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Retro Report Ignites Gen Z Civic Engagement with New Initiatives  Retro Report, the Emmy Award-winning nonprofit newsroom (free access), is stepping up to address a critical gap in civic education among today’s youth. With the 2024 election on the horizon and only 22 percent of students nationwide proficient in civics, Retro Report is launching a comprehensive strategy designed to foster engaged and informed young citizens. This multi-faceted approach includes a compelling docuseries, a nationwide student challenge, and a wealth of resources for educators. Buckle up, educators – civic engagement is about to get a serious upgrade. Shaping the Future: A Civic Call to Action  Imagine a classroom where students aren’t just memorizing dates and facts but actively engaging in discussions that shape their communities and futures. Retro Report is making this a reality with its three-pronged plan to jazz up civic education: the PBS documentary series “Citizen Nation,” the inaugural #CivicEngagementChallenge, and an extensive library of free resources for civics teachers. These efforts come at a time when empowering young voices is more crucial than ever. The 22% Proficiency Crisis: We Need to Talk  To understand the urgency, we need to unpack what civics proficiency entails. Civics education covers a

Announced on May 21, 2024, the press release titled “Khan Academy and Microsoft partner to expand access to AI tools that personalize teaching and help make learning fun” by Sally Beatty discusses a new collaboration between Khan Academy and Microsoft to enhance educational tools through AI. The two companies are providing free access to AI-powered teaching assistant Khanmigo for Teachers to all K-12 educators in the U.S., using Microsoft’s Azure AI-optimized infrastructure.   Brief Overview of Khan Academy and Microsoft Announcement The article highlights how Khanmigo aids teachers by suggesting creative ways to teach abstract concepts using everyday items. Teachers can utilize Khanmigo to generate custom lesson plans, create student groupings, and adjust text difficulty for various learners, potentially saving teachers five hours a week.   Additionally, Microsoft and Khan Academy are exploring the development of small language models (SLMs) like Phi-3, which are more cost-effective and scalable for tasks such as math tutoring. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make teaching more sustainable and to bring personalized learning to more students.   The partnership also involves integrating Khan Academy content into Microsoft’s Copilot and Teams for Education apps, further extending the reach of these educational resources.

Introduction In the ever-changing world of educational technology, AI slide generators can play a key role in transforming how instructional content is developed. AI slide generators are particularly valuable for their ability to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of lesson preparation and presentation, making them essential tools in contemporary classrooms.   Benefits of AI Slide Generators for Teachers AI slide generators assist teachers in crafting comprehensive and visually appealing educational content with remarkable efficiency. These tools are designed to understand pedagogical requirements and can automatically generate slides tailored to various subjects and educational levels. This saves time and allows educators to focus more on engaging with students and less on the time-consuming process of slide creation.   Utilizing AI-Generated Slides for Direct Instruction AI-generated slides are exceptionally useful for direct instruction in the classroom. They can be tailored to deliver key concepts and essential information in a structured format, making complex subjects more accessible and understandable for students. Teachers can integrate visual aids, diagrams, and important points into the slides to enhance comprehension and retention. This method streamlines lesson planning and ensures that presentations are engaging and informative, keeping students focused and enhancing their learning experience. These slides can be