CGN: "Writing Letters of Recommendation with AI"

This past week, on Wednesday, May 24, I had the pleasure of delivering a Facebook Live exhibition for the College Guidance Network on some tools to use ChatGPT to assist in the writing of college counselor letters of recommendation. In all, it was a lively conversation with a lot of conversation stemming from it.

You can see the link to the recording and to the shared resources below:

• Recording: https://www.library.collegeguidancenetwork.com/library/resources/video/e460d430-ef68-4087-abfd-7b6f95e97a40

• Companion Resource: https://www.library.collegeguidancenetwork.com/library/resources/pdf/eb0fdd87-95a1-4615-a88d-f07c9318fad2

CC as Leadership: The Essential Tensions of College Counseling

The terrain of leadership is marked by inherent tensions, complexities, and trade-offs. A compelling HBR article I recently read explored seven core tensions between “traditional” and “contemporary” leadership styles, and I could not help but notice the uncanny parallel with the supremely nuanced role of college counseling. While this is a perspective I’ve written and presented on in the past, this piece lent additional clout to my sense that college counseling is not just a supportive role but a distinct form of school leadership.

The seven core tensions – expert vs. learner, constant vs. adaptor, tactician vs. visionary, teller vs. listener, power holder vs. power sharer, intuitionist vs. analyst, and perfectionist vs. accelerator – are not just critical but essential to the role of a current, modern college counselor. These tensions illuminate why artificial intelligence, despite its utility, cannot replace the role of a college counselor; it lacks the human touch and contextual awareness that are indispensable for effectively filling the position. 

The Expert v. the Learner

College counselors must have a deep understanding of the college application process. Yet, they should also be open to learning from everyone within the school community – from students' latest challenges to teachers' academic insights, parents' concerns, and alumni experiences. This dual role demands self-awareness and a commitment to lifelong learning, ensuring the guidance provided remains relevant and up-to-date. 

The Constant v. the Adaptor

In the ever-changing landscape of college admissions, counselors must be adaptable and be capable of adjusting their guidance as new information and insights become available. This requires contextual awareness and a commitment to continuous learning, not only from industry but also from feedback and insights of the broader school community.

The Tactician v. the Visionary

Counselors must provide specific guidance while also helping students and their families envision long-term goals. They must work with teachers to understand students' academic strengths and collaborate with administration to align their college counseling strategies with the school's broader vision.

The Teller v. the Listener

Effective communication involves not only providing clear and concise guidance but also listening to the needs and concerns of students, parents, teachers, and administration. By fostering an environment of open communication, counselors can better understand and respond to the diverse needs of the school community.

The Power Holder v. the Power Sharer

As leaders, counselors hold a position of authority, but part of their role also involves empowering others. This includes encouraging students to take ownership of their college search process, involving parents in decision-making, and fostering collaboration among teachers and administration.

The Intuitionist v. the Analyst

Counselors must analyze data and trends to provide informed guidance. Simultaneously, they must trust their intuition, leveraging their understanding of each student's unique strengths and interests, informed by their interactions with teachers, parents, and other community members.

The Perfectionist v. the Accelerator

As adults guiding students through a complex process, counselors might strive for perfection. Yet, they must also encourage students and the broader community to embrace risk-taking and view setbacks as learning opportunities, fostering resilience, confidence, and a growth mindset.

College counseling, with its encompassing reach within the broader school community, is a distinct form of school leadership. It demands the navigation of these seven core tensions, requiring a balance of traditional and emerging leadership skills. This delicate balancing act allows college counselors to offer effective guidance and support to not only students but also the broader school community, aiding them in navigating the complexities of the college admissions process and achieving their shared goals. This perspective elevates the function of college counseling beyond traditional support structures, positioning counselors as distinct leaders within schools. The nuanced management of these seven core tensions underscores the multifaceted nature of this profession and its unique identity within the educational leadership framework. College counseling is, therefore, not merely a subsidiary of the educational process but a distinct and vital form of school leadership that plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our students and fostering a supportive, engaged community. 

April 2023 Third Thursday Recap

20 April 2023

The latest Third Thursday meeting of high school college counselors from across the globe was a fascinating discussion on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in college counseling. Attendees shared their experiences and concerns regarding the use of AI in the college application process and how it might affect students' future prospects. The meeting was informative and thought-provoking, highlighting the need to adapt to new technological advancements while also being mindful of their implications.

One of the key topics of discussion was advising students on using ChatGPT as part of their college essays. While AI cannot be personal, it can help with outlining and structuring essays and encourage students to think about their work. Attendees shared their thoughts on how best to incorporate AI into college counseling, stressing the importance of guiding students while also allowing them to take charge of their writing. Many agreed that the future of college counseling lies in striking a balance between the human touch and AI integration.

Another key point of discussion was the unintended consequences of AI in the college application process. Attendees raised concerns about the potential loss of depth and character in the application process if everything is automated. They discussed how universities might learn to value high school resumes and focus on what makes students unique when AI takes over. Additionally, they explored the possibility of AI being the solution to the challenges that AI itself presents. For example, the use of AI-monitored tests to evaluate interviews.

The meeting also touched upon the importance of preparing students for the future by teaching them skills that are not necessarily part of college counseling. Attendees agreed that it is crucial to ensure that students are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in a world that is increasingly reliant on technology. They shared ideas on how to do this, such as conducting workshops and providing resources that can help students develop essential skills.

One attendee shared a video presented to sophomores as they began their internship search, exploring the impact of AI on different job sectors. The video highlighted the need for students to be aware of how AI is changing the job market and to be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. The attendees discussed the importance of such initiatives and agreed that it is essential to educate students on the impact of AI on their future prospects.

The meeting also touched upon practical aspects of college counseling, such as onboarding a new counselor and finding time to meet with juniors within the International Baccalaureate program schedule. Attendees shared their experiences and ideas on how best to onboard a new counselor and ensure that they have the necessary resources and support to succeed. They also discussed different approaches to scheduling and prioritizing sessions with juniors, such as offering critical sessions multiple times and using flexible scheduling options.

In conclusion, the Third Thursday meeting provided an excellent platform for college counselors to discuss the role of AI in college counseling and its potential impact on the future of education. Attendees shared their experiences, concerns, and ideas on how to integrate AI into college counseling while also ensuring that students develop essential skills and remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. The discussion highlighted the need for a balanced approach that incorporates both human touch and AI integration, with the focus on preparing students for the future. The meeting served as a valuable forum for learning, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing and highlighted the importance of attending such events to stay informed and up-to-date on the latest trends in education.

Artificial Intelligence & Effective Prompting

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently become a buzzword in household conversation as human-computer interactions have become more efficient and personalized thanks to the emergence of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Bing, and Bard. One critical aspect of this type of AI is effective prompting. 

What follows are seven principles for effective prompt-writing, followed by good and bad examples:

1. Be clear and specific. Clearly state your question or request to ensure that the AI understands what you're looking for. Providing context or background information can also help improve the quality of the response.

   1. Good example:  "What are some engaging activities I can use to teach middle school students about the water cycle?"

   2. Poor example: "How do I teach the water cycle?"

2. Keep it concise. While it's essential to provide relevant information, avoid making your prompts overly lengthy or complex. A concise and focused question will generally yield better results.

   1. Good example: "Suggest three strategies for improving reading comprehension in high school students."

   2. Poor example: "I need help coming up with ideas for teaching reading comprehension to students because I've been struggling to find methods that work well, and I'm not sure what to do."

3. Define the format. If you have a specific format in mind for the answer, such as a list or a paragraph, mention it in your prompt. This will help guide the AI in providing a response that meets your expectations.

   1. Good example: "Please provide a brief paragraph on the importance of teaching critical thinking skills in the classroom." or “Please act as a university literature professor and suggest several ways a student who loves to read can explore new genres of literature.

   2. Poor example: "Why is it important to teach critical thinking skills?"

4. Request Step-by-Step or Point-by-Point Answers. For complex questions or topics, asking the AI to provide a step-by-step guide or a list of key points can help you get a more structured and comprehensive response. 

   1. Good example: "List the steps to create a lesson plan for teaching elementary students about photosynthesis.

   2. Poor example: "How do I make a lesson plan for photosynthesis?

5. Be Explicit about the Perspective or Tone. If you want the AI to adopt a particular perspective or tone (e.g., formal, informal, humorous), mention it in your prompt to guide the response.

   1. Good example: "Write a humorous and engaging introduction to a lesson on Shakespeare for high school students."

   2. Poor example: "Write an introduction to a lesson on Shakespeare."

6. Limit Answer Length, if Necessary. If you need a concise response, you can specify a word or sentence limit in your prompt to encourage the AI to provide a brief and focused answer.

   1. Good example: "In two sentences, explain the main goal of teaching phonics to young learners." or “Give me 10 examples of activities to teach phonic to young learners.” 

   2. Poor example: "What's the goal of teaching phonics?" or “How do I teach phonics?”

7. Iterate. Don't be afraid to rephrase or tweak your prompt if the AI doesn't provide the desired response on the first try. Experimenting with different approaches can help you discover the most effective way to communicate your query.

   1. Poor initial prompt: "What's the best way to teach math?"

   2. Improved prompt: "What are some effective methods for teaching algebra to high school students?"

Please see here for the above in a PDF handout.

High school college counselors play a crucial role in preparing students for higher education and career opportunities. As generative AI tools become more prevalent in various aspects of education and professional life, it is increasingly important for college counselors to teach students how to effectively use and communicate with these tools. As is the case with so much within the domain of college counseling, while it may be argued that teaching effective prompting may not clearly be the role of college counselors, it seems that, at the very least, it is probably our role to make sure this essential skill is being taught. We think that we bear some of the burden of teaching these skills!

That said, by incorporating the teaching of effective prompting techniques into our programs, college counselors can help students make better use of AI tools in their academic and professional lives. This skill will be particularly beneficial when it comes to research, collaborative projects, and the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Moreover, teaching students how to effectively prompt AI tools will also enable them to become more responsible users of these technologies. With the power of AI comes the responsibility to use it ethically and thoughtfully. By helping students develop their prompting skills, college counselors can promote a greater understanding of the potential benefits and pitfalls of AI use in various contexts.

As generative AI tools become more integrated into our daily lives, it is essential to understand and apply best practices for writing prompts to make the most of these technologies. High school college counselors have a unique opportunity to teach students the skills necessary to effectively communicate with AI, preparing them for success in higher education and beyond. By focusing on the principles highlighted above, students can effectively engage with AI tools and responsibly harness their power in their academic and professional pursuits.

AI Will Change Everything

I recently had the honor of presenting at the BMI - Times Higher Education (THE) Brazil International Schools Forum & Workshop in São Paulo to a host of some 35-40 college counselors on the topic of artificial intelligence. I wanted to share some thoughts based on the research I have been conducting and the takeaways from the conference. Here goes… 

College counseling is in the midst of a major transformation. For years, the primary focus has been on helping students get into the college of their choice. But the role of the college counselor has changed as the cost of college has continued to rise and the job market has become more competitive. Today, counselors are increasingly being called upon to help students make the most of their college experience and prepare for their future career. And because of how quickly artificial intelligence (AI) is getting better, the counselor's job is changing again, maybe more now than ever before. While the use of AI is still in its early stages, it can already be seen that it will have a significant impact on the profession of college counseling. 

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science of designing intelligent machines that can think and act like humans. Common examples of AI include virtual personal assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri, facial recognition systems, and self-driving cars. AI can also be used to sort through large amounts of data to find patterns and correlations that would be hard, if not impossible, for humans to find. AI has been around for a while, but recent improvements in how fast computers can process data and how much data they can store are making it possible for AI to be used in more complex ways. Recently, AI has been in the spotlight because of the release of many types of "generative AI." This is AI that can make different kinds of content, like text, audio, and video. AI systems are now able to understand, analyze, and interpret data in ways that were not possible only a few years ago.

What are the benefits of using artificial intelligence in college counseling?

Using AI in college counseling can provide a number of significant benefits. First of all, AI can be used to automate boring and repetitive tasks, some of which are important for a college counselor to do. Automating tasks—from scheduling meetings to notetaking and record-keeping—let counselors spend more time face-to-face with students. Also, AI can help counselors find patterns in a lot of data quickly and accurately. For example, this can allow counselors to identify students who are at risk of dropping out or missing important deadlines, and intervene before any lasting damage is done. There are, of course, many novel and yet unexplored uses for AI, including, but not limited to, drafting letters of recommendation, providing feedback on written work, and, of course, enabling students to incorporate it to benefit their college processes. Many of these uses are, as of yet, not fully explored, but the technology has already shown unexpected benefits and uses.

What are the challenges of using artificial intelligence in counseling?

While there are many potential benefits to using AI in college counseling contexts, there are also a number of potential challenges that need to be considered. For example, AI systems are only as good as the data they are given. If the data is incomplete, biased, or otherwise inaccurate, any decisions made based on the AI system’s analysis will also be inaccurate. In addition, AI systems are not immune to ethical considerations. An AI system trained on data from a particular group of students may make decisions that favor some students over others based on factors like race, gender, or socio-economic status. It is important for counselors to think carefully about the implications of using AI before adopting the technology. Aside from these vaguer, more general points, the fact that generative AI can write 650-word college essays in a matter of seconds worries many people. While many of these tools are extremely limited in terms of the outcomes they produce, the technology is improving, and the results are stammering. The same is to be said of counselor letters of recommendation. One observation early power users of tools like ChatGPT or Bing have shared is that the outcome of the AI is only as strong as the input, in terms of the user’s prompt. That said, there seems to be an essential skill in need of development in the form of prompt generation. 

How will artificial intelligence change the role of the counselor?

It is clear that AI has the potential to change the counselor's job in a big way. First of all, when AI is used in college counseling, counselors might be able to change how they spend their time. For example, they might spend less time on tasks like writing letters and more time with students or doing other things. By automating mundane tasks like keeping track of how students are doing, counselors can spend more time and energy on things that need a human touch. AI can also give counselors more time to think about bigger questions, like how to make college counseling services more fair and open to everyone. AI can help counselors figure out where there are gaps in the counseling process and come up with ways to make sure that all students get the same quality of education and support.

In Conclusion

The future of high school college counseling will be shaped by artificial intelligence. AI has the potential to change the focus of the work of the college counselor in a number of significant ways. In the end, the promised efficiencies will strengthen relationships between counselors and students, which is a very good thing. Even though there are still some ethical concerns to consider, it is clear that using AI in counseling could be enormously helpful. By using AI, counselors can improve the quality of their services and make sure that all students get the same level of help and support. We welcome the coming changes and look forward to seeing how they play out!

If you’re interested in learning more, I am sharing additional resources regularly on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and my blog.