Chatbots are a primary way that people use artificial intelligence. These simple tools provide an easy way for us to harness the power of AI. By understanding how they work and what’s possible, we can learn to use them responsibly.

Most people have used a chat tool that involves sending and receiving digital text-based messages. This simple format has become a common way to work with artificial intelligence. This video explains the evolution of chatbots, how to use them, and what makes them work. You’ll learn:

    •    Why chatbots matter in online communication
    •    How chatbots have evolved over time
    •    How AI has changed our use of chatbots
    •    How Natural Language Processing works with chatbots
    •    How Large Language Models work with chatbots
    •    Why users of chatbots should evaluate and edit chatbot responses

Watch this video in full​ (3m 49s)

All Common Craft videos come with Lesson Plans that help you engage students with learning objects, discussion questions, quiz questions, further reading, and more. Curious? Download this video's Lesson Plan: ​Common Craft Lesson Plan - Chatbots and AI.pdf​

Do You Teach Technology?

Common Craft videos are used in libraries, school districts, universities, and organizations around the world. Our unique approach to explanation and education has delighted students since 2008.

If you're interested in making Common Craft videos available to your students, I invite you to evaluate the videos in our library​.

All videos are available with open captions and can be embedded, downloaded, and streamed. We offer a ​variety of plans​ and options for integrating the video library into your systems.

Bottom line: if you want to use the videos, we'll make sure it works for you. ​Contact us.​

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One of the most surprising elements of today's artificial intelligence tools is the ability to create original works. With a few words, anyone can have AI create stories, images, music, video, computer code, and more. It seems like magic, and generative AI is powerful. However, there are also valid concerns about its use.

Common Craft members can download the file and grab embed codes in the video library.

This new video explains:

• How humans and AI are different when it comes to consuming online media
• How AI gathers the data it needs to generate responses
• The role of data and patterns in helping generative AI provide accurate responses
• How prompts and Large Language Models help generative AI
• What’s possible with generative AI
• Why people should be cautious in using media that generative AI creates
• Concerns about Generative AI’s use of copyrighted materials

Watch it in full​ (3m 35s)

All Common Craft videos come with Lesson Plans that help you engage students with learning objects, discussion questions, quiz questions, further reading, and more. Curious? Download this video's Lesson Plan: ​Common Craft Lesson Plan - Generative AI.pdf​

Do You Teach Technology?

Common Craft videos are used in libraries, school districts, universities, and organizations around the world. Our unique approach to explanation and education has delighted students since 2008.

If you're interested in making Common Craft videos available to your students, I invite you to evaluate the videos in our library​.

All videos are available with open captions and can be embedded, downloaded, and streamed. We offer a ​variety of plans​ and options for integrating the video library into your systems.

Bottom line: if you want to use the videos, we'll make sure it works for you. ​Contact us.​

Back in 2011, I was focused on writing the ​Art of Explanation​. It was my first book and I was on the hook for turning years of practical experience into paragraphs and chapters. Sometimes, this kind of pressure is what you need to see ideas and concepts that you'd taken for granted over time.

In the book, I talk about "fact telling", which is often the culprit in poor explanations. We present a set of facts, without context or story, and leave the audience to figure out the meaning of the facts.

The other side of the coin is storytelling. Story is a powerful tool in explanations, but story alone can't often do the job. If your goal is to explain an idea, your story needs substance. It needs to have elements of fact to resonate.

I thought a lot about how to frame this powerful combination, and I found the solution in this line, which has become one of the most well-known quotes from the book.

"Facts give stories substance. Stories give facts meaning."

The next time you're explaining an idea, remember this. Your explanation may need a balance of both.

Creating animated explainer videos is easier than you think. Once you learn the method, you can start solving explanation problems and get the attention you deserve. I'm here to help.

A Live, Online Workshop with Lee LeFever

I will be your guide to explainer video production over five online meetings via Zoom. We'll go through every phase together, from writing the script to recording and sharing the final video. Learn more about the workshop.

Enrollees will receive:

• Five 1-hour online meetings (Zoom) with Lee and other enrollees
• Three Explainer Academy courses that never expire
  
  • ​Explanation Master Course ($199)​
  • ​How to Produce Animated Explainer Videos ($149)​
  • ​How to Create Readable Videos ($129)​
• Access to over 3,300 Common Craft Cut-outs via our online library
• Multiple guides, templates, and models in PDF
• All sessions will be recorded and available in the workshop workspace

This workshop has 10 seats that may go quickly.

In five sessions of live, online instruction, you'll learn how to create animated explainer videos using common tools like presentation software and screen recorders.

Lee will be your guide through every aspect of video production, from writing the script to producing the final video. You'll learn explanation and video creation skills that will become part of your professional toolkit.

Meeting Schedule: Winter 2024

Session 1: Tuesday, January 9th, 11 am PT (1 Hour):

• Explanation skills
• How to use generative AI for scripts
• Writing your script

Session 2: Tuesday, January 16th, 11 am PT (1 Hour):

• Review your scripts
• Moving from words to visuals
• Creating a thumbnail storyboard

Session 3: Monday, January 22nd, 11 am PT (1 Hour):

• Review storyboards
• Build your video scene-by-scene
• Animate visuals
• Prepare for production

Session 4: Tuesday, January 30th, 11 am PT (1 Hour):

• Recording the video and voice-over
• Editing your video
• Ideas for sharing

Session 5: Tuesday, January 30th, 11 am PT (30 minutes)

• Finishing touches, sharing, captioning
• Share your videos
• Discuss use cases

All online workshop sessions will be recorded and distributed to all attendees.

The workshop includes an online workspace with helpful videos, documents, templates, and guides that support Lee's online instruction. Access to the workspace does not expire.

What you'll need:

• The production method requires only common tools and equipment. You'll need:
• A computer with an internet connection
• Zoom meeting equipment (headphones/earbuds, microphone)
• Presentation software (Google Slides, PowerPoint, Keynote)
• Screen Recorder (I'll share free options)

If you have questions, feel free to reply to this email, or schedule a quick call.

I hope to see you in the workshop!

When a human asks artificial intelligence (AI) how to slice bread, the response sounds human, as if the AI knows about bread and knives. But does AI actually know anything? Can we trust the information it provides?

This succinct video explores how AI uses a ​large language model​ to generate original responses that sound human. It teaches:

• How AI gathers the data it needs to generate accurate responses
• What kinds of media snapshots are collected by AI
• How AI can assemble human-sounding responses
• Why humans should be diligent about evaluating and editing AI response

Watch it in full​ (2m 35s)

All Common Craft videos come with Lesson Plans that help you engage students with learning objects, discussion questions, quiz questions, further reading, and more. Curious? Download this video's Lesson Plan: ​Common Craft Lesson Plan - Large Language Models.pdf​

Do You Teach Technology?

Common Craft videos are used in libraries, school districts, universities, and organizations around the world. Our unique approach to explanation and education has delighted students since 2008.

If you're interested in making Common Craft videos available to your students, I invite you to evaluate the videos in our library​.

All videos are available with open captions and can be embedded, downloaded, and streamed. We offer a ​variety of plans​ and options for integrating the video library into your systems.

Bottom line: if you want to use the videos, we'll make sure it works for you. ​Contact us.​

Creating animated explainer videos is easier than you think. Once you learn the method, you can start solving explanation problems and get the attention you deserve. I'm here to help.

A Live, Online Workshop with Lee LeFever

I will be your guide to explainer video production over four online meetings via Zoom. We'll go through every phase together, from writing the script to recording and sharing the final video.

Enrollees will receive:

• Four 1-hour online meetings (Zoom) with Lee and other enrollees
• Three Explainer Academy courses that never expire
  
  • ​Explanation Master Course ($199)​
  • ​How to Produce Animated Explainer Videos ($149)​
  • ​How to Create Readable Videos ($129)​
• A Pack of 2,200 Common Craft Cut-outs ($34)
• Multiple guides, templates, and models in PDF

This workshop has 10 seats that may go quickly.

The Schedule:

Session 1: Tuesday, November 7th, 11 am PT:

• Explanation skills
• How to use generative AI for scripts
• Writing your script

Session 2: Thursday, November 9th, 11 am: PT

• Review your scripts
• Moving from words to visuals
• Creating a thumbnail storyboard

Session 3: Tuesday, November 14th, 11 am PT

• Review storyboards
• Build your video scene-by-scene
• Animate visuals
• Prepare for production

Session 4: Thursday, November 16th, 11 am PT

• Recording the video and voice-over
• Editing your video
• Ideas for sharing

All online workshop sessions will be recorded and distributed to all attendees.

What you'll need:

The production method requires only common tools and equipment. You'll need:

• A computer with an internet connection
• Zoom meeting equipment (headphones/earbuds, microphone)
• Presentation software (Google Slides, PowerPoint, Keynote)
• Screen Recorder (I'll share free options)

If you have questions, feel free to reply to this email, or schedule a quick call.

I hope to see you in the workshop!