Tech-Neill-ogy #6 - 2 July 2023

Welcome to newsletter #6!

Welcome to this week’s newsletter, where I continue our venture into the intersection of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the ever-evolving world of college counseling. This edition is brimming with useful tools and insights that are bound to make your important role a lot more engaging and effective.

Before we dive into the treasures of this week, I must mention that it would be remiss of me not to reshare two resources that have been met with tremendous enthusiasm from the high school college counseling community.

First, Harnessing the Power of LinkedIn: A Guide for High School Students is an invaluable treasure trove of information. It takes students by the hand, showcasing the hows and whys of leveraging LinkedIn as a powerful tool for both college admissions and budding professional careers.

The second, Crafting Your Future: A High School Student's Guide to Resume Writing, delves into the art of resume writing for high school students. This guide is not only about creating a resume; it's an insightful roadmap that equips students with the skills to craft a narrative that will open doors to countless opportunities.

Now, while we’re on the topic of sharing, I encourage you to forward this newsletter to colleagues, educators, and anyone else who might benefit from the wealth of information it contains. We’re building a community here, and every new member enriches it with diverse perspectives and ideas.

Speaking of ideas, your feedback is the lifeblood of this newsletter. If you come across any intriguing articles, tools, or resources related to technology and AI, or have any insights or ideas you’d like to share, I am all ears. Please send them my way at [email protected]. Your contributions are not only welcomed but deeply appreciated.

Let's embrace the boundless possibilities that technology and AI offer in guiding our students towards a future as bright as they dare to dream. Enjoy the newsletter!

This week’s ethical question came from a colleague who was engaging with the idea of using ChatGPT to produce drafts of his college counselor letters of recommendation. He questioned whether it is ethically responsible for a counselor using these tools to make it known to students, parents, and even universities that they are using AI to generate these drafts. From where I sit, this is a difficult question, but I think it depends upon the sources being used. For example, some of my experiments in using AI to craft drafts of letters had me using student worksheets, which is what my fodder for the letters would have been without AI. Others have expanded upon this to include parent worksheets, other documents, and even their own notes. So the source of the information used to construct the letter seems one point worth examining. Another topic to explore is what the counselor does with the AI-produced output. For example, I would personally feel it inappropriate to copy-and-paste a ChatGPT-written letter on my school’s letterhead and then send it off as my own, even if the content is 100% accurate. I think it is important for me to delve into the letter and to revise and edit it according to my own taste and choices. This allows me to feel that I am the author. In any case, we have a plan as an office team to discuss all of this at the end of the summer, but, for now, what do you think? Let me know! And are there other concerns you are facing in this domain? I’d love to hear from you! [email protected] 

This is a cool tool that I recently stumbled upon to use ChatGPT Plus to bypass paywalls. Of course, there are some ethics to consider here as well as some additional steps you need to follow to make this one work. Read more here!

Print the content of the following article: 
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Take a few minutes and copy-and-paste this into ChatGPT to get some ideas! Give it a try! If you’d like to read more about this prompt, follow this link.

As we venture through the ever-evolving landscape of college counseling, it is evident that technology and AI are not just ancillary tools, but catalysts in transforming the way we connect, engage, and empower our students. This newsletter has been a tapestry of possibilities - from ethical considerations in AI-assisted communication to harnessing the boundless potential of AI in various facets of education and personal growth. Let us carry forward with an openness to innovation, a commitment to ethical integrity, and a relentless pursuit of crafting pathways that inspire our students to chart their own unique courses. In an age where information is abundant, let us be the curators and navigators who, through discernment and vision, illuminate the horizons of learning and aspiration.

Happy counseling,

Jeff