Author: IBL News

  • The SUNY System Saw a Huge Success with Its Two-Week Fee-Waiver Initiative

    The SUNY System Saw a Huge Success with Its Two-Week Fee-Waiver Initiative

    IBL News | New York

    The SUNY system — the largest system of higher education in the U.S. — saw an increase of 110% year-over-year increase in the number of student applications. The total growth was from 97,257 to 204,437 in the Fall of 2023.

    It was due in large part to its first-ever two-week fee waiver initiative: students had the opportunity to apply for free to up to five SUNY campuses for a savings of $250.

    On average, each applicant applied to two SUNY campuses.

    At the same time, SUNY saw increases in applications from potential students from other states. Applicants in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Illinois, and California were eligible to receive their in-state tuition and fees at a SUNY school. From that program alone, applications were up nearly 80 percent for the Fall 2023 cycle, and across all states outside of New York, applications are up about 70 percent.

    SUNY Interim Chancellor, Deborah F. Stanley said, “New York State has significantly invested in higher education as a driving force for its economy, and we want to make sure all New Yorkers can avail themselves of a high-quality, affordable education across our state.”

    Joel Wincowski, Deputy to the Chancellor for Enrollment, said, “The increase in applications has far exceeded our expectations. It is a testament to the high-quality education for which SUNY is known, with some of the best faculty, staff, and campus communities in the nation. This increase is only the beginning of an upward trend we expect in enrollment across our campuses. To that end, we will work with campuses to help applicants make their final decision on which SUNY campus will be home next fall.”

    Another relevant data is that 50% of full-time New York undergrads are paying $0 for tuition at SUNY with financial aid.

    SUNY has ongoing fee waivers that apply to 60 percent of all high school seniors. Students in foster care, with military connections, low-income students, and students at 500+ designated high schools can apply for up to seven SUNY campuses for free, saving up to $350 any time during the year.

  • Cutting-Edge AI Chatbot Attracts Over a Million People In One Week

    Cutting-Edge AI Chatbot Attracts Over a Million People In One Week

    IBL News | New York

    Over a million people signed up in the last week to test ChatGPT, “the best artificial intelligence chatbot ever released to the general public,” as The New York Times wrote this week.

    San Francisco-based OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT and also responsible for tools like GPT-3 and image generator DALL-E 2, saw hundreds of conversations going viral on Twitter, with many fans speaking in astonishing terms of the virtual tool.

    Aaron Levie, a Twitter influencer with 2.4 million followers, wrote that ChatGPT is one of those rare moments in technology where you see a glimmer of how everything is going to be different going forward.”

    ChatGPT has broken the dominance of low-quality A.I. chatbots. Its technology is based on “GPT-3.5.”, an upgraded version of GPT-3, the A.I. text generator model that sparked some excitement when it came out in 2020.

    Most A.I. chatbots aren’t programmed to remember or learn from previous conversations. However, ChatGPT can remember what a user has told it before.

    OpenAI has trained ChatGPT to interact in a conversational way, answer followup questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.

    ChatGPT is a sibling model to InstructGPT.

    The fact that ChatGPT linguistic superbrain has been made available to the general public through a free, easy-to-use web interface has stunned the Internet.

    Beyond essay-writing capabilities, ChatGPT has appeared to be good at helping programmers spot and fix errors in their code. “ChatGPT could be a good debugging companion; it not only explains the bug but fixes it and explain the fix,” said another influencer.

    “It also appears to be ominously good at answering the types of open-ended analytical questions that frequently appear on school assignments,” wrote The Times. “Many educators have predicted that ChatGPT, and tools like it, will spell the end of homework and take-home exams. We’re witnessing the death of the college essay in real-time.”

    The general feeling is that GPT-3 is old news, but playing with OpenAI’s new chatbot is mindblowing.

    Unlike Google, ChatGPT doesn’t crawl the web for information on current events, and its knowledge is restricted to things it learned before 2021.

    Its training data might find a treasure on Twitter, also a property of Elon Musk. But some websites are closing its door to ChatGPT’s answers. For example, on Monday, the moderators of Stack Overflow, a website for programmers, temporarily banned users from submitting answers generated with ChatGPT.

    Another debate about the ChatGPT phenomenon is whether it will question the existence of Google itself. Some people think it could make Google obsolete.

    OpenAI’s best A.I. version would be GPT-4, the next incarnation of the company’s large language model rumored to be coming out next year.

  • OpenAI Releases ChatGPT, an Advanced Text-Generating AI

    OpenAI Releases ChatGPT, an Advanced Text-Generating AI

    IBL News | New York

    The latest chatbot from OpenAI, called ChatGPT, is stunning educators, programmers, and analysts due to its ability to write essays.

    ChatGPT is the latest evolution of the GPT family of text-generating AIs, showing further capabilities than GPT3.

    OpenAI — a company founded by Elon Musk in 2015 — said the new AI was created with a focus on ease of use.

    “The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests,” OpenAI said in a post announcing the release.

    Unlike previous AI from the company, ChatGPT was released for anyone to use for free during a “feedback” period. The company hopes to use this feedback to improve the final version of the tool.

    ChatGPT is good at self-censoring and at realizing when it is being asked an impossible question.

    The AI is trained on a huge sample of text taken from the internet, generally without explicit permission from the authors of the material used.

  • Dec 2023

    Dec 2023

    DECEMBER 4 – 6, 2023 — Atlanta + Online
    Affordable Degrees-at-Scale 2023 Symposium (ADSS) – Georgia Tech

    DECEMBER 5 – 7, 2023 — Tempe, Arizona
    Empowering Learning

     

  • What Are the Most Important Learning Analytics?

    What Are the Most Important Learning Analytics?

    IBL News & IBL Education | New York

    There are many important learning analytics, but some of the most important ones include completion rates, time on task, engagement levels, achievement rates, and the use of learning resources. These metrics can provide valuable insights into how well students are learning and how effective a given teaching method or learning environment is.

    By tracking these metrics, educators can identify areas for improvement and make more informed decisions about how to best support student learning.

    Other important learning analytics might include:

    Student progress over time: This metric can help educators understand how well students are progressing in their learning, and whether they are making the expected amount of progress given their starting point.

    Student feedback: Gathering and analyzing student feedback can provide valuable insights into how students perceive their learning experience, and can help identify areas where students are struggling or where the learning environment is not meeting their needs.

    Learner demographics: Understanding the demographics of the students in a given class or program can help educators tailor their teaching approach and learning materials to better meet the needs of their students.

    Learner behavior: Analyzing how students interact with learning materials and resources can provide valuable insights into how they approach learning and what strategies are most effective for them.

    Learning outcomes: Tracking learning outcomes can help educators understand the effectiveness of their teaching methods and the overall quality of the learning experience.

    By comparing learning outcomes across different classes or programs, educators can identify best practices and make more informed decisions about how to improve student learning.

    What’s the best way to track learner feedback?

    One of the best ways to track learner feedback is to use surveys or other tools that allow students to provide their opinions and experiences with the learning environment.

    Surveys can be administered regularly (e.g., at the end of each unit or course) to gather ongoing feedback from students.

    Surveys can be designed to ask specific questions about different aspects of the learning experience, such as the quality of the materials, the effectiveness of the teaching methods, and the overall satisfaction with the learning environment.

    A SERIES OF ARTICLES ABOUT ‘AI, CLOUD, AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION’ WRITTEN BY THE IBL AI ENGINE IN DECEMBER 2022*

     

     

    *The IBL AI/ML Engine extends and hosts leading language models (LLMs) via a combination of fine-tuning, customized datasets and REST APIs to provide an all-in-one AI platform for education featuring content recommendations, assessment creation and grading, chatbots and mentors, and predictive analytics.

     

  • What Are the Most Important Learning Analytics?

    What Are the Most Important Learning Analytics?

    IBL News & IBL Education | New York

    There are many important learning analytics, but some of the most important ones include completion rates, time on task, engagement levels, achievement rates, and the use of learning resources. These metrics can provide valuable insights into how well students are learning and how effective a given teaching method or learning environment is. By tracking these metrics, educators can identify areas for improvement and make more informed decisions about how to best support student learning.

    Other important learning analytics might include:

    – Student progress over time: This metric can help educators understand how well students are progressing in their learning, and whether they are making the expected amount of progress given their starting point.

    – Student feedback: Gathering and analyzing student feedback can provide valuable insights into how students perceive their learning experience, and can help identify areas where students are struggling or where the learning environment is not meeting their needs.

    – Learner demographics: Understanding the demographics of the students in a given class or program can help educators tailor their teaching approach and learning materials to better meet the needs of their students.

    – Learner behavior: Analyzing how students interact with learning materials and resources can provide valuable insights into how they approach learning and what strategies are most effective for them.

    – Learning outcomes: Tracking learning outcomes can help educators understand the effectiveness of their teaching methods and the overall quality of the learning experience. By comparing learning outcomes across different classes or programs, educators can identify best practices and make more informed decisions about how to improve student learning.

    What’s the best way to track learner feedback?

    One of the best ways to track learner feedback is to use surveys or other tools that allow students to provide their opinions and experiences with the learning environment. Surveys can be administered regularly (e.g., at the end of each unit or course) to gather ongoing feedback from students. Surveys can be designed to ask specific questions about different aspects of the learning experience, such as the quality of the materials, the effectiveness of the teaching methods, and the overall satisfaction with the learning environment.

    A SERIES OF ARTICLES ABOUT ‘AI, CLOUD, AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION’ WRITTEN BY THE IBL AI ENGINE IN DECEMBER 2022

     

  • What’s the Best Way to Measure Learner Engagement?

    What’s the Best Way to Measure Learner Engagement?

    IBL News & IBL Education | New York

    There are a few different ways to measure learner engagement, and the best approach will depend on the specific context and goals of your learning program.

    Some common methods for measuring engagement include assessing learners through quizzes and tests, observing their performance on tasks or projects, tracking their participation in online discussions or other collaborative activities, collecting feedback from learners or others who have observed their performance, conducting surveys or polls to gauge learners’ interest and satisfaction, and monitoring learners’ progress through course materials or assessments to see how much they are retaining and applying what they are learning.

    Ultimately, the key is to use a combination of methods to get a well-rounded picture of learners’ engagement and to regularly check in with learners to gather their feedback and make any necessary adjustments to your program.

    It’s important to use a balanced mix of assessment methods and to regularly evaluate and adjust the assessment process to ensure that it accurately reflects learners’ progress and achievement.

    How can I use AI to improve learner performance?

    AI can be used in a variety of ways to improve learner performance. For example, AI-powered tutoring systems can provide personalized instruction and feedback to help learners improve their knowledge and skills.

    AI-powered data analysis can help educators identify trends and patterns in learners’ performance, allowing them to tailor their instruction and support to individual learners’ needs.

    Additionally, AI-powered tools can help automate some of the administrative tasks associated with education, freeing up educators to focus on supporting learners. It’s important to remember, however, that AI is not a substitute for human instruction and support, and should be used in conjunction with other teaching methods.

    How can I predict if a learner is going to become disengaged?

    It can be difficult to predict with certainty if a learner is going to become disengaged, as there are many factors that can affect a person’s level of engagement in a learning program.

    However, there are some warning signs that a learner may be at risk of becoming disengaged, such as a lack of participation in online discussions or other collaborative activities, a lack of progress or a drop in performance on assessments, or a decline in the quality of their work.

    If you notice any of these signs, it may be a good idea to reach out to the learner to see if there is anything you can do to support them and keep them engaged in the learning program.

    You could also try to identify any potential barriers to engagement that the learner may be facing and work with them to address those barriers.

    What’s the best way to engage a learner?

    The best way to engage a learner will depend on their individual needs, preferences, and learning style.

    Some general strategies for engaging learners include making the learning material relevant and applicable to their lives, providing opportunities for learners to collaborate and connect with each other, and incorporating a variety of teaching methods and learning activities to cater to different learning styles.

    Additionally, providing regular feedback, support, and encouragement can help learners stay motivated and engaged in the learning process.

    It’s also important to regularly check in with learners to gauge their engagement and to gather their feedback on how the learning program can be improved.

    A SERIES OF ARTICLES ABOUT ‘AI, CLOUD, AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION’ WRITTEN BY THE IBL AI ENGINE IN DECEMBER 2022*

     

     

    *The IBL AI/ML Engine extends and hosts leading language models (LLMs) via a combination of fine-tuning, customized datasets and REST APIs to provide an all-in-one AI platform for education featuring content recommendations, assessment creation and grading, chatbots and mentors, and predictive analytics.

     

  • Selected the Ten Top Educators and Courses in MOOCs According to the edX Platform

    Selected the Ten Top Educators and Courses in MOOCs According to the edX Platform

    IBL News | New York

    edX.org, 2U’s MOOC platform, selected ten top faculty and educators on massive courses, ranging in topics from UX design to earth and environmental sciences.

    They are the ten finalists for the seventh annual edX Prize for Exceptional Contributions in Online Teaching and Learning. These instructors are recognized for their innovation when delivering student-centric, impactful learning courses.

    The winners are selected by members of the edX Partner Advisory Council.

    The winner of this year’s award will be announced by edX/2U in early 2023.

    Last year, University of Canterbury professors Ben Kennedy and Dr. Jonathan Davidson were the winners of the 2021 edX Prize for their course Exploring Volcanoes and Their Hazards: Iceland and New Zealand. They designed the course to deliver an immersive and fun virtual science experience focused on volcanic landscapes.

    Anant Agarwal, edX Founder and Chief Platform Officer at 2U, said, “from Alaska to Hong Kong, our 2022 edX prize finalists represent vastly different institutions and disciplines but are united in their commitment to broadening the horizon of society’s knowledge and understanding with free and open courses.” 

  • November 2023

    November 2023

    NOV 6, 2023 – San Francisco, CA
    OpenAI DevDay

    NOV 14, 2023 – Virtual Event
    edX Educator Conference

    NOV 28 – 30, 2023 – Sacramento, CA
    CITE Annual Conference 

     

  • What Are Language Models (LLMs) and Why Are They Interesting?

    What Are Language Models (LLMs) and Why Are They Interesting?

    IBL News & IBL Education | New York

    Language models are algorithms that can predict the next word in a sequence of words, based on the words that have come before it.

    They are interesting because they can be used in a variety of natural languages processing tasks, such as machine translation, speech recognition, and text generation.

    Language models are typically trained on large amounts of text data, which allows them to capture the statistical patterns and relationships between words in a language. This allows them to make predictions about the next word in a sequence that is often very accurate.

    What kinds of predictions can language models make?

    Language models can make predictions about the next word in a sequence of words, based on the words that have come before it.

    They can also be used to generate text that is similar to a given input, by predicting the next word in a sequence and then using that prediction as the input for the next prediction, and so on.

    This can be used to generate text that is similar to a given input or to complete sentences or paragraphs that are missing some words.

    Language models can also be used in other natural language processing tasks, such as machine translation, speech recognition, and text summarization.

    What’s the best way to measure the performance of a language model?

    One way to measure the performance of a language model is to evaluate its ability to predict the next word in a sequence of words, based on the words that have come before it. This can be done by using a test set of text data that the model has not seen during training, and comparing the model’s predictions to the actual next word in the sequence. The accuracy of the model’s predictions can then be used as a measure of its performance. Other metrics, such as the perplexity of the model, can also be used to evaluate its performance. Perplexity is a measure of how well a language model predicts a given test set of text data, and is calculated as the exponentiated average of the model’s prediction errors on the test set. A lower perplexity score indicates a better-performing language model.

    What does it mean to fine-tune a language model?

    Fine-tuning a language model means adjusting its parameters to improve its performance on a specific task or dataset. This is typically done by training the language model on a large amount of text data that is relevant to the task or dataset, in addition to the training data that the model was originally trained on. This allows the model to learn the statistical patterns and relationships between words that are specific to the task or dataset and can improve its performance on that task or dataset. Fine-tuning can be a useful technique for adapting a pre-trained language model to a new task or dataset.

    A SERIES OF ARTICLES ABOUT ‘AI, CLOUD, AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES IN EDUCATION’ WRITTEN BY THE IBL AI ENGINE IN DECEMBER 2022*

     

     

    *The IBL AI/ML Engine extends and hosts leading language models (LLMs) via a combination of fine-tuning, customized datasets and REST APIs to provide an all-in-one AI platform for education featuring content recommendations, assessment creation and grading, chatbots and mentors, and predictive analytics.