Erik Ofgang

Erik Ofgang

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

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

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.

Classroom Tools
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

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.

Classroom Tools

Managing Screen Time Without Banning Technology

By Erik Ofgang published

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

A student using gamification to learn

Gamification: Pros and Some Cons, According to Research

By Erik Ofgang published

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

A scared looking toy robot.

6 Ways Teachers Can Tell Students Are Using AI

By Erik Ofgang published

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

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

Classroom Tools
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

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

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

Grammarly

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

By Erik Ofgang last updated

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

Classroom Tools
An illustration of a robot brain.

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

By Erik Ofgang published

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.

Classroom Tools
Microsoft Immersive reader

Immersive Reader: How to Use It for Teaching

By Erik Ofgang last updated

Microsoft Immersive Reader can help students with reading and comprehension by reading to them and highlighting specific words.

Classroom Tools
A screenshot of Grammarly's AI Writing Assistant

I Tested Grammarly’s AI Writing Assistant For Teaching. I Love And Hate It

By Erik Ofgang published

When Grammarly's AI writing assistant is working it's great, but when it's bad, it's very bad.

Classroom Tools
The letters AI

AI Is Getting Better At Grading. Should Teachers Use It To Grade?

By Erik Ofgang published

AI grading tools can now match human accuracy and consistency in certain topics and situations putting the spotlight on the ethics of machine grading.

AI chatbots

Teaching Writing With AI Without Replacing Thinking: 4 Tips

By Erik Ofgang published

AI has a lot of potential for writing students, but we can’t let it replace the thinking parts of writing, says writing professor Steve Graham

Scrabble letters spelling "teach."

Using Technology Differently and 3 Other Ways I've Gotten Better At Class Prep

By Erik Ofgang published

As a young teacher, I used to focus on the wrong things when it came to prep. Here’s how I’ve changed.

A phone screen with the words "AI" printed above OpenAI and Gemini apps.

Scientists Compared ChatGPT Writing Assessments to Human Assessments. Here’s What They Found

By Erik Ofgang published

Human teachers provided better assessments than ChatGPT but AI was closer than expected and even better in certain ways.

Classroom Tools
An artists rendinger of a neural network for an AI

The Biggest Edtech Companies Are Going All In on AI. Here's Why

By Erik Ofgang published

Edtech is all about AI these days, from tech giants to startups and everything in between. We talked to some executives about the potential they see for AI technology and learning.

A screenshot of Microsoft Reading Coach.

Microsoft Reading Coach: How To Teach With The AI Reading Tutor

By Erik Ofgang published

Teaching tips for Reading Coach, an AI-powered tool designed to teach reading, from the Vice President of Education at Microsoft

A group of students work together looking over each other's notes

Authentic Learning: What It Is And How to Incorporate It In Your Teaching

By Erik Ofgang published

Authentic learning is the difference between learning science and being a scientist, says educator Todd Stanley.

An abstract illustration depicting AI

Creating AI Tutors That Don’t Hallucinate

By Erik Ofgang published

Cracking the AI hallucination problem is all about the right training data and human input.

An iPhone from apple with a series of OpenAI apps on the homescreen and a finger about to press one of them.

5 Reasons The OpenAI and Apple Partnership Intrigues Me As An Educator

By Erik Ofgang published

OpenAI’s GPT technology will be integrated into Apple products and tools, including Siri. Here’s why I think that’s good news for teachers.

Classroom Tools
A shield with curved lines behind it.

5 Cybersecurity Tips For Schools From CISA’s Deputy Assistant Director

By Erik Ofgang published

Making quick cost-effective changes to cybersecurity systems can make a big difference for school safety, says CISA Deputy Assistant Director Trent Frazier.

A computer on a desk with a whiteboard laying on its side in front of it and glasses on top of the whiteboard.

5 Tips For Getting Online and In-Person Adjunct Teaching Positions

By Erik Ofgang published

These strategies have helped me get consistent work as an adjunct professor

A human hand shakes a digital hand coming out of the screen of a laptop in this illustration of AI assisting a human.

4 AI Tools I Actually Use As An Educator

By Erik Ofgang published

There’s a lot of talk about AI’s uses in education but I find that personally I only really use a few tools.

Classroom Tools
ai written papers

My Students Are Submitting AI Papers. Here’s What I Do

By Erik Ofgang published

Like many educators, I've been thrust into a brave new world of AI and modern teaching that I had not been trained for and to which appropriate responses aren't always clear

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