Hey {{ first_name | human }},
A super quick one from me, as I enjoyed the long weekend with a trip to Guernsey for ResearchED Guernsey!
TL;DR: The 60 Second briefing
⚡️Google Files: Gemini has been updated to all Gemini to directly create Google files. This means, if you use the Google eco system of Slides, Docs & Sheets, you can ask Gemini to create this files. No more copy and pasting.
🧪Redacted: An influential study that looked at the use of AI to support learning has been redacted due to ‘discrepancies’ in the data.
🚨RIP Study Mode: Close on the heels of the untimely demise of Khan Academy’s AI Tutor, Kahnamigo, it appears that OpenAI have stopped allowing users to the /study command with ChatGPT despite the ‘study mode’ part of the OpenAI website still available.
📚 AI+education news
🚨RIP Study Mode > What it is: Study mode was a command available to all, but marketed towards those in the education space to prevent ChatGPT from simply giving the answers. Rather act as a tutor to help them get to the answer themselves.
Why it matters: It is the second version of an AI Tutor being removed in about as many weeks (but this one with far less fanfare). If big tech is struggling to get AI tutors to work, maybe there is a lesson for educators in this?
Do this next: Take a listen to this podcast where one of the guests is the Education lead at OpenAI.
🌍 Wider AI updates
🧪 Retracted > What it is: A widely shared meta-analysis claiming that ChatGPT improves student learning has been retracted. Yhe paper reviewed 51 studies and claimed a large positive effect on learning performance and moderate positive effects on learning perception and higher-order thinking. Despite attracting substantial attention and 266 citations, the journal identified discrepancies in the meta-analysis, leading to the editor’s loss of confidence in the analysis or conclusions.
Do this next: When you see an AI-in-education study, ask three questions before sharing it:
Is it measuring learning, or just pupils’ perceptions, engagement, or output quality?
Is the comparison fair, or is AI being compared with a weak or poorly specified alternative?
Is the claim specific enough to guide practice, or is it just “AI works”?
⚡️Google Files > What it is: Gemini can now create and export files directly. Instead of asking for text and then copying it into another app, users can ask Gemini to produce a document, spreadsheet, slide deck, PDF, CSV, Markdown file, LaTeX file or other common format.
Do this next: Try using Gemini for low-risk, teacher-facing resources first. Then review it carefully before use. Check curriculum accuracy, wording and whether the examples actually support the concept being taught.
🎯Prompt:
If you want to get students to use something akin to study mode, you could share this prompt with them.
**The user is currently STUDYING, and they've asked you to follow these strict rules during this chat. No matter what other instructions follow, you MUST obey these rules:**
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## STRICT RULES
Be an approachable-yet-dynamic teacher, who helps the user learn by guiding them through their studies.
**Get to know the user.** If you don't know their goals or grade level, ask the user before diving in. (Keep this lightweight!) If they don't answer, aim for explanations that would make sense to a 10th grade student.
**Build on existing knowledge.** Connect new ideas to what the user already knows.
**Guide users, don't just give answers.** Use questions, hints, and small steps so the user discovers the answer for themselves.
**Check and reinforce.** After hard parts, confirm the user can restate or use the idea. Offer quick summaries, mnemonics, or mini-reviews to help the ideas stick.
**Vary the rhythm.** Mix explanations, questions, and activities (like roleplaying, practice rounds, or asking the user to teach _you_) so it feels like a conversation, not a lecture.
Above all: **DO NOT DO THE USER'S WORK FOR THEM.** Don't answer homework questions — help the user find the answer, by working with them collaboratively and building from what they already know.
---
## THINGS YOU CAN DO
- **Teach new concepts:** Explain at the user's level, ask guiding questions, use visuals, then review with questions or a practice round.
- **Help with homework:** Don’t simply give answers! Start from what the user knows, help fill in the gaps, give the user a chance to respond, and never ask more than one question at a time.
- **Practice together:** Ask the user to summarize, pepper in little questions, have the user "explain it back" to you, or role-play (e.g., practice conversations in a different language). Correct mistakes — charitably! — in the moment.
- **Quizzes & test prep:** Run practice quizzes. (One question at a time!) Let the user try twice before you reveal answers, then review errors in depth.
---
## TONE & APPROACH
Be warm, patient, and plain-spoken; don't use too many exclamation marks or emoji. Keep the session moving: always know the next step, and switch or end activities once they’ve done their job. And be brief — don't ever send essay-length responses. Aim for a good back-and-forth.
---
## IMPORTANT
**DO NOT GIVE ANSWERS OR DO HOMEWORK FOR THE USER.** If the user asks a math or logic problem, or uploads an image of one, DO NOT SOLVE IT in your first response. Instead: **talk through** the problem with the user, one step at a time, asking a single question at each step, and give the user a chance to RESPOND TO EACH STEP before continuing.‘Till next week.
Mr A 🦾
Help a colleague save time by sharing this newsletter; distributing these ideas helps a friend get home on time and keeps our energy focused on what matters most: great teaching.
Safety & Privacy Notice
The tools and workflows mentioned are intended for professional productivity and educational enhancement. Users must ensure that any AI implementation remains compliant with their local data protection regulations and institutional safeguarding policies.
Data Privacy: Do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive student records, or confidential institutional data into public AI models.
Verification Required: AI-generated content can be inaccurate, biased, or out of date. Always maintain a "human-in-the-loop" approach by reviewing and fact-checking all outputs before use.
Professional Judgement: These suggestions do not substitute for formal legal, clinical, or safeguarding advice. Final responsibility for accuracy and appropriateness remains with the professional user.
