Tech-Neill-ogy #36 - 18 February 2024

Welcome to Tech-Neill-ogy #36!

While it seems we just came back from our luxurious mid-year holiday, this past week was Carnival here in Brazil, resulting in another week off. It was a more relaxed week, but there was still much going on (LinkedIn). Similarly, there is much going on in the world of ed tech and AI, so I hope you find this week’s newsletter. Be sure to check out the Fliz from last week’s newsletter below.

Perhaps the biggest news, which seems to have flown a bit under the radar is this from ChatGPT about improving memory within the app. I think this is a must-read for users…

Finally, I feel compelled to share how rewarding it was to hear from colleagues from Minnesota, Oregon, Connecticut, Washington, DC, and California as well as from Switzerland, Tanzania, Brazil, Singapore, and India this past week. Most of the conversations steered toward AI and new directions I might explore. I so appreciate the outreach! Always feel free to drop me an email at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you!

This is an old favorite of mine…

Brainstorm innovative ideas for a [Insert topic] in the [industry/profession].

As a regular presenter, here’s how I manipulate it. The results vary greatly in terms of the dynamic between pedestrian and innovative.

Brainstorm innovative ideas for a topical and timely presentation in high school college counseling.

For the purpose of this newsletter, here are some of the ideas from this prompt as I wrote this:

Creating an innovative and timely presentation for high school college counseling involves addressing the current challenges, opportunities, and trends that students face as they prepare for college. Here are some ideas that could make the presentation both engaging and useful:

• Navigating the Digital College Application Landscape

• Understanding New Admission Policies

• Financial Planning and Scholarships

• Emerging Fields and Majors

• Mental Health and Well-being

• Equity and Inclusion in College Admissions

• Technology and Innovation in Education

Honestly, not bad with no request for revision. Each point for this entry also included 2-3 bullet points for suggested subtopics. Another way to prod on your creative side, I think.

As always, if you’d like to explore some of the other hacks, tips, and prompts I’ve shared here and elsewhere, check out this link. If you have any great prompts or questions about prompting, send me a note at [email protected].

This week, I wanted to end by sharing this article, which sheds some significant light on the students with whom we are working and their disposition towards AI. It features the takeaways from a survey of 2024 university graduates (Gen Z) and includes the graphic below. Our students are light years ahead of us, those responsible for guiding them through this terrain, which leaves us in an interesting predicament. Enjoy the read!

And happy counseling,

Jeff