The Educated Guess

Blog

  • The Unseen Hand: AI, Authenticity, and the Future of Learning

    This past week, I had the privilege of attending a dynamic academic roundtable, a gathering that brought together educators from a variety of professions and academic levels to grapple with one of the most pressing challenges facing modern education: the profound impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI). The discussions were vibrant, ranging from the incredible potential of GenAI to transform learning experiences to the complex ethical tightropes we must navigate. It was a powerful reminder that while the future of AI in our classrooms is still being written, the questions it poses about how we learn, how we teach, and, crucially, how we assess, are immediate and urgent.

    What struck me most throughout the debates was a recurring tension between the exciting possibilities AI offers for personalisation and efficiency, and the deep-seated anxieties it stirs regarding academic integrity and the very essence of what we aim to cultivate in our students: genuine learning and critical skills. These aren’t abstract concerns for distant futures; they are live dilemmas impacting classrooms nationwide right now. They demand careful consideration and proactive strategies from everyone dedicated to fostering genuine learning and a true enjoyment of learning. My reflections and research in this episode of The Educated Guess are deeply shaped by those conversations, aiming to explore the intricate relationship between GenAI, the concept of authenticity in student work, and the evolving landscape of assessment.

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  • From Both Sides of the Bedside: My Virtual Ward Experience & The Future of UK Healthcare at Home

    The pandemic threw many established healthcare norms into stark relief, accelerating changes that once seemed distant possibilities. My own experience-being informed I would be ‘nursed on a virtual ward’ during COVID-19s frightening and uncertain first wave-transformed the abstract concept of decentralised care into a deeply personal reality. While familiar with hospital processes as a nurse, navigating this new model as a patient was disorienting, blending the undeniable comfort of my own home with a profound sense of isolation and a unique reliance of the then-nascent technology. It was a stark illustration of a healthcare system under duress, innovating at speed.

    This episode of The Educated Guess will explore this significant systemic movement towards ‘hospital at home’ and other decentralised care models, a shift driven by urgent hospital pressures and catalysed by rapid technological advancement. Drawing upon my dual perspective – the insights gained from the frontlines of nursing, alongside the lived experience of receiving care within such an evolving system – we will dissect the drivers behind this transformation, the technologies that underpin it, and critically examine both the compelling potential and the inherent pitfalls. The aim is to foster a deeper understanding of how these models are reshaping healthcare delivery and what is required to ensure they are safe, effective and truly – patient-centred.

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  • Mastering AI Prompts for Academic Excellence

    Generative AI (gen AI) tools are everywhere, yet for educators and students, navigating this new frontier feels more like guesswork than strategy. You’ve seen the headlines, maybe even tried a quick query, but are you truly harnessing AI to supercharge learning and streamline your workflow? The real power of AI lies not in what it is, but in how we ask it. This rise in generative AI demands a new literacy, one where knowing how to “converse” intelligently with these tools is key to effective education and integration of AI in the classroom.

    In this episode of The Educated Guess, I’ll explore strategies for crafting effective prompts. This crucial skill empowers educators to encourage ethical, responsible and academically rigorous use of AI in the classroom and beyond. For students, mastering AI prompts can unlock AI’s potential for learning and research whilst simultaneously building vital AI and digital literacy skills. The question is no longer if we use AI, but how do we do it responsibly? There is also a free downloadable cheat sheet to help you in the future!

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  • Conquer Information Overload: How NotebookLM AI Can Help with Documents

    As healthcare professionals and educators, we’re constantly drowning in a sea of documents. New guidelines, updated policies, essential research papers, training materials….. these complex and often lengthy documents can take time to read and extract the information needed. Synthesising and understanding the document is also another issue in a time when we are all being asked to do more with less. Could Artificial Intelligence (AI) help us? While we often hear about complex AI in diagnostics or administration, what about tools that help with everyday challenge of managing information? Following on from previous episodes of The Educated Guess, let’s explore Notebook LM and its potential to help staff interact with their documents.

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  • Play to Learn, Play to Heal: Unlocking Gamification’s Potential in Education & Healthcare

    Uninspired students, dull textbooks, healthcare routines that feel like chores – the struggle for sustained engagement in learning and wellness is a familiar one. This isn’t just a student problem; it’s a critical challenge for adult learning providers like higher education today. But what if the answer lies in play?

    Enter gamification: the strategic application of game mechanics – like challenge, reward, social interaction, and progress – to make non-game contexts more absorbing and effective. It’s far more than just points and badges; it’s about leveraging core human motivators. While explored in many fields, gamification is proving truly transformative in education and healthcare (Shurui et al, 2020, Sailer & Homner, 2020).

    In this episode of The Educated Guess, we’ll unpack the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of gamification across these vital sectors. We’ll look closely at how I’ve designed and implemented games to boost student motivation and retention, and how healthcare providers are using game mechanics to empower patients and improve treatment adherence. Stick around as we explore the research, compelling case studies, and the exciting future of integrating play into the serious business of learning and healing.

    Image source: Generate by Gemini

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  • AI and Equity: Revolutionising Inclusive Learning Environments

    Imagine this: a student with dyslexia, struggling to keep pace with a lecture, while another student, a visual learner, thrives with interactive simulations. This is the reality of our classrooms – a rich tapestry of learning differences and preferences that often go unaddressed with a one-size-fits-all approach. Time, as with many industries, is our most valuable commodity, especially in healthcare and education. As an educator, I strive to provide an effective and engaging learning experience that optimises time while addressing individual learning differences. This is a complex task when your cohort is 15, but exponentially so with 100. In this episode of The Educated Guess, we’ll explore how AI can help us support greater educational equity for all learners in the classroom. In this post, the use of some specific AI tools is mentioned. I have no affiliation with any of these companies, nor have I received any financial or other incentives to make this content.

    Image source: generated by Gemini

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  • AI and Player Safety in American Football: From Helmet Hits to Hidden Harm.

    By Sophie May. Published 6th May 2025

    American football (AF) holds a special place in our family. My two teenage sons have fallen in love with AF and our year revolves around travelling to training camps and games. As anyone involved in this contact sport knows, injuries are an unfortunate reality. This past weekend, watching my youngest son play with the U16s at a tournament on the South Coast, the physical toll was evident with a worrying number of head injuries on both sides. Concussions, or mild head injuries, are a particular concern because they’re notoriously difficult to detect reliably on the sideline or even in hospital, often relying on a mix of observations that can present differently from player to player.

    South Coast American Football. Image source: Sophie May

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