AI IN CLASS

Big Companies

Don’t Get Classrooms

But You Do!

Let’s get real: expecting companies like OpenAI to solve how AI fits into classrooms is like asking a fish to climb a tree. Educators are the ones who know what works, and it’s our experiments that bring AI to life in meaningful ways.

THE PROBLEM

Some educators think big tech should deliver AI-powered classroom solutions on a silver platter.

The problem? These companies aren’t in your shoes—they don’t deal with kids, lesson plans, or the chaos of the school day.

This mindset also creates a “wait and see” approach, stopping educators from exploring AI’s real potential.

This leads to anxiety.

Teachers worry about whether they’re “doing AI right” or if their experiments will flop.

Add a sprinkle of fear about replacing real thinking with AI shortcuts, and you’ve got a recipe for hesitation.

Without a little courage to play around, we’re leaving AI’s magic on the shelf.

We want our students to try new things and demonstrate risk-taking. What better way to model it than to experiment with AI in the classroom.

How to Stop Worrying and Start Using AI Like a Pro

Step 1: Remember—AI Isn’t Here to Steal Your Job

AI isn’t the villain in a dystopian movie. It’s not here to replace you or your students’ brains.

It’s a tool, like a whiteboard or a really smart buddy who always knows what time the library closes.

But the catch? OpenAI and other companies don’t know your classroom like you do—and that’s okay. You’re the expert in what your students need.

Step 2: Experiment Like a Mad Scientist (Without the Lab Coat, Unless You’re a Science Teacher)

Using AI is all about trying stuff out. You won’t know what works until you mess around with it.

Need examples? Here are some cool ways I’ve used AI:

• Universal Design for Learning (UDL): AI can tweak lessons for different learners faster than you can say “scaffolding.”

• Lesson Planning Cheat Code: Need a rubric, assessment, or fresh idea? AI’s got your back.

• Student Creativity Booster: AI helps kids brainstorm and think in new ways, even when they’re stuck.

Step 3: Get Good at Asking Questions

AI is like Christina Aguilera.

🎵It’s a genie in a bottle, baby, you’ve gotta prompt it the right way🎵

It’ll give you what you ask for, but you’ve got to word it right.

Crappy prompt? Crappy results. The better your prompt, the more useful AI becomes.

For instance, when I wanted to teach entrepreneurial thinking, I didn’t just say, “Give me a lesson plan.” I gave AI the thinking concepts that were important to thinking like an entrepreneur and asked for activities (including multiple scenarios to personalize student learning) that would push students outside their comfort zones—and BAM—it delivered.

I’ll be sharing specific ways I’ve used AI in future newsletters.

Step 4: Face the Fear (Spoiler: It’s Not That Scary)

Uncertainty can breed fear.

And fear is a killer if not conquered.

Fear might be your natural response to AI. I’d hazard a guess you’re not familiar enough yet with what it’s able to do.

Yes, AI can feel intimidating at first. But it’s not some super-villain from a movie or television show.

"Brainiac: a green-skinned, cybernetic know-it-all who collects cities like Pokémon cards. Superman’s nemesis, but really just an intergalactic hoarder with a superiority complex."

It’s more like that slightly nerdy colleague we all know who’s actually really helpful once you give them a chance. Here’s how I’ve seen it work:

• Brainstorming Mastermind: Students used ChatGPT to come up with wild solutions for real-world business problem scenarios (that I generated with ChatGPT). Students were tasked with finding solutions using something called the Internet of Things (IoT). You should check it out, it’s really cool.

• Reflection Coach: AI helped students assess their strengths based on Google Form responses and a Google Sheet to create growth plans to do some skill stacking (shout out to Dan Koe). I even had ChatGPT help me generate the list of skills, and student-friendly definitions, for students to work with.

• Rubric Wizard: It’s saved me hours creating grading tools customized to student needs. I have all my rubrics generated in student-friendly, Gen-Z-relatable language so it’s easy for students to understand what I’m looking for.

Step 5: Realize AI Isn’t Optional Anymore

Here’s the truth bomb:

AI isn’t going away. AI is a must.

It’s a game-changer for educators who embrace it, and a missed opportunity for those who don’t.

Like I tell everyone I interact with, AI is a must.

It’s good for all learners and essential for some.

The same goes for teachers—it amplifies your strengths and helps you do your job even better.

Step 6: Make It Your Own

You don’t need to wait for a perfect AI playbook from the tech giants.

Start small, experiment, and share what works with your colleagues.

While I’m experimenting with other AI tools like Diffit and Brisk Teaching, at the moment I still prefer to use ChatGPT. I started with it and have continued to find deeper ways to use it. I feel ChatGPT allows me more creative control through my prompts. It also maintains a thread that I find useful as I design entire courses.

There are tons of options for you to tinker with.

It’s amazing what you can generate when you step into the process of experimenting and designing.

When you lead the way, you’re not just using AI—you’re shaping the future of teaching.

the bottom liNe

AI isn’t scary, complicated, or out of reach.

It’s a powerful tool that’s waiting for you to pick it up and make it work for your classroom. Companies like OpenAI can give us the tools, but it’s up to us to turn them into something meaningful.

So let’s stop waiting for someone else to figure it out—and start building the future of education, one experiment at a time.

Here’s a Kick Start Kit: 10 Game-Changing AI Prompts for Educators to get you started.

Keep an eye out for future newsletters. I’ll share more focused examples of AI use and show you how to transfer what I’ve done to any grade level or subject area.

You can also Sign up for the newsletter so you’ll never miss what’s shakin’ in my world.

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