Gorge STEM Connection

Yes, the name is a bit of a mouthful, but Google's latest experimental addition to Gemini AI Studio is seriously impressive! I've been working on K-5 AI Literacy mini-lessons for Oregon STEM Week (TEASER! 🎉) and wanted to create a character that kids could connect with throughout the week. While I wear many hats (don't we all), graphic designer is not one of them! So, with ChatGPT’s help, I came up with a cute little robot. But here’s the problem - AI (at least free AI) - struggles with character consistency. Every time I generated an image, my robot looked slightly different, making it impossible to place him in various poses while keeping a consistent look. Enter Gemini 2.0 Flash (Image Generation)! 🚀 You can upload an image and make simple text edits to adjust the pose - your character can fly, walk, run, and more - all while (mostly) maintaining the original design. It’s not perfect, but for those of us living the "Canva presentations for a discerning (elementary school) audience" life, it’s a game-changer! 🤝 🔥 3 tips that worked for me! 1️⃣ Keep edits simple. Avoid overly complex descriptions, as they often cause errors. Instead of detailed instructions, use straightforward prompts like "his hands are on his hips." 2️⃣ Use "Branch from here" for consistency. Instead of making iterative edits ("now he's running, now he's jumping"), click the three dots above your original upload and select "Branch from here." This helps maintain character consistency. ⚠️ Be sure to download your work first, as changes below that point will be lost. 3️⃣ Generate one image at a time. You can request multiple images at once ("create two images - one of him running, one of him jumping"), but the results seem to drift from the original character. Creating them separately seems to yield better consistency. I have no doubt these tips will be non-issues sooner than later, but hopefully, they’ll help anyone else who’s looking for free character creation options! 🚀 Have you tried Gemini 2.0 Flash (Image Generation) or Google's AI Studio? This is just one use case in a million - how are you using it? The upper left is the original robot, created with ChatGPT.

Link to Full Report by Grammarly Key Takeaways: 1. Communication Overload in the Modern Workplace • Prevalence of Communication Tasks: Professionals spend approximately 88% of their workweek on communication-related activities, with nearly half of that time dedicated to writing tasks. • Consequences of Increased Communication: The surge in communication frequency and channels has led to heightened stress, reduced productivity, strained relationships, and missed deadlines among workers. 2. The Role of Generative AI in Enhancing Workplace Communication • Perceived Benefits: A significant majority of workers (80%) believe that generative AI enhances the quality of their work, and 73% feel it helps prevent miscommunications. • Productivity Gains: Generative AI has been reported to save professionals approximately one day per week in productivity. For companies with 1,000 employees, this translates to an estimated annual savings of $16.5 million. • Challenges in AI Adoption: Despite its advantages, 52% of workers feel they lack effective AI usage skills, and 65% of leaders express concerns regarding AI-related security issues. Opportunities for High School Educators in Career-Connected Learning • Integrate AI Literacy into Curricula: Introducing AI concepts and tools in the classroom can equip students with essential skills, making them more competitive in the evolving job market. • Emphasize Effective Communication Skills: Given the prominence of communication in the workplace, teaching students how to convey ideas clearly and efficiently is crucial. • Prepare Students for AI-Enhanced Work Environments: Educators should familiarize students with the benefits and challenges of AI, ensuring they can navigate and leverage technology responsibly in their future careers.

Yesterday, I attended this webinar on AI as a useful tool in early childhood education—supporting, not replacing, the vital relationship between teachers and students. Key Takeaways 🔹 AI can save time on tedious tasks, allowing teachers to focus more on building strong connections with students. 🔹 It can assist with communication, personalization, and compliance, making certain aspects of teaching more efficient. 🔹 AI is a tool, not a teacher. It should support human interaction, not replace it! 🔹 AI isn’t perfect—it makes mistakes! Treat it as a work partner, not an infallible source. If you're curious about how AI can fit into your classroom, check out the webinar recording! Share your thoughts or questions in the comments. ⬇️