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In the modern EdTech landscape, navigating the sea of AI-integrated tech tools can feel overwhelming. How can educators separate the genuinely valuable innovations from the companies just trying to ride the AI buzz?
In this blog post, we've teamed up with an EdTech expert to highlight his perspective on the ever-evolving industry and explore his personal journey with Rask AI.
Meet Alex
Meet Alex Isaacs. Alex is an Educational Technology Coach at Long Branch Public Schools with nine years of full-time teaching experience.
Interview
Alex, to begin with, could you tell us what does an EdTech coach do?
As an EdTech Coach, I wear many hats: I’m a mentor, trainer, collaborator, and a staunch advocate for integrating technology in education. At the end of the day, my work leads to the emergence of effective learning resources, engaging activities, and helpful materials for learners, teachers, and administrators alike.
And what kind of path brought you into the profession?
Early in my teaching career, my use of EdTech was limited. I would use Flipgrid to have my students explain their answers to challenging math problems, and I also liked using GoFormative for real-time assessments and feedback.
My journey into EdTech really took off during the pandemic, in March 2020. Shifting to fully remote learning was a challenge for us all, but I also saw it as an opportunity to develop outside-the-box materials for my students and their families. I started diving into EdTech platforms and strategies, earning EdTech certifications, and even created an episodic video series. The response was fantastic, and it inspired me to continue on this path, striving to be as well-rounded and innovative with EdTech as possible.
Looks like video played a significant role in your teaching career.
Without a doubt. From my days of being a 1st to 8th grade STEM teacher to my middle school math years, I have created video resources for my students. Those videos served two primary purposes for me as a classroom teacher - providing math walkthroughs and celebrating student achievement.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, I also used video content as comic relief, to provide a momentary escape from the struggles we were all experiencing.
Would you say there are any advantages to video lessons that traditional lessons don’t have?
You see, video lessons offer a lot more flexibility and accessibility. They let students learn at their own pace, which can be a game-changer for many. Videos have a far greater reach and - when done right - can be more engaging than a traditional lecture or direct instruction.
In today's world, where young minds consume so much information through social media, using videos as part of our teaching toolkit just makes sense. It opens up exciting possibilities for creative projects and interactive learning experiences that can truly resonate with our students.
Do you think it's important for all educators to be tech-savvy?
Absolutely, I can't stress this enough. Being tech-savvy is crucial for educators at all levels, from elementary to college. Innovative use of instructional technology empowers educators to enhance their teaching methods, engage students, and prepare them for a future where 21st-century learning skills are necessary to succeed.
As educators, we have a responsibility to immerse our students in tech-based learning opportunities that promote the four C's - communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.
Video Review
You make a strong case for EdTech! From your perspective, what are the most exciting innovations in the industry in recent years?
There have been some amazing innovations in EdTech lately. Just off the top of my head: adaptive learning platforms, virtual and augmented reality, gamification, flipped classroom models, and app integrations between platforms.
AI is also on my list as it continues to transform education by generating ideas, automating tasks, personalizing learning experiences, and providing insights into student performance. It's a game-changer.
One of my main goals this school year is to promote ethical and different use cases of AI tools to help teachers and students best achieve academic outcomes.
Can you remember how you first learned about Rask AI? What motivated you to try it out?
As an EdTech Coach, I'm always on the lookout for websites and tools that can benefit my school district's teachers, administrators, and diverse learners. I first heard about Rask AI on LinkedIn, where I messaged Maria Chmir, CEO and founder of the platform. After hearing about what Rask AI could do, I did some more research and uploaded my first video for translation.
How would you describe your experience with Rask AI to a fellow educator?
- It’s easy to use. One of the biggest things that makes Rask AI appealing is its user-friendly interface and controls. Users can upload video and audio files from their devices or paste YouTube and Google Drive links into an easy-to-understand file upload screen. The layout is clean, the controls are straightforward, and the step-by-step instructions ensure that individuals can navigate the platform regardless of their tech skill level
- It’s fun to use, too. Editing audio and video clips into different languages with Rask AI is an enjoyable experience! Built-in layers of creativity are available on the platform, where AI integration enables users to experiment with over 130 languages and diverse linguistic styles and tones. The preview feature lets you see the impact of language changes instantly, making the video process efficient and fun.
- It has nifty transcription editing features. After uploading your video or audio file, Rask AI generates a transcript of the clip’s original language and the user’s desired output language. You can easily fine-tune transcriptions here and apply these edits quickly to produce video and audio in a language more appropriate and inclusive for your audience.
- It’s incredibly accurate. This platform distinguishes itself from others with its ability to synchronize translations perfectly with the original audio, resulting in a seamless viewing experience.
To round things off, let's dive into the real value of Rask AI for educators working with multilingual students and parents.
Let me share a little story: After using Rask to translate a video I created to celebrate the diverse learners at my previous school, I showed it to my former colleague who's fluent in Spanish. He was very impressed that Rask didn't just translate my English audio into Spanish flawlessly; it even nailed the right tones for the video. This made me realize how helpful Rask AI would have been during my teaching career.
You know, my favorite thing about being a middle school math teacher was building relationships with my students and their families—prioritizing care before content and creating meaningful connections. Can you imagine the bridges that Rask AI could have helped me build?
Conclusion
At Rask AI, we're in constant dialogue with teachers, professors, and our EdTech partners. This interview is just a glimpse into a series of posts and case studies where we'll explore the incredible potential of AI technology in education.
Don't miss the boat on the EdTech revolution!
If you share our passion for educational tech, localization, and harnessing the power of AI, don't hesitate to drop us a message at info@rask.ai.
Share your thoughts on the interview or ideas for collaboration, and we'll be sure to reply!
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