AI & Education Newsletter – March 6th, 2025 - Alexa, Perplexity, Inverted Bloom's Taxonomy and More
Exploring AI’s Role in Learning & Everyday Life
Once again, there is so much happening in the world of AI. This week I am sharing a few of the things that have grabbed my attention both professionally and personally. Curious what has caught your attention as well.
Alexa’s New Generative AI – What It Means for Education and my Kitchen(and pocketbook as I want the 21 inch screen) :)
Amazon has introduced a major upgrade to Alexa, making it more conversational, responsive, and agentic—meaning it can now complete tasks beyond simple commands.
Top Alexa Features - 50 ideas to try if you have a Prime account
What can it do?
More natural conversations – Alexa now allows for interruptions, quick topic shifts, and a more human-like experience.
Task automation – It can book tickets on Ticketmaster, make restaurant reservations via OpenTable, and interact with other services.
AI-driven recommendations – Alexa adapts to user preferences to offer smarter suggestions.
How can you access it?
If you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, you get full access at no extra cost.
Otherwise, the premium AI features are available for $20/month.
Want to check it out? Explore Alexa’s New AI-Powered Devices.
Perplexity’s Talking Encyclopedia – AI as a Real-Time Learning Tool
Perplexity AI has launched a faster, revamped voice mode that enables users to engage in long conversations about any topic, including real-time news updates from the web.
Why it matters for education:
Real-time research – Students can ask complex questions and receive updated, web-verified answers instantly.
Interactive learning – The ability to engage in back-and-forth discussions mimics real inquiry-based learning.
A step closer to AI tutors – Could this be a preview of AI-driven personalized learning companions? I know we get tired of hearing about this concept but it seems to be getting closer and closer.
AI in Higher Education: New Reports on Student Adoption
OpenAI’s Report on ChatGPT & Workforce Readiness
Read the full report: OpenAI’s AI-Readiness Study
Key findings for educators & parents:
AI adoption is rising – More students use AI for study assistance than for actual coursework automation.
AI literacy gaps remain – Many students use ChatGPT without formal guidance on ethical or effective AI use.
Workforce readiness – The study raises questions: Should AI tool proficiency be a required skill in modern education?
Global Study on Higher Ed Students' Perceptions of ChatGPT
Full Study: Higher Ed Students’ Perceptions of ChatGPT
Key takeaways:
Students primarily use ChatGPT for brainstorming, summarizing texts, and finding research articles.
ChatGPT is helpful for simplifying complex concepts but is less reliable for accurate information or classroom learning.
Ethical concerns – Many fear increased plagiarism and misuse, calling for stronger AI regulations in academia.
AI literacy vs. critical thinking – While students find ChatGPT useful for AI literacy, digital communication, and content creation, they find it less beneficial for interpersonal skills, decision-making, and critical thinking.
Emotional response – Students generally react to ChatGPT with curiosity and calmness, suggesting a growing comfort level with AI.
Discussion Questions for Educators & Parents:
Should AI literacy and ethics be part of required coursework?
How can we teach students to fact-check AI-generated content?
Should universities and schools set clearer AI usage policies?
Thought Nugget: Flipping Bloom’s Taxonomy
Educator Jen Hegna recently sparked an intriguing discussion on rethinking Bloom’s Taxonomy in the AI era.
Check out the post & join the conversation: Flipping Bloom’s Taxonomy
Reflection Question:
With AI handling lower-order cognitive tasks (like recall and summarization), should higher-order skills like creativity and critical thinking be prioritized earlier in learning? What does this shift mean for lesson design and assessments?
Final Reflection: The Role of AI in Everyday Life
With Alexa’s AI update, Perplexity’s real-time research capabilities, and increasing AI adoption in schools, we need to ask:
How much automation is too much?
As AI takes on more learning and life tasks, what skills should students still develop for independent problem-solving and decision-making?
What do you think? How are you using AI in your classroom or at home? Reply to this newsletter by leaving a comment
Until next time coffee chugging friends,
A-A-ron