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How To Save Time: Using Diffit and Magic School for Planning

Presented By: Andrew Conley

WCASD | Summer Spark 2024

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Act 48

In order to receive Act 48 Credit, participants must:

      • Be registered for this session in My Learning Plan.
      • Complete the WCASD evaluation in MLP within ONE WEEK of the session.

**If you do not complete an evaluation, you will not receive Act 48 credit; however, you will receive your Flex hours.

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Summer Professional Learning

Flex Hours

Your attendance today will count as 4.5 hours towards your 9 required hours for the year. Please make sure you’ve signed in at the Learning Lab Kiosk.

WCASD | Summer Spark 2024

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WCASD | Summer Spark 2024

District Priorities:

    • Innovative Teaching & Learning - See how AI can provide us with formative assessments in the classroom
    • Equitable Practices - See how AI can help us support all students, regardless of reading level or proficiency with the English language

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Today’s Goals

Goal # 1

Learn how to use Diffit to create worksheets for your classroom.

Goal # 2

Learn how to use Magic School to break through lesson writing block

Goal # 3

Learn how to unlock the potential of both Diffit and Magic School

WCASD | Summer Spark 2024

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Pros and Cons of AI

Pros of AI

  • Save Time
  • Provide ideas
  • Translate
  • Adjust reading levels
  • Edit
  • Help respond to emails

Cons of AI

  • Can be inaccurate
  • Can be biased

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Remember that AI is a tool to help you, but it can’t do it all.

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Diffit

  • Great for translation
  • Helps adjust reading levels
  • Provides lesson ideas
  • Creates video guides / worksheets

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Literally Anything

  • When you first open Diffit, you are on the “Literally Anything” tab
  • This is a great starting point, especially if you are stuck
  • Go ahead and try it out

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An Article or Video

  • This tab will assist you with reading passages and videos
  • Can align worksheets with standards
  • Forgot about Sub Plans? This tab is your savior
  • Try it - choose a reading or a video, and create some multiple choice and short answer questions

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Any Text or Excerpt

  • Paste whole documents or excerpts
  • Upload PDF
  • Generate Resources
  • Adapt reading to a different reading level, or keep the same
  • Translate as needed

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Create Student Activities

Diffit provides a variety of templates for student activities

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Magic Schools

  • More options than Diffit
  • Can create lessons
  • Respond to parent emails
  • Generate Rubrics
  • Edit materials
    • This can be really helpful for letters of recommendation
  • Edit directions for class work
  • Generate stories / word problems
  • Tells bad jokes

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Lesson Plans

  • Can create entire lesson plans
    • You will need to provide the resources
  • Align to standards
  • Set criteria for the lesson
  • The more details you can provide, the better
  • Recommendation - Use this for ideas rather than a full lesson

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Emails

  • Send professional emails
  • Send emails to parents / guardians
  • Respond to emails
  • Helpful if you have an unhappy parent - think of it as a “cool down” option

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Word Problems and Rubrics

  • Magic Schools can create word problems and rubrics for you
  • As always, the more detail you can provide, the better the product
  • Proof read before using the product

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Get Certified

  • Both Diffit and Magic School offer self-paced courses to become certified users
  • For Diffit:
    • Go to the “Resources” tab
    • Choose “Professional Development”
    • Scroll down to “Become a Diffit Certified Educator”
  • For Magic School:
    • Go to “Resources” tab
    • Choose “PD Resources”
    • Click on “All MagicSchool Certification Courses”

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Wrap Up & Practice

  1. Use the remaining time to practice with Diffit or Magic School
  2. Work individually or work with a partner
  3. You have three options:
    1. Use Diffit to create a student worksheet for a reading or video
    2. Use Magic School to come up with a lesson plan OR create a rubric
    3. Explore one or both of the resources