Posts

Google Sites ⭐

For my blog this week, I wanted to explore Google Sites. I have heard of it before, but I had never actually used it for myself. I wanted to see how it works and how it could be used in a learning environment. I use so many different Google owned things like my email and Google Drive, so I thought it would be good to learn another as well. Google Sites is a web-based platform where you can create a simple website, without needing coding experience. Most of the site is just dragging and dropping things like text, images, videos, and you can also embed things like Google Docs or Google Slides. Overall, it felt similar to Google Docs, just more visual and structured.  I tested it out by creating a basic site for organizing my class content. It was nice because I was able to make different sections for different topics, add in headings, and also embed a document just to see how it worked. It was easy to do and straightforward. I liked this because when you are working with things like ...
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NotebookLM 📝✨

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  This week I explored a new AI tool called NotebookLM. I had never used it before, so it was interesting to see how it compared to other AI tools. It felt different right away. Instead of just asking NotebookLM a question or giving it a prompt, you can upload your own sources, and then the tool will only respond based on the sources given.  For my notebook, I wanted to use some of the topics we are learning about in my other course this semester. The course is a happiness study class, so I uploaded three articles we were given this week. An article about contentment, one about effort and happiness, and one additional source about well-being. Once I uploaded my sources, I started forming my questions such as, "What are the connections between effort and satisfaction?" and "How is contentment different from happiness?" I liked how the responses stayed focused on the sources I uploaded, and pointed out where certain information came from. It felt more structured compa...
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Perplexity AI 🤔

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  This week I explored Perplexity AI. Perplexity AI is another AI powered search tool among the many that are out. I had never used it before, so I was curious to see how it would compare to regular search engines like Google, or other chat bots like ChatGPT. At first, it seemed similar to other tools, but after using it a bit more, it had differences. I noticed right away that it provided more direct and summarized answers, rather than just listing links like Google.  My experience with Perplexity AI was actually helpful! I tested it out by asking some general questions that I already had answers to so I could gauge its correctness. Then I asked it some school related questions. One thing that stood out to me when asking school questions was that it not only gave a clear answer, it also included sources. This made things easier because I could understand topic material quickly without struggling through different websites. I felt like it was more efficient. Especially if you ...
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Figuring Out The Best AI Prompts 🪄

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AI tools are a huge debate currently. No matter what someone thinks about whether AI is harmful or helpful, it is a commonly used tool and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. This week was interesting because it made me think more intentionally about how we can use AI tools, especially when it comes to prompting. In the times I have used AI, I don't put too much thought into it and just go with a basic question. I thought it would be better to just ask something simple and then see what came back. After working through our class assignment this week however, it shows how important it is to thoughtfully write out your prompt. Your prompt can have a huge impact on the quality of the AI response.  For this activity, I used Arena.ai. With this chatbot, you can select different chatbot models and have side by side responses and pick the one you like more. Below is an image of some of the ones that you can pick from. You can even search models as well if you are familiar with speci...
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Blog Practices and Tips 🤓☝️

 After reading many blogs throughout the semester, I noticed some clear differences between posts that were engaging and posts that were harder to stay interested in. The blogs that always stood out to me usually felt more personal and easy to follow. I liked when people explained their thoughts clearly, and could also connect the topic to their own experiences or perspective. I think I enjoy that because it makes it easier myself to relate to the topic and also keeps me interested. However, when blogs did the opposite, it felt like they were just repeating information without much reflection. It was harder to stay engaged as a reader.  In my opinion, one of the best practices for creating an engaging blog post is having a clear and direct focus. I like when a post clearly explains what the topic is and where the author is going with their ideas. It makes the blog much easier to read and quicker to find information that will be useful in terms of what you are looking for. I al...
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Rethinking Stress & Having New Perspectives😌

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  One video that I have added to my PLN is a TED Talk, How to Make Stress Your Friend , by Kelly McGonigal. In the TED talk, she discusses that the common belief is that stress is always harmful but she challenges that. She presents research that suggests our mindset about stress can have a significant impact on how it affects us. So instead of focusing on eliminating all stress, she talks about framing it as a response that will prepare us for challenges. Having this mentality when it comes to stress can actually improve performance and resilience as well.  What stood out to me is how relevant this perspective can be in professional environments. Most of the time, even in many workplaces, stress is viewed mainly as a negative outcome from things like high expectations or heavy workloads. In the TED talk however, she explains that when individuals view stress as just a signal that something matters, it can enhance the focus and connection. Rather than having the usual feelings...
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Using Tasks for Canvas to Support Student Organization ✏️

Organization plays a huge role in student success in both online and hybrid learning environments. Many students struggle not because they lack ability, but they might miss deadlines or have information scattered across their different courses, and they might not know where to start. Canvas provides some built in tools, like the calendar view or to-do list feature. This was okay, but I wanted something a little better. I liked on Moodle, another school platform similar to Canvas, how you could track the percentage of work you have done in the class. It would show your progress nicely, along with due dates, and you could check assignments off as you go.    In my screencast, I show how the Tasks for Canvas feature works for me. This Google extension allows students to quickly see upcoming assignments across all courses and tracks weekly progress. By organizing deadlines in one place, week by week, it can reduce that overwhelming feeling and help students prioritize their school ...
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