LINKS FOR YOU
🍎 Perplexity makes Enterprise Pro available to schools and districts for $20 per user. Bringing Perplexity to Schools and Non-Profits.
🔎 Using AI as a Search Engine. AI Search for Educators.
🔬 Teachers struggle to find time to apply valuable research in their classrooms and explore solutions for more effective professional development.
📖 Learn how storytime and literacy programs can inspire young children to understand the importance of voting and civic engagement. How to Encourage Voting Through Story Time.
🎃 Need ideas for Halloween Costumes? 80 Fantastic Halloween Costumes for Teachers in 2024
GRANTS FOR PD
🎨 Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Block Grant. Use funds for Professional Development to support Art, Music, and School Culture
🚜 Use funds for Professional Development to Support Effective Instruction. Supporting Rural and Low-Income Schools.
📚 The Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant offers funding for professional development and literacy initiatives to support disadvantaged students from birth through grade 12
💼 The FY2025 CTE Frameworks and Competency-Based Implementation Grant funds professional development to support the integration of competency-based learning with career-connected education.
🏙️ The Maine DOE's Transition to Kindergarten Mini-Grant offers funding for professional development to strengthen community partnerships and create effective transition plans for young learners entering kindergarten.
ONE BIG IDEA
Most AI models seem to work very similarly. For text-based AI, the experience tends to be chat based. You ask a question and the AI model responds.
Perplexity does this too but where it differs is in the output it produces. It almost produces a mini report with sources, summaries, and related information.
I searched for “What is the T3 Framework” and it returned several relevant sections: sources, a summary, an overview, relevant videos, its impact in education, some practical applications, and related ideas.
You can see how it might be the first AI model that can out Google, Google.
And with its basic user interface, it doesn’t require a lot of training. Just like Google.
While ChatGPT and Claude are powerful language models capable of generating human-like text, Perplexity AI seems specifically designed for research purposes.
It focuses on providing accurate, well-sourced information from reputable sources, making it an ideal tool for research and fact-checking.
Additionally, Perplexity AI's responses are concise and to-the-point, saving valuable time for educators and students alike.
Perplexity AI is a game-changer for teachers, offering a wealth of opportunities to enhance their teaching practices.
Teachers can use Perplexity AI in many different ways. Here are three:
Perplexity AI is not just a tool for teachers. It also empowers students to take an active role in their learning.
Here are are four ways students can use Perplexity AI in the classroom:
👀 Perplexity Scavanger Hunt
Divide students into teams and give them a list of clues or questions related to a topic you're studying. Teams must use Perplexity AI to find the answers and complete the scavenger hunt.
This encourages collaboration, research skills, and critical thinking as they evaluate the information provided by the AI.
📖 Perplexity Storytelling
Have students use Perplexity AI to research a historical event, famous person, or fictional setting. Then, challenge them to use the information gathered to craft an original story or narrative.
This activity promotes creativity, writing skills, and the ability to synthesize information from various sources.
📣 Perplexity Debate
Assign students to opposing sides of a controversial or debatable topic. They must use Perplexity AI to research and gather evidence to support their assigned position.
In class, hold a structured debate where students present their arguments and rebuttals, citing the information they found.
This activity fosters critical thinking, public speaking, and the ability to evaluate the credibility of sources.
School district operations generally consume 25-40% of a school district's budget. There are lots of opportunities to increase efficiency.
The bigger opportunity is in increasing the efficacy of everyone at the district. This is how you give everyone in the district the thing they need the most: time.
Finance and Procurement
Perplexity AI can be used to streamline financial processes and improve procurement decisions.
The AI can assist in analyzing budget data, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and providing recommendations for efficient resource allocation.
Additionally, it can help evaluate vendor proposals, compare pricing, and ensure compliance with procurement regulations.
Security and Facilities Management
Perplexity AI can enhance security measures and facilities management within the district.
The AI can analyze security protocols, identify potential vulnerabilities, and recommend improvements.
It can also assist in optimizing facility maintenance schedules, predicting equipment failures, and suggesting energy-efficient solutions for buildings.
Human Resources
Perplexity AI can streamline various HR processes, such as recruitment, employee training, and performance evaluation.
The AI can help identify qualified candidates by analyzing resumes and job descriptions, provide personalized training recommendations based on individual needs, and offer data-driven insights for fair and objective performance evaluations.
While Perplexity AI offers numerous benefits, here are some things to think about before a district rollout.
❗Risk: Reliance on AI-generated information and potential for misinformation or biased content.
Mitigation: Emphasize the importance of critical thinking and source evaluation.
Provide training on how to verify the credibility of information provided by Perplexity AI and encourage cross-referencing with reputable sources.
❗Risk: Privacy and data security issues related to the use of AI technology.
Mitigation: Ensure that Perplexity AI adheres to strict privacy and data protection standards. Implement robust security measures and provide clear guidelines on appropriate usage and data handling practices.
❗Risk: Equity and accessibility challenges, particularly for students with limited access to technology or specific learning needs.
Mitigation: Develop a comprehensive plan to ensure equitable access to Perplexity AI and provide alternative resources or accommodations for students who may face barriers in using the technology.
❗Risk: Potential for misuse or over reliance on AI, leading to a reduction in critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Mitigation: Emphasize that Perplexity AI is a tool to support and enhance learning, not a replacement for human reasoning and analysis. Incorporate activities that promote higher-order thinking skills and encourage students to use Perplexity AI judiciously.
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
Alludo - we have helped district leaders across the country increase capacity in thousands of schools by successfully delivering millions of evidence-based professional learning lessons to their educators and staff members.
See you next Saturday!
Damon