A new way forward
April 26, 2024
Facts: What’s been going on?
- On Wednesday, we released an update to Mirror software that improved audio recording and uploading, and added an “Adult” group type, useful for higher-ed, PD groups and any situation where adults are reflecting. Be sure to update your Mirror next time you turn it on.
- What if there was a new way forward through the divide over SEL? One that integrates social and emotional development as part of academic learning. One that softens the lines and finds common ground between sides. We explain how Mirror makes this possible in our latest blog, a partnership with Illinois Digital Educators Alliance.
Feedback: What are we hearing?
This week, a Mirror user leading a teacher preparation program in the Midwest said:
“As I give feedback, I see related changes in Mirror quickly. Sometimes, with other programs, it can feel like the feedback’s going nowhere. I appreciate that feedback to the Mirror team is considered and implemented where appropriate.”
He’s right! We love hearing your feedback, and consider it carefully as we plan the Mirror roadmap. Have your own feedback to share? Reply to this email and let us know.
Future: What’s up next?
- Much-anticipated Spanish-language support is coming in the next 1-2 weeks, along with other heavily-requested updates, including a new pin-based login option, downloadable reflection transcripts, and more customization options for reflections.
- There’s still time to register for the Week of AI! Swivl is proud to be sponsoring this timely, super-practical event, filled with speakers like Holly Clark sharing their experiences with and tips for using AI for teaching and learning. Register today.
Findings: What are we thinking about?
This week, we’re thinking about paradoxes, and the role they play in hidden intelligence. So often, the limiting factor in learning something new is a paradox that we struggle to resolve.
These can be simple, like understanding that a fraction is both a part of a whole and its own entity. Or they can be complex, like a teacher trying to balance their own creativity with the bureaucracy of a large organization.
How does this relate to reflection? Reflective skills help us see what’s holding us back and set goals to move past those blockers. Feedback powered by reflective technology can even identify the paradoxes we may be facing, and by presenting them, reveal a path towards resolving them.
The importance of learning together
March 7, 2024
Facts: What’s been going on?
We’re hitting as many events as possible in 2024, and our travels continued this week with a stop at the Michigan Science Teachers Association Conference.
Swivl CEO Brian Lamb and Account Manager Julieann Derra were there to spread the word about reflection’s potential and share Mirror with as many educators as possible. They were joined by Mirror user, Science teacher, and Swivl community member Keith Piccard (@KeithPiccard), who helped attendees see Mirror’s potential for their work. One takeaway is that Science teachers see Mirror as a support for group work like labs and experiments.
Findings: What are we thinking about?
A study came out this week that demonstrated again the importance of writing and physical interaction towards learning. This has us thinking even deeper about how we support small group work with Mirror.
Our original vision was based on realizing there was no technology dedicated to supporting small group work, and nothing built for AI interaction through cameras and voice. We were inspired by the idea of technology moving to the side, so students can engage with each other in physical space.
We are starting to wonder if this is why so many of our demo users and teachers we’ve met at conferences are asking for small group support tools. Perhaps they see the need to make learning physical and social again. Perhaps they see Mirror’s potential in making that happen.
We’ve been prioritizing individual reflections in our development work, but now we’re pushing extra hard to get our small group support tools out.
Feedback: What are we hearing?
(1) Illinois-based history and government teacher Chris Johnson recently shared how he is using Mirror to have students reflect on final projects.
(2) Teachers are telling us that they wish all of their students could reflect during one class period. We know that class time is scarce, and we’re working on a few solutions to make this a reality. Read more about those below.
Future: What’s up next?
- Shorter question sets are coming soon. When needed, shorter questions help more students to reflect in the same amount of time. Mirror experiences for phone, tablet, and web are coming soon. This means teachers and students can reflect with more flexibility, both in school and at home.
- In about a week or two, demo users will have a chance to try new, more powerful group work features. Our design and development teams are putting the finishing touches on a new experience that allows teachers to create plans with guided steps, paired tools, audio instructions–and a reflection at the end, of course.
A step forward in customization
February 29, 2024
Findings: What are we thinking about?
What if every reflection experience in your class perfectly fit the learner, the activity, and your objective?
How much more could you learn about student progress? Most importantly, how much more could students learn about themselves?
Until now, customizing the reflection experience for every learning scenario and need was simply too time-consuming.
That experience is now possible with Mirror.
Facts: What’s been going on?
Mirror 3.1
Mirror 3.1, released February 28, 2024, allows you to customize reflections and unlock new potential for reflection’s place in the classroom.
You can customize reflections by choosing a focus like Mindfulness, Gratitude or Depth of Knowledge. You can also customize reflections based on the teacher’s stated learning goal.
Combining a focus like Depth of Knowledge with a stated learning goal unlocks new potential for reflection, turning the experience into a classic assessment of student learning. When you consider all the ways Mirror’s focus options can be customized by teacher goals, the options are endless.
Current users: Update your Mirror today to take advantage of these exciting new customization features!
AACTE
In other news, our colleagues Mike and Edward recently attended the higher education conference AACTE. There, they explored use cases for Mirror with higher ed professionals, and discussed the growing demand for using Mirror with student teachers to create a multi-layered reflection program.
#IDEACon
A few states over, our colleagues Adam, Julieann, Rachel, and Sara attended #IDEACon this past weekend. Dozens of educators had a chance to try Mirror, and heard Rachel speak about the Potential of Reflection. Here’s conference attendees and speakers Tisha Richmond (@tishrich), and Andrew Easton (@EastonA1) with Sara and Adam (right).
Feedback: What are we hearing?
Elementary and early childhood education (ECE) teachers tell us they are happy that Mirror is “AI lite.”
In other words, we bring the power of AI to automate reflection, without the data and privacy concerns that come with other AI tools. Students don’t have direct interaction with AI through Mirror, and we don’t share any student data with AI.
Even though we’re using AI, we’re doing it in a way where teachers have full control. It’s a teacher AI tool, not a student AI tool.
You can generate questions, but then preview them and edit them, before students ever see them. And that’s something that nearly everyone can get on board with.
Future: What’s up next?
- Speaking of elementary and ECE, we’re hard at work to make Mirror a better reflection experience for our youngest learners. We’re putting the finishing touches on several features that make Mirror more accessible and effective for Pre-K and early elementary students.
- Swivl CEO Brian Lamb will join our colleague Julieann at the Michigan Science Teachers Association conference this week with user and community member Keith Piccard (@KeithPiccard). If you plan to attend, come hear them speak about the Potential of Reflection with Mirror.