Erik Ofgang

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Erik Ofgang is Tech & Learning contributor. A journalist, author and educator, his work has appeared in The New York Times, The Smithsonian, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Forbes.com. He currently teaches at Western Connecticut State University’s MFA program. While a staff writer at Connecticut Magazine he won a Society of Professional Journalism Award for his education reporting. He is interested in how humans learn and how technology can make that more effective.

Latest articles by Erik Ofgang

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5 Tips For New Teachers Around Midterms

By Erik Ofgang published 10 October 24

This time of year is always stressful but after more than a decade teaching, I’ve found some strategies that help.

4 AI Tools For Education That Are Nothing Like ChatGPT

By Erik Ofgang published 7 October 24

These AI tools can help you find academic papers, debunk conspiracies, and more.

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DebunkBot: Teaching With The Conspiracy-Busting AI

By Erik Ofgang published 3 October 24

Created by researchers at MIT and other higher ed institutions, DebunkBot engages in conversation with users about conspiracy theories. It’s an interesting tool for teaching AI and media literacy.

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Teaching Students To Use AI More Effectively

By Erik Ofgang published 30 September 24

Dr. Jennifer Parker has developed a framework that helps students and teachers write better prompts and create stronger AI outputs.

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High School Math Students Used A GPT-4 AI Tutor. They did Worse.

By Erik Ofgang published 23 September 24

A study of nearly a thousand high school math students found that using AI tutors didn’t add up to success.

An illustration of various peole using technology

The Top 4 State Edtech Trends According To SETDA

By Erik Ofgang published 23 September 24

State edtech leaders are thinking about AI and cybersecurity a lot these days, according to a new SETDA survey.

Facilitating Microcredentials For K-12 Students

By Erik Ofgang published 20 September 24

Microcredentials are bite-sized certificates of competency in various skills and can help students separate themselves on the job market.

An ice cream cone with ice cream melting in the sun.

Hot School Days Are Negatively Impacting Student Achievement. Here’s What You Can Do

By Erik Ofgang published 16 September 24

Research shows a clear link between heat and decreased test scores. Here's what teachers can do to mitigate that.

A screenshot of Character.AI's homepage.

Character.AI: What Teachers Need To Know

By Erik Ofgang published 16 September 24

The character-driven generative AI is likely a hit with many of your students. Here’s what Character.AI does and its potential and limitations for teaching.

Classroom Tools

An illustration showing a collection of question marks.

People Hate To Think, Says Research. What Does That Mean For Teachers

By Erik Ofgang published 10 September 24

Exerting mental effort isn't pleasant for most people, according to new research.

A cartoon man slumped over. Above him is a thought bubble with a drained battery.

I Have AI Fatigue. Here's What I'm Doing to Overcome It

By Erik Ofgang published 9 September 24

Students submitting AI papers have taken away some of the joy of teaching over the last year. This semester, I'm trying a new approach.

Drone Soccer Looks Like Robot Quidditch. Here’s How Educators Are Using It

By Erik Ofgang published 4 September 24

Drone Soccer has taken off across the globe and helps students develop career-ready STEM skills.

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Colleges Are Using AI To Predict Student Success. These Predictions Are Often Wrong

By Erik Ofgang published 29 August 24

AI models designed to predict student success frequently get it wrong when it comes to Black and Hispanic students, new research reveals.

A New Book Argues Grades Are Failing Students. Here’s Why

By Erik Ofgang published 27 August 24

Joshua R. Eyler gives the U.S. grading system an “F” in his new book, "Failing Our Future: How Grades Harm Students, And What We Can Do About It."

A screenshot from a new feature in Google Classroom that allows teachers to embed questions in YouTube videos.

The 4 Best New Features For Google Classroom

By Erik Ofgang published 26 August 24

Google Classroom has a number of new features that utilize AI to empower teachers to meet the differing needs of students, says Google’s Akshat Sharma.

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An illustration showing an arm coming out of latop taking money from the laptop's user.

5 Ways To Avoid AI 'Snake Oil,' According To ISTE Experts

By Erik Ofgang published 20 August 24

Many great AI-powered products are available for education but there are also some that aren’t yet a good fit for schools. Here's how to tell the difference.

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Managing Screen Time Without Banning Technology

By Erik Ofgang published 15 August 24

Tips for fostering screen time for media creation rather than media consumption in children, from NYU technology and gaming professor Jan Plass

Gamification: Pros and Some Cons, According to Research

By Erik Ofgang published 12 August 24

Gamification generally helps students but can be detrimental to learning in certain instances, according to experts.

6 Ways Teachers Can Tell Students Are Using AI

By Erik Ofgang published 7 August 24

Educators have gotten increasingly skilled at spotting AI generated work. Here are some of the “tells” they notice.

An expert delivers a health class via hologram

Teaching STEM With Holograms

By Erik Ofgang published 5 August 24

The University of Central Florida uses hologram technology to “beam” expert speakers into the classroom, help with engineering projects, and more.

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A screenshot of a chat between the author and ChatGPT

AI-Generated Essays On The Rise In College Applications: Educators Debate Impact and Ethics

By Erik Ofgang published 2 August 24

More and more applicants for higher ed are using AI. How best to respond to these applications is causing debate.

a laptop with the words explore, learn and grow on it.

5 Ways Science Informs My Teaching

By Erik Ofgang published 30 July 24

I didn't use to think about educational research as a teacher, then I started interviewing teaching scientists.

What is Grammarly and How Can It Be Used to Teach? Tips & Tricks

By Erik Ofgang last updated 26 July 24

Grammarly is a writing tool that can be helpful for students when used in the right way.

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The NEA Has Adopted A New Statement On AI in Education. Here’s What Educators Think

By Erik Ofgang published 25 July 24

We spoke to educators about the NEA’s new policy statement on AI in education. They shared what they liked about it and a few areas that could be improved.

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