Discord+DeepL+ChatGPT in Education: powerful tools for online interaction with students

In recent years, the landscape of education has undergone a significant transformation, with the integration of technology becoming an essential part of the learning process. Among the plethora of digital tools available, Discord has emerged as a versatile platform that holds immense potential for teachers and school managers.

Disclaimer before you read any further:

1. Software usage in your school
   In your teaching activities, do not use software that is not supported by your educational institution. Often this has to do with licenses that must be purchased by the institution you work for. And IT support (and security) that must be facilitated. Check these issues before using new software in your classes.
2. My goals with using new software
   
   

• Discord
  One of the goals of using Discord with a small group of students is to learn how students communicate amongst each other. I have found that I connect better with my students when I “move with them” in their day-to-day activities and their learning journey. It was on their request that I started using Discord.
• Slack
  An alternative to Discors is Slack. I use slack to communicate with my students from student Team Rembrandts. I will share my experiences with Slack in a separate blogpost here soon.
• DeepL
  I use DeepL for most of my natural language translations. It is very convenient while using Discord. An alternative online translation tool is Google Translate.
• ChatGPT 3.5
  I use ChatGPT to learn and share my experiences with my collegues and students. I encourage students to engage in (and work with) new tools such as ChatGPT and be always transparant in how you use it and what you claim to be your original content (and what is not originally yours). For the general description of Discord, I asked ChatGPT to write a short essay.

I formulated the Prompt as follows:
***Start prompt***
Please write an essay of approximately 1000 words about Discord software. Target audience is teachers and schoolmanagers. Start with a disclaimer stating that teachers need to check if the school regulations will allow them to use Discord, ChatGPT, DeepL and Slack inside or outside class activities. Suggest a title of not more than 10 words. Please answer following questions:

• What is Discord?
• How is Discord similar to and different from other social media platforms?
• What do people use it for primarily?
• Is it safe to use in classrooms?
• What settings can I use to make it as safe as possible?
• How do teachers use it in their classrooms?
• Does it offer anything different from Google Classroom, Slack or Zoom?
• Can I integrate Discord with other LMS systems?
• What are some cool ways to use it for core subject classrooms?

End with call to action for teachers to start experimenting with Discord.
***End prompt***

Me, myself and ChatGPT
I modified some parts of ChatGPT’s result to my own taste in the text below. Some suggestions I did not use.So I think it is save to say that I editted the following tekst about Discord that was generated by ChatGPT 3.5:

Title “Discord in Education: A Powerful Tool for Engaging Classrooms”

What is Discord?
Discord is a communication platform that was originally designed for gamers to interact and coordinate while playing online video games. However, its flexible and user-friendly design has made it popular beyond the gaming community. It allows users to create private servers, each with customizable channels for text, voice, and video communication. Servers can be public or private, and users join these servers to engage in discussions and share information.
Midjourney server on Discord
On Discord I host my private server for the AI software Midjourney to create images. I will publish a blogpost about my experiences with Midjourney here soon.

Is it Safe to Use in Classrooms? What Settings Can I Use to Make it as Safe as Possible?
Discord can be safe for classroom use, but it does require proper setup and monitoring. By default, Discord servers and channels are open to public access, which raises concerns about privacy and security. To make it safer, teachers should set up private servers and use moderation tools to control who can join and participate in discussions. Additionally, Discord offers features like two-factor authentication and content filtering to enhance security. Currently I use Discord to communicate wit my student team Robohub Eindhoven, because they invited me to join Discord. I do not use Discord in my classroom or any formal Fontys school activities.

Does it Offer Anything Different from Google Classroom or Zoom?
Discord complements rather than competes with tools like Google Classroom or Zoom.

Google Classroom
While Google Classroom primarily focuses on assignments, grading, and file sharing, Discord excels in fostering real-time communication and collaboration among students.

Zoom
Zoom, on the other hand, is primarily a video conferencing tool, whereas Discord offers text and voice chat alongside video, making it suitable for a variety of classroom scenarios.

What Are Some Cool Ways to Use it for Core Subject Classrooms?

• Language Learning: Discord can facilitate language learning through text channels dedicated to vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation practice. Voice channels can be used for language immersion exercises.
• Science and Math Support: Teachers can create channels for discussing complex math problems or conducting virtual science experiments. Screen sharing and video chat enable visual demonstrations.
• Book Clubs: For literature classes, Discord can serve as an online book club platform where students can discuss their readings, share insights, and even have author Q&A sessions.
• Collaborative Projects: Students working on group projects can use Discord to hold meetings, share resources, and coordinate their efforts effectively.
• Peer Tutoring: Discord can be a platform for peer tutoring, allowing students to help each other with challenging subjects, fostering a sense of community and support.
• Announcements and Reminders: Teachers can use Discord to send important announcements, reminders, and due date notifications, ensuring students stay

Final note
All remarks are welcome here or send me a DM. Thanks!

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