KarissaBeck

Over the course of this class, I’ve really valued learning alongside all of you. One of the strengths others often attribute to me is my ability to stay positive and encourage those around me, and I hope that came through in my interactions on both our blogs and on Discord. I made a consistent effort to comment on classmates’ posts each week, not just to fulfill the requirement, but because I genuinely enjoyed engaging with your thoughts and learning from your experiences.

On Discord, I aimed to be helpful by responding to questions when I could and being present in conversations. While I didn’t create a screencast, I tried to offer support where possible and contribute to a positive, collaborative space.

There were also times when reading a classmate’s blog post sparked deeper thinking for me, and in those moments, I responded through posts on my own blog, making sure to ping back or comment to keep the conversation going.

To show a snapshot of my engagement, I’ve compiled a few screenshots into a Google Slides presentation that highlights some of my contributions throughout the course. While I feel like I learned more from all of you, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community and for everything I’ve gained from our shared learning journey.

Best of luck to you all in your future endeavors. 

Karissa Beck

Okay, I’ll be the first to admit it—this learning summary stretched me in ways I wasn’t expecting. Technology and I have never exactly been best friends, and this project was no exception. I honestly struggled more than I thought I would, and I want to own that right off the bat.

When I saw that mind maps were an option, my brain immediately went there. My Grade 8s are currently deep into a hexagonal thinking map for our mythology unit, and I loved the idea of mirroring that same visual and connected way of thinking for my own learning. It just felt right.

So, I decided to create my own hexagons by hand—yes, I went fully analog for the design. Then I wrote a script that would tie all of my ideas and learning together from the course. It was important to me to show the connections between everything I’d explored, even if the method was a bit unconventional.

I won’t lie, I was super self-conscious during presentations. Everyone else’s projects were so well put together, polished, and tech-savvy. It made me feel like my skills weren’t quite where they needed to be. I started with Animoto, but as soon as the paywall popped up, I bailed. No thanks. Back to my safe space, Canva. Canva and I go way back, and it’s where I feel most confident and creative.

Even in Canva, though, I had my challenges. The pictures I uploaded were blurry (why are these things always blurry??), and I swear I redid them a million times. I just wanted it to look clear and reflect the time and energy I poured into this. In the end, I did the best I could with what I had, and honestly, I had tons of fun creating it.

So, I’m here now asking for all the feedback. Seriously. Don’t hold back. I know I have room to grow when it comes to digital tools and presentation skills, and I want to learn and improve. This project pushed me to try things I usually avoid, and I’m proud of that part, even if it came with frustration and a few blurry images.

Thanks for sticking with me and for creating a space where it’s okay to be a little messy, a little vulnerable, and still call it a win.

Here is the link to my video I created. 

Karissa

“We have a responsibility to risk our privilege to give voice to social inequities and injustices. We have a responsibility to risk our privilege to give voice to those who have no privilege to risk.”
— From the blog post In Online Spaces, Silence Speaks as Loudly as Words

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This quote has been echoing in my mind. It’s a powerful reminder that online activism isn’t just about awareness—it’s about responsibility. In a digital age where so much of our civic discourse happens online, it’s vital that we not only take up space, but do so with purpose, courage, and care.

Can Online Activism Be Meaningful?

Absolutely. When done intentionally, online activism can lead to meaningful change. From the #MeToo movement to #BlackLivesMatter, we’ve witnessed the power of hashtags and digital solidarity in amplifying marginalized voices, challenging oppressive systems, and driving policy discussions. Social media may not always be the revolution, but it can certainly spark it.

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Critics of online activism often call it “slacktivism”—the idea that it’s all performative with little real-world impact. But that critique underestimates the role of awareness, education, and solidarity. When someone shares a post, amplifies a cause, or calls out injustice, they’re helping shift narratives and invite others to think critically. That is worthwhile.

Check out this resource from Learning for Justice about teaching digital literacy and activism. It helps educators guide students to move beyond the share button into deeper engagement.

Can We Have Productive Conversations Online?

Yes—and no. Online spaces are messy. They’re full of trolls, misinformation, and outrage culture. But they’re also places of connection, learning, and hope. Productive conversations online are possible, but they require intention, humility, and boundaries.

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We can’t control every comment thread, but we can show up in ways that model dialogue over debate. We can ask thoughtful questions. We can cite reputable sources. We can choose not to engage with those who only aim to provoke. And we can hold space for marginalized voices while managing our own defensiveness.

This excellent guide from Facing History & Ourselves offers tips for engaging respectfully and critically in online discussions, especially around topics of justice and equity.

Our Responsibility as Educators

We are educators in more than just our classrooms—we are educators in the world. That includes the online world. Our students are watching how we show up, what we say (or don’t say), and what we’re willing to stand up for.

We have a responsibility to model what active, informed, and compassionate citizenship looks like—especially when it’s uncomfortable. That means calling out racism, ableism, homophobia, and injustice when we see it. It means amplifying Indigenous voices, supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and standing in solidarity with those on the margins. And yes, it means risking our privilege online. Because if we won’t, who will?

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As the blog post says, “In online spaces, silence speaks as loudly as words.” There will always be loud, ignorant voices. So let’s be louder. Let’s be braver. Let’s show our students—and the world—that education is not neutral, and neither are we.

Here are a few more resources for educators committed to online justice work:

• Digital Civics Toolkit – Supports youth in thinking critically about participation in digital spaces.

• Teaching Tolerance’s Guide to Digital Literacy – For helping students navigate and challenge online content.

• EduColor – A collective that highlights intersectional equity issues in education and models digital activism.

Some Critiques

Learning for Justice – Digital Literacy: While this resource offers valuable foundational guidance, it sometimes simplifies complex issues around identity and power. Educators may need to supplement it with more nuanced, lived-experience-driven perspectives to fully engage students in intersectional justice work.

Digital Civics Toolkit: The toolkit is engaging and student-centered, but it can feel a bit surface-level when addressing systemic issues. It introduces key ideas, but doesn’t always offer clear pathways for moving from digital participation to real-world civic engagement.

Facing History & Ourselves – Social Media Guide: This guide provides excellent strategies for respectful discourse, but leans heavily toward maintaining civility over challenging injustice. In the name of balance, it sometimes avoids acknowledging the emotional toll and urgency of confronting oppressive narratives.

EduColor: EduColor offers bold and critical thought leadership, but its content can be overwhelming for those just starting their journey into anti-racist or justice-oriented education. It’s powerful, but educators may need structured scaffolding to implement its ideas in classroom practice meaningfully.

Final Thoughts

Online activism isn’t perfect. But when paired with offline action, critical thinking, and courage, it becomes a powerful tool for change. As educators, let’s lead with integrity. Let’s speak even when it’s hard. Let’s model what it means to be a citizen who doesn’t just consume content but uses it to create a better world.

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We owe it to our students. We owe it to each other. And we owe it to those who have no privilege left to risk.

Karissa.

This week, I spent some time diving into Magic School AI, and I was lucky enough to have a colleague who is an avid user guide me through some of its features. While I’ve used AI in various ways before, this was my first time exploring this particular tool, and I was impressed with what it could do.

How I Used Magic School AI

To get a feel for its capabilities, I tested it out in a few different ways:
✅ Generating questions from a video – I had students follow along with a video, and Magic School AI quickly created comprehension questions, which saved me time and ensured students were engaged.
✅ Writing up a frog dissection lab – This was a huge time-saver! The AI-generated lab guide included clear instructions, safety precautions, and guiding questions to help students make observations.
✅ Exploring different features – Some of the other tools I played around with included:

• Lesson Plan Generator – Creates structured lesson plans based on a topic.

• Differentiated Instruction Support – Helps modify assignments based on student needs.

• Rubric Creator – Auto-generates grading rubrics for various tasks. I can’t wait to dive into this one and plan to use it this week for our oratorical presentations.

• Exit Ticket Generator – Provides quick formative assessment questions.

• Writing Feedback Tool – Offers automated feedback on student writing.

  

Potential Benefits in the Classroom

🔹 Enhancing Personalized Learning – The tool can generate differentiated content, making it easier to support students at different learning levels.
🔹 Saving Time on Administrative Tasks – From lesson plans to grading rubrics, it streamlines prep work and allows teachers to focus more on student engagement.
🔹 Encouraging Critical Thinking – AI-generated discussion questions can help spark deeper student reflection and analysis.
🔹 Supporting Different Learning Styles – By adapting content to various formats (written, verbal, visual), it helps reach diverse learners.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

⚠️ Accuracy & Reliability – AI-generated content isn’t always perfect. Some questions that were generated from the video were vague or slightly off-topic, requiring me to review and tweak them.
⚠️ Over-reliance on AI – While it’s a great tool, students and teachers still need to think critically rather than relying entirely on AI-generated responses.
⚠️ Data Privacy Concerns – Like all AI tools, it’s essential to check how student data is used and stored.
⚠️ Creativity Limitations – While the AI provides structured content, it sometimes lacks the nuanced, creative touch that a teacher would naturally bring.

Final Thoughts: The Future of AI in Education

Exploring Magic School AI reinforced my belief that AI has a growing place in education, but it’s a tool—not a replacement for teachers. It has the potential to make lesson planning more efficient, support differentiated instruction, and enhance student engagement, but it still requires careful oversight. As AI continues to evolve, I can see it becoming an even more valuable classroom assistant, helping teachers provide more personalized and meaningful learning experiences.

For now, I’ll keep experimenting with Magic School AI and seeing how it can complement—not replace—the human element in teaching. Have you tried it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Karissa 🙂