Received a big morale boost to start the 26/27 academic year.

 

Tried Here.Now for hosting a single webpage

 Here and Now website: 

https://here.now/

1. On the dashboard, I uploaded an html index file from my onedrive. 

2. The following webpage was then created automatically. 

https://still-zinnia-5tpe.here.now/

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

REMINDER FROM GEMINI RE FILE NAME TO UPLOAD: 

When uploading a single standalone file to web servers like here.now, it should be named index.html.

• Why? Web servers look for index.html by default to serve as the homepage of a website.

• If named differently: If you upload a single file named something like mypage.html, visiting your site's base URL ([https://your-site.here.now](https://your-site.here.now)) will result in a 404 Not Found error or a directory listing because the server doesn't know which file to load first.

Paul's Summary of 5 AI apps for Conversation Practice

 5 AI APPS FOR ENGLISH CONVERSATION PRACTICE.pdf

Created an interactive learning module on Ordering Coffee at a Cafe politely using Gemini Canvas

 1. Inspired by the following learning module created by Leonard Wong: 

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fturbo-eagle-3zzr.here.now%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwcGRvZgVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEyME14ZWRqb1lob2IwYTI3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpdlsntUVYQAyeruV-7cHqF_DZijiHiwYWkh7bUVFTNAwYkT6yZjGqO9MVa5_aem_-iRl_4bDRcllUBygt4fELw&h=AUCTehN7XaKIDNcR4n6QrGVTslL3BEwJ8qkPJFUOSE_40gA-FKOmI7lb9Nl7_YV-5Tzv6C5MPMwbFrdqCt41sguuu7CRLEyK0IpX0uEqjroSXuF8ytnpP5goRjSeLOrt9SgBWBdsaVZl6g&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AUArH-aSAD4PA3X24Fk2RYu60h6-g3JFj2vMQbLnKI82yqeMeV8DMyHMlQunF_ADrRhqG-szypj6PzJIZY8i0K3itb8NQ-9HeRuDjIO7k55zFSvLnF4_ziiOiWHXd9QHdT831NCJawcWY_zSuT9CUthd

2. Asked Gemini about the module. 

3. Gemini introduced bolt.new for creating such interactive modules. 

4. Asked Gemini to provide a simple example, and a prompt. The example provided was 'Ordering a coffee politely at a cafe'. Gemini provided the following prompt: 

=========\

Act as an expert frontend web developer and TESOL instructional designer.

Create a single-file, self-contained HTML/CSS/JavaScript interactive Micro-Learning Unit for English language learners.

Topic: Ordering Food at a Cafe (Functional Language & Pragmatics)

Target Audience: Intermediate ESL/EFL students.

App Requirements:

Visual Header: Clean modern layout with a title "Interactive Scenario: At the Cafe" and a progress bar.

Step 1: Vocabulary & Pragmatics Checklist. Interactive clickable cards showing direct vs. polite ordering phrases (e.g., "Give me a coffee" vs. "Could I get a coffee, please?").

Step 2: Interactive Audio/Text Dialogue. A visual chat interface simulating a barista and customer, where students click to reveal the next line of dialogue.

Step 3: Branching Dialogue Practice. A multiple-choice scenario where the barista asks a follow-up ("What size would you like?") and the learner picks the best polite response. Give instant color-coded feedback.

Step 4: Final Quiz & Summary. A brief 3-question check on polite modals ("could", "would", "may") with a final score display. Design Style: Clean, mobile-friendly, modern UI with Tailwind CSS (via CDN) and friendly pastel colors. Code Output: Provide ONLY valid, single-file HTML code containing inline CSS and JavaScript. Do not use external asset files or npm dependencies.

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

5.  Went to bolt.new and copied the above prompt into the chatbox. Bolt.new could create the module directly. But when I tried the output, there were some bugs. I asked for revision, but then used up all my  credits.

https://interactive-cafe-eng-pwfk.bolt.host

6. I went back to Gemini Canvas, and used the same prompt. GEMINI CANVAS CAN ACTUALLY CREATE SUCH A MODULE DIRECTLY!

https://share.gemini.google/EkXq2DKF4pf6

Quickly creating a 'script + audio' set using Edcafe.ai: can be done very quickly.

 Just found a way to very quickly create a 'script + audio' set, within the same tool (Edcafe.ai). If you need to quickly generate a script and then its audio, without resorting to 2 different tools, then this workflow with Edcafe.ai is so far the quickest I have found. You can even assign the resulting listening clip/task immediately.

Here is my explainer page: https://workflowy.com/s/how-to-create-a-read/sAx91dz1HecsTJSD

Here is my created Audio asset: https://app.edcafe.ai/share/reading/tv-news-report-about-a-car-accident-6aa16fc6730fdc7f2e095b4c?cloneSig=5dfeb5ba326e84bae76a1a3559546381

There's one limitation though. Edcafe.ai can only create a monologue audio, not a dialogue. (The free plan is quite generous.)

Created a Guided Learning bot (GEM) for teachers to reflect on their Listening pedagogy: Prompt provided by Gemini

 WORKFLOW:

1. In Gemini, I asked it to write me the prompt for creating a Guided Learning bot to help new secondary school ESL teachers to reflect on their Listening pedagogy. 

2. Gemini gave me the following prompt:

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

Role & Persona:

You are an expert ESL Teacher Educator and Pedagogical Mentor specializing in Second Language Listening Instruction. Your goal is to help early-career secondary school ESL teachers critically reflect on their lesson planning, classroom execution, and instructional choices for teaching listening.

Core Reflective Framework:

Structure your dialogic coaching around three core stages:

1. What happened / What is planned? (Descriptive context)

2. Why was that approach chosen, and how did/might students process the input? (Pedagogical analysis)

3. What could be adjusted to support student listening processes better? (Actionable refinement)

Pedagogical Reference Points:

Guide teachers to evaluate their practice across these essential listening domains:

- Decoding vs. Comprehension: Are students struggling with speech perception/connected speech (bottom-up) or topical background knowledge/schema activation (top-down)?

- Task Design: Is the listening task testing memory, or is it scaffolding real-time processing?

- Text Selection: Is the auditory input authentic, modified, or multimodal (audio + visual/subtitles)?

- Post-Listening Focus: Does the post-listening phase analyze *where* listening broke down, rather than just checking answers?

Conversation Flow & Turn Management:

Track your conversation progress implicitly across your turns:

- Turns 1–3 (Exploration): Focus on understanding the teacher's classroom context, text selection, and initial listening goals.

- Turns 4–7 (Deep Reflection): Probe deeper into student processing, bottom-up/top-down balance, and task design.

- Turn 8 (Transition to Closure): Signal that the session is concluding. Synthesize the key reflective insights uncovered so far and ask the teacher to state one concrete tweak they plan to make.

- Turn 9 (Action & Validation): Validate their proposed action, provide a brief encouraging takeaway, and ask if they have any final quick clarification.

- Turn 10 (Final Wrap-up): Provide a warm, brief closing statement wishing them well in their teaching. Do NOT ask any further questions.

Interaction Rules:

1. Never give immediate, generic advice or tell the teacher they are "right" or "wrong."

2. Ask only ONE focused reflective question per turn (for Turns 1–9) to keep the cognitive load manageable.

3. Validate the real-world realities of secondary classroom management and mixed-ability learners.

4. Keep all responses concise and grounded in student mental processing.

Initial Greeting (Turn 1):

Start every new conversation with:

"Welcome! I'm here to help you unpack and refine your approach to teaching listening in the secondary ESL classroom. To start, tell me about a recent listening lesson you taught—or one you are currently planning. What were your main goals and the type of listening text you used?"

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

3. I copied the prompt into GEM. 

4. OUTPUT: 

https://gemini.google.com/gem/18Y56NMVQhjDjpO_ynV-il1Hg-Vi_Y_Qn?usp=sharing

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

TAKEAWAY:

Often, there is no need to wrestle with the prompt writing yourself. Tell Gemini your need, and ask it to write the prompt for you. This is much faster. 

Created a one-minute video on 'What is L2 Teaching Methodology?' using Schoolhub

 Had a try using Schoolhub to generate a video from a topic (no document uploads). 

I typed in a topic: 'What is second language teaching methodology?'

The app then returned 3 possible directions of video scripting for me to choose from: 

Of course, I can also write my own direction. 

In the above case, I chose the second one. 

Then, the next screen asked me to choose one from 2 choices (free plan). 

The app started to generate a script. 

I could then edit the script and the image descriptions before the last generation step: 

The OUTPUT VIDEO:

- The output narrated video has a cartoon style. 

- It can then be shared via a link, or downloaded. 

https://video.schoolhub.ai/en-US/video-domain/share/1d5440d9-4b42-4d57-8ce5-c2b49ab0ce2f

- At the moment, if I share the video to the Schoolhub community, I can get one more free video. Under the free plan, users can generate one free video per month only. 

Mizou chats that do not require a lot of typing and may be suited for primary students.

 Mizou is excellent as an AI tool dedicated to creating chatbots. Yet, primary students may not be good at typing. So if the chat is too open-ended, they may be spending a lot of time fiddling with the  typing. 

I went to the Library of Mizou, and looked for chatbots that ask for simple answers that do not require much typing. Below are some examples I have found: 

Blank-filling;
https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=155746

A variety of short answers:
https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=156113

For each turn, Ss type a one-word answer.
https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=155454

For each turn, Ss are given 3 answers and they type the letter which they think represents the right answer.
https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=155452

A conversation bot that elicits very short answers:
https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=155191

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

Created a conversation bot for KS2/3 Ss to interview a child from the past, using Mizou

 ACTIVITY IDEA FROM EDB's document: 

Hi Alex, you might be aware of this recent EDB document already: Examples on Application of Artificial Intelligence in Learning and Teaching in Key Learning Areas/Subjects (June 2026 )

https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/applicable-to-primary-secondary/it-in-edu/DEBP/ExamplesOnApplicationOfAIInLearningAndTeaching_EN.pdf

In the document, one suggested idea is: 

Interviewing an AI avatar role-playing a child in the past; incorporating the use of the simple present tense and the simple past tense into the interaction 

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

I went to Mizou; typed in the idea in the prompt box, and quickly got the following bot: 

https://mizou.com/preview-bot?ID=156224

++++++++++

Again, the pluses of Mizou over other AI apps is that you can easily customise, iterate, and even administer a chatbot. 

Created an interactive web module for learning/practising 8 Adjectives of Personality

 Yesterday, while trying to replicate Becky Cheung's P2 Fruit Words interactive web module changing the target lexical set from 'fruit words' to 'names of endangered animals', I ended up with a module which is totally different from Becky Cheung's. 

Today, I thought: 'If I  use my 'endangered animals' module as the starting point, and ask Gemini Canvas to create another one about a different lexical set, will Gemini  Canvas be able to handle this much easier generation'. 

So, I went to Gemini Canvas, and asked:

Create an interactive web learning module for P6 ESL students in Hong Kong to learn 8 adjectives about people's personality. Follow the organisation and design of the following example.

https://gemini.google.com/share/86bd0b5cbe02?skid=ab83314c-3c4f-4ffa-8c16-65e1a2391d19

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

RESULT

Gemini Canvas did a nice job, and produced the following module:

https://share.gemini.google/mbZ9ZY3OchNN

+++++++++

OBSERVATIONS

1. The resulting module replicates my original 'endangered animals' one, in terms of organisation and page design. 

2. Looks like this step can be repeated for other lexical sets. 

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.'