EARLY EDUCATION IN THE AGE OF AI

Let’s Explore the Possibilities Together…

🔑🗝️ Key Topics Covered In This Episode:

00:09 Welcome to the Age of AI in Early Education
00:56 Unlocking the Power of AI for Early Educators
02:14 Mastering the Art of AI Prompting
10:48 Introducing the EASE Framework for Effective AI Use
21:57 Expanding Your AI Skills with Reflect Framework
30:01 Practical Tips and Final Thoughts on AI in Education

🎧🎙️ How Will This Episode Help You In Your Early Education Role?

In this episode of the Early Education in the Age of AI podcast, I share easy to understand tips on how educators new to using AI can more effectively prompt generative AI assistants to get useful, accurate, and personalised responses that will lead to better outcomes for each child’s individual learning journey.

I introduce you to 2 frameworks in this episode that will help you boost your prompting skills (questions you ask the AI tool). I call them the EASE and REFLECT frameworks.

I created these step by step frameworks to help all educators collaborate with AI tools simply while also ensuring you have steps to follow that make it easier to review responses you get back from an AI tool and then make necessary edits to retain your unique voice and expertise as the educator.

Through relatable examples across a variety of early education settings, together with practical advice, I walk you through how the EASE framework can guide educators in expressing their needs clearly, assigning roles to the AI, specifying desired outcomes, and establishing clear boundaries to make sure you get a response from the AI that is accurate and personalised to the needs of the educator and the child.

01:54 Understanding AI and Its Potential in Early Education
05:26 Addressing Common Misconceptions about AI in Education
12:26 Ethical Considerations and Responsible Use of AI
14:58 Exploring Specific AI Tools for Early Education
22:13 How to Effectively Use AI Tools in Your Practice
25:08 Introducing Custom AI Assistants for Early Educators
28:07 Meet Ellie EYLF: Your Early Years Learning Framework Assistant
29:08 Introducing Lacey Leadership: Your Guide to Effective Leadership
29:53 Dotti Documentation: Your Documentation Dynamo
31:11 The Power of AI in Early Education
33:02 Exploring Practical Applications of AI Tools
44:08 Recap and Reflection: The Role of AI in Early Childhood Education

Empowering Early Childhood Education with Artificial Intelligence

In this episode of the 'Early Education in the Age of AI' podcast, I explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and specially trained AI assistants built specifically for early childhood professionals.

I breakdown in simple terms what AI is, how it's designed to aid, not replace, educators, and explore some common misconceptions you might have about AI usage in education.

I walk you through simple ways AI can support your work as an educator in generating creative ideas, completing documentation, linking with frameworks, and creating opportunities for professional growth and skills. I highlight the importance of viewing AI as a collaborative tool and give you tips on how to use it responsibly and ethically.

00:57 How AI Can Support Inclusive Early Childhood Environments
01:43 Understanding AI and Its Role in Education
02:17 Practical Applications of AI in Early Education
04:46 AI and Inclusive Practice in Early Education
09:49 Practical Examples of AI in Early Education
17:40 AI and Cultural Inclusion in Early Education
18:18 Avoiding Tokenism in Cultural Inclusion with AI
21:20 AI as a Starting Point for Cultural Inclusion
24:45 Respectful Use of Aboriginal Art and Crafts
25:42 Avoiding Tokenistic Use of Cultural Patterns
26:10 Exploring Cultural Connections through Food
26:36 Incorporating Traditional Games and Art into Play
28:53 Building Relationships with Local Communities
29:16 Avoiding Tokenistic Attempts at Inclusion
33:21 Incorporating Scaffolding into Everyday Activities
37:01 Using AI to Support Inclusion and Scaffolding
38:52 Practical Examples of Scaffolding in Action

In this episode, your host, Jodie from The Empowered Educator, explains how AI can assist educators in practical ways to create more inclusive and welcoming environments, activities, and experiences for all children. Jodie shares strategies for chatting with an AI assistant to get ideas and tips for adapting indoor and outdoor spaces, materials, and approaches to better support children with diverse needs and backgrounds.

Throughout the episode, you’ll hear examples of AI prompts that can help you modify plans for children with sensory sensitivities, find respectful ways to celebrate cultural events, weave Aboriginal perspectives throughout the program, incorporate scaffolding techniques, and foster better cultural and social inclusivity.

You’ll discover why it’s so important that educators give the AI tool plenty of specific context about each child's unique needs and interests if you want the suggestions to be personalized for each child.

As always this episode reinforces that while AI Assistants and chatbots can be highly resourceful, educator expertise, knowledge and empathy still lie at the core of exceeding quality early education practice.

[00:00:08] Introduction to AI and its relevance in early education
[00:01:37] Overview of the episode's focus on Chat GPT Vision
[00:05:49] Emphasis on AI as a collaborative tool for educators
[00:10:15] Detailed walkthrough of using Chat GPT Vision for documenting a child's artwork
[00:13:13] Application of Chat GPT Vision in improving play areas
[00:18:20] Addressing common concerns about AI in education
[00:24:29] The importance of using effective prompts with AI tools
[00:32:16] Chat GPT Vision's role in supporting children with special needs
[00:43:06] Strengthening learning through observation and analysis with AI
[00:52:17] Using AI tools to align observations with educational frameworks
[01:00:12] Ethical and practical considerations when using AI in education
[01:03:08] Encouragement to embrace AI as an educational ally

In this episode of "Early Education in the Age of AI," host Jodie Clarke introduces a new AI tool called 'Chat GPT Vision' and its applications in early education.

Jodie shares how educators can upload photos of their environments, documents, activities, and children’s artwork into the AI system for analysis, providing interesting feedback and reflections that help to improve children's individual learning experiences.

Jodie also discusses how GPT Vision artificial intelligence can analyze child interactions, connect them to curriculum or framework standards like the Australian EYLF, offer support for special needs children, and contribute to more personalized learning plans making planning and preparation not just easier and less frustrating, but also more meaningful.

Throughout the episode, Jodie walks listeners through various step-by-step examples to demonstrate the Ai Assistants practicality. These include documenting a child's artwork, analyzing play areas, and addressing common AI concerns among educators. Jodie reassures listeners that AI in education is meant to empower educators, not replace them, and stresses the importance of ethical use, including maintaining children's privacy and wellbeing.

This episode is packed with practical tips and ideas making it must-listen for forward thinking educators seeking to integrate AI into their early education practice.

00:08 Introduction to AI in Early Education
00:56 Exploring AI Chatbots as Personal Educational Assistants
01:24 Understanding the Principles of Intentional Teaching
01:50 Overcoming Challenges in Intentional Teaching with AI
01:56 AI Chatbots: Potential and Practical Applications
02:21 AI Chatbots as Time Management and Stress Reduction Tools
03:22 Reviewing the Concept of Intentional Teaching
10:08 Challenges in Implementing Intentional Teaching
12:53 Overcoming Challenges with AI Chatbots
22:18 Practical Tips for Experimenting with AI in Education
33:36 Ethical Considerations in Using AI in Early Learning
37:42 Conclusion: Embracing AI in Intentional Teaching

In this episode we explore the potential of AI chatbots to support intentional teaching practice.Find out how to chat with an AI assistant to help you find the right balance between teacher-facilitated learning experiences and child-led play and exploration.

Throughout this episode you’ll discover strategies and tips that will help you not only recognise opportunities for ‘teachable moments’ during day to day routines and play, but also to plan and document clear learning goals and more personalised, intentional, experiences for each child to better support and extend their early learning, development and interests.

I explain the core principles of an intentional teaching pedagogy approach in early childhood and discuss some common challenges educators face with finding time, balancing structured v child led playful learning approaches, and reflecting effectively to support the extension of learning.

I also share how chatting with an AI Assistant or chatbot can become your solution to overcoming those roadblocks and give you the AI prompts you need to get started.