Practical Tips for Teachers to Use AI

When it comes to using artificial intelligence at school, whether in the classroom or for more routine teacher tasks, some educators are all in, while others are fully opposed. And still others are probably curious about AI but aren't sure where to start. But one thing is pretty clear: AI isn't going away anytime soon, so ignoring it isn't really an option! (If you don't understand what AI is or how it works, our training course, AI Foundations for Educators, is a great place to start.)

Using AI successfully in a school setting brings challenges for both teachers and students. For example, AI-based plagiarism already may be a problem in your class or school. Or maybe you've toyed around with the technology but don't know what to try next, or you're not sure how to create prompts that get useful results.. And then there are all those AI tools to evaluate!

No matter where you are on your AI journey, we have practical tips to address your most pressing concerns as well as suggestions for especially useful applications. Below are some handy hacks to help you work with this new technology while keeping privacy and well-being top of mind.

Top-Line Tips

• Don't input personal information. No matter what type of generative AI you're using or how you're using it, do not include any personally identifiable information (PII) about yourself or your students. 
• Use it for language tasks, ideas, explanations, and editing. Generative AI is most helpful as a thought partner, a starting place, and a distiller of information. It's not as reliable for research or fact-finding because it can make things up, or hallucinate. 
• Keep in mind what you gain and what you lose. Depending on how you're using generative AI, you may save time brainstorming but lose true creativity. Similarly, you may get a quick summary but lose nuance, or draft efficiently but lose your authentic voice.
• Verify, specify, and clarify. Double-check the information you get for accuracy, refine your prompt until you get the output you need, and tell the bot how it can improve its response even further.
• Include reputable sources in your prompts. If you're using AI to ask for information, include some trustworthy sources so it pulls from those first. This isn't a guarantee that it won't hallucinate, so it's still best to verify, but it's a helpful starting point.
• Ask for citations (and make sure they're real). If you decide to use AI as a research tool, ask the bot to include citations and then make sure they're real, reputable sources.

Prompt Engineering 101

Getting the most out of generative AI depends on what you put in. To quote our Outreach team, "It's a tool, not magic!" As the technology evolves, more and more chatbots are designed for specific purposes. But it's still helpful to have the basic skills to design and refine effective prompts. (Fun fact: Being polite to the bots can elicit better results!)

Role, purpose, specifics, sources, refinement:

• Role: Who is the chatbot portraying? A tutor? An editor?
• Purpose: What is the purpose of its task? To explain? To summarize?
• Specifics: How do you want to focus the output? For fifth graders? In bullet points? 
• Sources: If you're doing research, ask for specific sources and fact-check them.
• Refine and correct: Continue with the same prompt but ask for more clarification or point out errors. Did it give you what you need? If not, tell it how!
• Check out this huge library of prompts for specific educator purposes, courtesy of AI for Education.

POP Prompt method

Similar to the method above, this one is from Jeremy Caplan of Wonder Tools:

• Persona: Give the bot a role to play.
• Objective: Define its purpose.
• Parameters: Give it very specific instructions about audience, delivery style, reading level, and more.

Educator-Specific AI Applications

What might you do with your prompt-engineering prowess? Always keeping PII in mind, there are lots of ways generative AI could assist you right now. Of course, the quality of results will vary, so remember to correct and refine prompts until you get what you need. And even if it's not spot-on, the output might at least spark an idea or save a bit of time. Below are just a handful of possibilities.

Data aggregation, summaries, and translations

Though AI can't fairly evaluate students or their work, it can help you digest and communicate that information by compiling and summarizing it. AI bots can also translate into different languages (though be aware there could be inaccuracies).

Thought partner

AI can be especially useful when you want to design a new lesson or spice up an old one. For example, if you need a fresh approach to teaching students about symbolism, ask your preferred bot for a list of fun ideas.

IEPs and personalized learning plans

Without inputting any personal student information, you can set parameters to help with the rote elements of drafting IEPs or other personalized learning plans. 

Differentiated lessons or practice materials

Tools like Diffit are designed to help educators create differentiated lessons and materials based on students' reading levels. 

Scaffolded creative projects for students

By clearly defining how students can use AI, you can specify that it's OK to use AI for activities like prewriting, forming an argument, or developing essay structure.

Individualized student help

You can create (or find) bots that ask students guiding questions, clarify points of confusion, or link concepts to their personal interests!

In-class applications

Below is just a small handful of options, but check out the linked prompt libraries for ideas from other educators. Pairing any student use with AI literacy is definitely recommended!

• Have a live debate with a bot using student input.
• Prompt-engineer historical figures or characters to chat with.
• Have students fact-check or critique AI outputs. 
• Challenge students to engineer prompts for specific purposes—a process that uses executive functioning and literacy skills.
• Check out different prompt libraries: Here's one to help you plan lessons and another that specifies platforms as well.

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Evaluating AI Tools

Concerns about privacy and plagiarism sometimes keep schools from fully adopting the use of AI tools, but tech leads and individual educators have started to experiment. So as edtech companies jump on the AI bandwagon, how can you tell which tools are worth your time? To get a full picture, watch this webinar or review the slides from the presentation.

Here are some more top-level guidelines:

• Privacy and safety: Most AI tools aren't designed with kids in mind and require users to be at least 13 (or have parent permission). However, some AI tools are designed for the classroom (or have potential uses for the classroom) and have a Common Sense Education privacy evaluation.
• Pedagogy: Student-centered, collaborative experiences that integrate AI in truly meaningful ways are best. 
• Engagement: The most engaging tools are usually challenging but adaptable, visually appealing, and intuitive. Ones that feel relevant also tend to motivate students.
• Support: Onboarding, hints, FAQs, progress-tracking, integrations, learning extensions, and varied language/differentiation possibilities are useful features.
• Bias and equity: Being accessible at home (if necessary) by all, with outputs that are accurate and don't exhibit bias are important considerations.