Tom Mennella

Biology professor. Flipped learning and edtech advocate. Editor and podcast host. Father of two beautiful daughters.

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@AgathaChocolats My cat is a big jerk

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@HockeyCoach01 @NHL This actually made me laugh out loud during a quiet meeting at work. Thanks…

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@NiallHarbison Every single one of these stories chokes me up… there is a very special place in heaven for you with this work you are doing. Every one of these dogs is a special and unique individual and they’re all so so lucky to have found you. Thank you.

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@DhanrajDaga1 @MattWallace888 3*4 =12

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@NHL Not fun to admit it as a Bs fan but the Habs logo looks the nicest IMHO

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@NHL @Ticketmaster Definitely Ray 77

[Alice Keeler @alicekeeler]

🌜 #ChatGPT helped me breeze through grading. But remember, only a teacher knows the effort behind each assignment!

💪📚 It's my sidekick, not my replacement

#feedback

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

This is the best analysis and exposition of GAI in education I have seen. Kudos, Greg for remaining thoughtful and pragmatic at the edge of the envelope.

[Greg Kulowiec @gregkulowiec]

Healthy Skepticisn & Tempered Optimisn

This is where I hope to help educators land on AI and the impact on their professional work and student learning.

While there is reason for being optimistic (and I am wildly optimistic), it has to be guided with an understanding of what text generative AI is actually doing based on a quality prompt. It has no awareness, it doesn’t understand anything, has no world view and is incapable of knowing what you value and believe in. The responses are generated without intention or and end goal…simply words being linked together.

At the same time, with a quality prompt, the output to create (as an example) a station rotation or small group activity around a specific idea can be immensely beneficial for educators. It allows one to start at 75-80% instead of dealing with the tyranny of a blank white Google Doc. This thought partner ability of AI can allow creative educators to design classroom experiences a bit more efficiently, ideally giving time back and energy back to their day.

From the student perspective, when AI is used as a thought partner, not a work doer, it can act as a much needed support. I’ve seen the positive impact first hand on my own daughter’s work. When faced with a somewhat stressful writing task, she prompted the AI tool to ask her questions that might help her move forward (based on a thorough description of the task and what she was trying to accomplish). The AI didn’t do any work for her, it simply prompted her own thinking via 10 helpful questions.

Alternatively, AI in the hands of students is only as powerful as their ability to ask wildly logical and curious questions, combined with their ability to be exceptionally discerning with the output generated. These two skills, along with the mindset of AI as a Thought Partner will determine how beneficial AI will be in the hands of our learners.

#aiedu #aied #aieducation

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@BrightFuturesAI Sure. I’m up for a conversation.

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@courosa Pretty horrifying. Embarrassing for the authors AND the journal. This is a case study for how not to use GAI.

[SallySmilesHandmade @SallySmilesOOAK]

Apron Christmas Full Apron Misses Small/Medium Bib Apron Handmade – Home for the Holidays- Apron-81 https://t.co/WesJ3CaCgi via @Etsy
#Christmasaprons, #Holidayaprons, #Handmadeaprons

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@alicekeeler 3/16? A fourth of a fourth plus a half of a fourth?

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@alicekeeler Couldn’t agree more. There are pluses & minuses. We need to keep in mind the difference between assessment & feedback. We still need to do the former but AI can help with the latter. Some colleagues & I recently discussed this over coffee at the AI Cafe 😁 https://t.co/GSvfOpJ7pJ

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

.@pilotedgeATC - I’ve studied. I’m tabbed. And I can’t wait to fly in!!

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@Boston_Diehards I want to agree with this tweet, but I also want to ask for compassion. Agree, compassion. Agree, compassion… The wounds and disappointment are still just too damn fresh…

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

@BlancolirioYT Hi Juan. I have so much respect for everything you do for aviation - thank you so much! I’m sure you’ve seen this but yet another controller creating an unnecessary conflict. What’s going on lately? This is not normal. Scary… https://t.co/I9OA6Gis0d

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

As the conversation in #education shifts from banning #ChatGPT to embracing it, we need to give students a way to cite it. Check out this piece by Caroline Fell Kurban and I where we do exactly that @BAMRadioNetwork @OpenAI #edtechchat #edchat https://t.co/ebZffWLW77

[Tom Mennella @DrBioTom]

The idea that banning #ChatGPT is a mistake is quickly becoming the majority opinion in #education. Phew.... so relieved! #edchat #edtech #dontbanchatgpt

[Campus Technology @Campus_Tech]

ChatGPT, and #AI writing in general, is here, whether #educators are ready or not. While many fear it’ll hinder student work, why should we not embrace the #technology presented to us? #highered doesn’t need to ban ChatGPT, but instead work with it. https://t.co/k3Bax6EF5C