Process Focus

Written by: Abhigya Singh

TL;DR: Google Docs users can use free extensions like Process Feedback to reflect on the writing process and share the process with their teachers. At times, when reading a student’s work, teachers feel discouraged to spend their energy evaluating their piece, thinking—What if it's AI-generated? Am I investing my energy in a fully ChatGPT written work? While some teachers may let that slide, others tend to be more sensitive about the issue. Regardless, most teachers believe that they are expected to ensure that the writing tools that they let students use not only enhance students’ writing skills but also maintain integrity. Even if teachers allow students to use AI to a certain extent, students must “show their work.” Consequently, teachers need tools that encourage students to write responsibly. Ideally, these tools should also enable the teachers to dive into their students' writing journeys so they can, if needed, provide personalized feedback to the students. In this evalu...

In a bustling high school classroom, stacks of essays are piled high on the educator's desk like a looming mountain. With deadlines fast approaching, the task of providing meaningful feedback seemed daunting. Meanwhile, the students awaited the return of their essays, wondering “Did I do well? Did I meet my teacher’s expectations?” These persistent doubts gnaw at their self-esteem, leaving them in a state of uncertainty. This scenario highlights the critical role of feedback in education, illustrating the challenges faced by both educators and students. Feedback is essential for providing a roadmap for improvement and boosting students' self-esteem. However, the task of delivering meaningful feedback can be daunting for educators, who must balance this responsibility with their other institutional duties. The pressure to provide timely feedback adds to the complexity, as students eagerly await guidance on their performance. In response to the dual challenges of educators strugg...

Scientific conferences serve as a building block to connect researchers and other stakeholders. Conferences in the domain of education and AI range from a day to multiple days. Below is the list of some top conferences we have collected. Note that the list of conferences presented here is not intended to be comprehensive. Please email me if you have any suggestions or if you find any errors. Conferences are ordered by their submission deadlines. The deadline is the abstract or paper submission deadline, whichever is first.

"The 'why' is where the magic lives." - Simon Sinek In his book " Start with Why ", originally published in 2009, Simon Sinek, introduces the concept of the Golden Circle, which consists of three layers: why, how, and what. According to Sinek,  truly successful leaders start with why. They connect with people deeply and emotionally by articulating their purpose and beliefs. It gives a new perspective of looking at communications. Not only does it define what makes a leader successful in a corporate organization but also in the sectors of health, public, and education. In the landscape of teaching and learning, understanding not just what students do but also how and why they do it is paramount for educators striving to create meaningful learning experiences. While assessments and assignments offer insights into students' actions, they often provide only a surface-level understanding, leaving educators guessing about the underlying processes and motivatio...

The intersection of education and artificial intelligence is growing in importance and interest. Whether you are an educator looking for ways to incorporate AI tools in your curriculum, a researcher keen on exploring the latest advancements in AI, or a tech enthusiast curious about the role of AI in shaping the future of learning, staying updated and connected with like-minded professionals is important. By joining the right LinkedIn groups, you can access a wealth of knowledge and insights on the realms of education and AI. To help you navigate this space, we have curated a list of the best LinkedIn groups dedicated to education and AI. Within these networks, educators, researchers, AI experts, and tech developers share their experiences, challenges, and achievements. Join these LinkedIn groups for a gateway to a community of enthusiasts committed to advancing the integration of AI in education. Hub of Educators and AI (started: 2023) Started by Professor Badri Adhikari, an AI expert...

"Writing is thinking on paper." - William Zinsser Among the myriad of academic endeavors, writing stands as a pillar of expression, a conduit through which thoughts and emotions find their voice. For educators, delving into the depths of cognitive processes behind a student’s writing is not merely a job; it's an opportunity to reach the core of the student's thinking and see their potential. Though often romanticized as an effortless outpouring of creativity, writing is a complex labyrinth of cognitive processes. From the inception of an idea to the final development of a piece, each step in the writing journey is guided by the mind's delicate cognitive processes. Comprehending these processes, educators seek to decipher the psychology that weaves through their students' writing adventures. For instance, analyzing writing can reveal common challenges students face, like writer’s block or difficulties with structuring arguments. Understanding how students gener...

Educators today are confronted with a challenge in addressing students' growing reliance on AI. In particular, educators teaching fundamental skills such as writing, communication, and computer programming feel powerless. Many students, fascinated with all the AI tools that excel at these basic skills, are inclined to use AI prematurely. In this short piece, I will introduce Process Feedback, an innovative educational tool designed to encourage students to engage in insightful writing or coding and to reflect on their work. Process Feedback is a resource for both students and educators. When students use its online editor to complete their work, it visually shows process-related details such as breaks taken during the writing or coding process, typing fluency, copy-paste events, time spent on each paragraph, time allocated to revision versus content creation, and other relevant information. The tool not only enables students to self-explore and self-learn from their processes but ...

Undergraduate students use ChatGPT massively. In the article “I am a student. You have no idea how much we are using ChatGPT.”, Owen K. Terry describes how undergraduate students rely largely on ChatGPT ( The Chronicles of Higher Education, 2023 ). Terry, an undergraduate student at Columbia University, suggests that if education systems are to continue teaching students how to think, they need to shift to AI-proof assignments like oral exams and in-class writing. Yes, many educators who are tired of facing plagiarism may agree that oral exams, also known as “viva” exams, can be the ultimate tool to force students to study. In fact, most universities and colleges in Asia, including top science and engineering schools, have oral exams included in their final assessments; however, only educators who have tried this understand how exhausting it can be. Interviewing every single student in a class, even if it is once a semester, is no joke. Despite these challenges, some educators have fo...

The primary best practice in incorporating AI into education is to prioritize the roles of students, educators, and parents. Unlike many other domains where AI is applied, education focuses more on creating a social platform for transforming lives, making it crucial to place humans at the forefront. The AI policy report released by the US Department of Education in 2023 underscores this by highlighting the importance of the "people" element and advocates for using AI with "humans in the loop"  ( DoE Policy Report , 2023 ) . However, if humans are to remain central, we should consider using AI not with humans in the loop but with "AI in the loop." While "humans in the loop" implies that humans play a crucial role in AI-assisted decision-making, it could also suggest that AI makes decisions with humans providing feedback only, which may be more suitable for industrial applications. In education, we believe AI should be in the loop, not humans. In e...