AI: Beyond the Buzz
On Thursday, March 27, fearless Kristin Lange from OCDE’s Building A spearheaded our 2nd ever “lunch and learn” (offered at 10am for those who didn’t want to sacrifice their lunch time). The 30 minute session featured 3 stations for hands-on demonstration and play time. Or maybe that’s PL-AI time. Kristin led a group through ChatGPT. Kunal led a group on image generation. Wes led a group on AI slide decks and presentation tools. We recorded each session, transcribed and produced mini-articles to share with you:
Session Spotlight: Create Impactful Presentations in Minutes with AI
Wes and participants explored Gamma.app, a game-changing AI tool that builds professional slide decks from just a prompt. Whether you're starting from scratch or uploading a PowerPoint, Gamma helps you draft, design, and deliver—all in one place.
💡 Why it’s a win:
Clean, responsive layouts
Real-time edits & collaboration
Exports to PowerPoint, Google Slides, or PDF
Accessible design options
Bonus: Use a shared team login so your decks don’t live and die with one account.
Session Spotlight: AI Image Playground
Kunal led the exploration of ChatGPT’s groundbreaking 4o image-generation upgrade—a tool that turns ideas into visuals faster than ever. Whether you’re storyboarding, designing training materials, or creating social media content, this feature is your new creative sidekick.
💡 Why it’s revolutionary:
Photorealistic outputs with fewer “AI vibes” (Open AI announcement)
Flawless text rendering (no more garbled words!)(Open AI announcement)
Edit or expand uploaded images (e.g., colorize sketches instantly)(PC Mag)
Free tier access (with paid priority during peak demand) (Lifehacker)
🔥 Pro tip: Use the “consistent character” feature for multi-panel comics or tutorials. Demoed live: a hand-drawn sketch became a polished comic page in seconds!25
📢 “AI isn’t replacing creativity—it’s supercharging it. Your ideas deserve to leap off the screen!”
✨ AI isn’t here to replace your brilliance—it’s here to fast-track your ideas. Want more? Keep reading for ChatGPT tips!
Session Spotlight: ChatGPT for Real Work: Smarter Prompts, Better Output
In Kristin’s session on ChatGPT, we explored practical, everyday uses for this AI tool—from writing emails to comparing 20-page contracts.
Key Highlights:
Prompt Power: The better your input, the better the output. Refine tone, ask follow-ups, and personalize the results.
Real Use Cases: Generate multilingual responses, rewrite emails in different tones, summarize policy docs, and even compare legal language.
Privacy Matters: Avoid personal data—assume anything entered may be used to train the model (especially in free versions).
Bonus: The paid version offers document uploads and deeper functionality, but free tools like Copilot or Perplexity also offer value.
AI Council Spotlight: Dr. Eugene Kim
Dr. Eugene P. Kim, Professor at Concordia University Irvine and President of Genesis AI Research, brings global vision and ethical leadership to the OCDE AI Advisory Council.
As a mentor in Concordia’s Ed.D. program, he guides future leaders on AI, STEM equity, and international education. His podcast, AI and Our Humanness, reflects his belief that AI should amplify—not replace—human connection in the classroom.
Dr. Kim’s global work includes forging $1.5M in educational partnerships across Asia, proving AI can bridge cultures and close learning gaps. As Board President of Genesis AI and Chair of Concordia’s IRB, he’s a champion for responsible AI governance.
“AI’s power lies in freeing educators to focus on what matters most: fostering curiosity and human connection.”
That’s all for this week! See you next time.