their dashboard, for each student: 

(1)  the actual conversation between the bot and the student;

(2) an AI-generated review of the student's attempt. 

Created a web application for transcribing speech real-time using Gemini Canvas

STEPS:

1. In Gemini, go to 'Create canvas app'. 

2. Input the prompt:  

Create a canvas app that can listen to English and then output the transcript in real time. 

===============

OUTPUT: 

https://share.gemini.google/Dx35HwxNjDMl

OBSERVATIONS

1. There are different accents to choose for the voice input. (See top right.)

2. The transcription is quite accurate. 

3. The transcript will automatically put down a fullstop after you pause at the end of a sentence. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++

See Explainer video by Mr Ha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bo7zh22Ums&t=49s

Tried adminstering a Curipod interactive presentation in a staff development workshop

 昨天在屯門一所小學做了一個AI staff development workshop，乘機試試用Curipod 的create interactive presentation 功能，如果你認識Nearpod, Peardeck, Wayground lesson, 你便知道甚麼是interactive presentation。 用Curipod 生成interactive presentation 非常容易，昨天在workshop執行時發覺效果頗好，很engaging， 如果問的是較為open-ended 的問題，Curipod 的AI 還會即時給参加者個別回饋。

惟一問題是Curipod free plan 製作的interactive presentation, 最多只能有9張slide。

Microsoft + Copilot still the best option for generating a presentation from a bulleted list

 Recently, I tried several apps for converting a bulleted-list outline into a slidedeck (Gamma; Edcafe; Prezi; Desktopus; Chalkie .....) but most of them displayed these two problems: (1) they added in extra content despite my instruction not to, and (2) the generated visuals that accompanied the slides were irrelevant.

So far, the most satisfactory workaround is still Microsoft Powerpoint + Copilot. It most faithfully follows my uploaded outline text. It doesn't generate irrelevant visuals, and instead presents some of the ideas in my bulleted-list outline in graphic formats.

We must ensure that we do not outsource teaching and learning to AI

 Jon Bergmann 最近談到大陸學生使用AI的研究，發現學生做功課的時間少了，功課分數高了，但考試成績卻下降了，反映學生真實的學習效果因AI而差了。Jon Bergmann 認為是因為學生其實把功課outsource 了给AI。這outsource 一詞用得真好。

今天的Teachers' AI platform 愈來愈teacher friendly， 以致我們一不小心，就很容易把teaching and learning 不知不覺便outsource 了給AI！我支持用AI, 但As educators, we must ensure that we do not outsource teaching and learning to AI.'

Rewordify functionality: Mainly For Self-Regulated Extensive Reading

 FEATURES

- Free

- Mainly for students' self-regulated extensive reading, though teachers can also use the platform to create materials for teaching reading with special  attention to vocabulary. 

- There is a built-in repository of (a) classical literature texts, and (b) modern texts

-  The main AI function to support the reading is 'simplify a  text' (which of course can be performed by many other AI tools): 

Asking Gemini to write the prompt for creating an interactive app for you: No need to write it yourself

 WHAT HAPPENED: 

1. I was asking Gemini the types of assets that Canvas could generate. In its answer, Gemini mentioned, inter alia, interactive timelines. 

2. I asked Gemini for examples of interactive timelines related to L2 teaching. One suggestion was the historical developments of L2 teaching methodologies. 

3. I found it a useful idea for my teaching, so I asked Gemini how to write a prompt to generate THAT timeline. 

4. Gemini wrote the following prompt for me. I copied it into Canvas, and obtained the interactive asset in about 2 minutes. 

PROMPT PROVIDED BY GEMINI: 

=========

Ready-to-Use Canvas Prompt

Role & Goal: You are an expert web developer and instructional designer. Build a single-page interactive web application using HTML, Tailwind CSS, and vanilla JavaScript that serves as an interactive timeline explaining 5 key language teaching approaches:

1. Grammar-Translation Method

2. Audio-Lingual Method (ALM)

3. Communicative Language Teaching (CLT)

4. Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT)

5. Translanguaging Framework

Layout & Design:

• Modern, clean UI with a responsive horizontal or vertical timeline layout.

• A top header title: "The Evolution of Language Teaching Approaches".

• Distinct color-coded nodes or cards for each of the 5 approaches along the timeline, displaying the approach name and approximate era.

Interactive Mechanics:

1. Click-to-Expand Modals/Cards: Clicking any approach node highlights it and opens a detail card containing four tabs/sections:

   • Core Theoretical Premise (Theoretical background)

   • Key Classroom Features (Bullet points of teacher/student roles)

   • Example Activity (A concrete classroom scenario)

   • Critique & Limitations (Main pedagogical drawbacks)

2. Interactive Comparison Filter: Include a toggle or filter at the top (e.g., "Focus: Behaviorist/Form-Focused" vs. "Focus: Constructivist/Meaning-Focused") that visually highlights which methods fit each paradigm.

3. Quick Check Quiz: At the bottom of the page, include a 3-item drag-and-drop or multiple-choice quiz where users match a classroom scenario to its corresponding teaching approach, providing instant feedback on answers.

Technical Requirements:

• Ensure all CSS (Tailwind via CDN) and JavaScript are self-contained in a single code block so it runs directly in the Canvas preview.

• Make it responsive for mobile and desktop screens.

Why This Prompt Blueprint Works

• Structural Scaffolding: Dividing your prompt into Role, Layout, Mechanics, and Technical Specs prevents the AI from skipping functional UI elements.

• Explicit Content Framework: Naming the exact 5 approaches ensures Gemini populates accurate pedagogical content rather than placeholder text ("Lorem Ipsum").

• Multi-Modal Data Chunking: Requesting tabs (Premise, Features, Example, Critique) keeps the screen uncluttered and visually digestible for trainees.

• Formative Assessment Loop: Including a mini-quiz transforms a static reading layout into an active learning tool.

Once Canvas generates the code, you can tweak it in real time using side-by-side prompting—for example, asking it to "Change the background to a dark mode palette" or "Add a download button for a summary PDF."

======================

OUTPUT TIMELINE: 

https://share.gemini.google/tW82nhI0RRLx

======+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TAKEAWAYS:

- No need to write the prompt yourself. Instead, tell Gemini your need and ask it to write the prompt for you. 

Chalkie AI: Features: Single Lesson vs Lesson series vs Activity Sheets

 THE 3 MAIN TYPES OF MATERIALS THAT CAN BE CREATED: 

THE LESSON:

- Unlike other platforms, the 'lesson' being generated is actually a presentation slidedeck, with a couple of interactive  tasks embedded. IT'S MAINLY FOR THE PRESENTATION STAGE ONLY. 

- My example: 'ed' vs '-ing' adjectives:  https://app.chalkie.ai/lessons/a17cbfb1-93d1-4438-9144-92f1eb30e5d5?ref=HbJMMVtl

LESSON SERIES

- This function will give you a series of lessons under a certain topic. But like 'Lesson', you do not get a series of lesson plans, but a series of presentation slidedecks. 

ACTIVITY SHEETS

- This function will generate a static worksheet consisting of a few tasks from the prompt or uploaded materials. The worksheet is not interactive. It can be shared via a link, or exported as a WORD or PDF file. 

- My example from 'ed' vs 'ing' adjectives: https://app.chalkie.ai/documents/a28a4c47-d99a-4c57-a90c-3d54653fca11?ref=HbJMMVtl

========

TAKEAWAYS

1.  For the 3 types of generations, you can start with a prompt, and/or uploaded files. 

2. The main functionality lies in generating lesson slidedecks, which contain interactive  tasks. To me, this is Chalkie's strongest feature. 

3. To respond to the interactive tasks, students join the presentation using a code provided by the teacher. 

4. Pricing

- Unlike Gamma, Chalkie provides a free plan which allows for some free materials creation. 

The plethora of teachers' AI platforms: The paradox of choice

 LingoTask; Chalkie; Brisk Teaching; Sayo; Goodclass; Tencent; MagicSchool; School AI; Eduaide; Diffit; Edcafe AI;  Monsha ......

There're now so many teachers' AI platforms. Familiarising myself with the functionality of one platform is challenging enough (e.g., MagicSchool has 70+ functions), not to mention identifying the strengths of each particular platform. A typical case of 'the paradox of choice.'