Hop Aboard While You Can!

Why Ed Tech is Not Endorsing a Ban on ChatGPT in Schools was the most influential article of the week for me. “The best way to navigate the reality of ChatGPT, and AI tools like it, is to learn to work with them instead of against them, because technology like this isn’t going anywhere.” I have taken this to heart and have opened up my teaching toolbox to welcome more tools, like AI. It’s probably time to give up my overhead projector anyway and make room for the cutting-edge technology of AI. As mentioned in my previous blog, I have explored with OpenArt AI and have had some fun with that. I have recently downloaded ChatGPT on my phone and laptop, and ooh boy! The universe is at my fingertips, and I don’t know where to begin! Well maybe that’s the point. I have begun my journey with AI, so that is a small victory in itself.

So where to begin with ChatGPT? Well, why not ask ChatGpt where I should start. I wrote the prompt, “I want to teach other teachers, who are beginners to ChatGPT like myself, how to use this tool. Where should I start? Please give me a list of 5 items.” This was its response:

Here’s a simple list to help you get started in teaching other teachers how to use ChatGPT:

1. Introduction to ChatGPT:
   • Explain what ChatGPT is (a language model that can assist with answering questions, providing explanations, generating text, etc.).
   • Share its potential in educational settings (lesson planning, student support, content generation).
2. Basic Commands & Interactions:
   • Demonstrate how to ask simple questions and have conversations with ChatGPT.
   • Show examples like: “Give me 5 tips for classroom management,” or “Explain photosynthesis in simple terms.”
3. Practical Classroom Uses:
   • Discuss how teachers can use ChatGPT for tasks such as generating quizzes, summarizing content, or providing feedback on student work.
   • Provide hands-on examples like generating writing prompts or lesson summaries.
4. Personalizing Responses:
   • Teach how to give ChatGPT context (like grade level, specific subjects) for more tailored responses.
   • Demonstrate with prompts such as: “Explain the water cycle for 8-year-olds” or “Create a history lesson plan for high school students.”
5. Ethical Considerations & Limitations:
   • Discuss the ethical use of AI, emphasizing responsible use and fact-checking.
   • Explain limitations, like it not being connected to live information, and occasionally providing incorrect answers.

This structure should guide them through understanding and practical applications in teaching. Would you like more detailed examples or resources?

I liked what it created. This was a definitive place to start. But I wanted a bit more, so I revised my prompt to say “…a list of 8 items.” This was my new response. It was similar, yet different.

Here’s a list of 8 key items to help guide your teaching of beginners on how to use ChatGPT effectively:

1. Introduction to ChatGPT:
   • Explain what ChatGPT is and how it works as an AI-powered language model.
   • Highlight its applications in education (e.g., generating ideas, lesson planning, answering questions).
2. Setting Expectations:
   • Clarify what ChatGPT can and cannot do, such as helping with tasks but not replacing critical thinking or personal teaching styles.
3. Account Setup & Access:
   • Guide teachers on how to create an account (if required) and access ChatGPT (web platform, apps, etc.).
4. Navigating the Interface:
   • Familiarize them with the platform’s layout—where to type questions, find answers, and adjust settings.
5. Basic Commands and Queries:
   • Show them how to ask simple questions or request specific tasks (e.g., “Give me a summary of this topic” or “Suggest classroom activities for math”).
6. Classroom Applications:
   • Demonstrate how to use ChatGPT for lesson planning, resource generation, writing prompts, and content clarification.
   • Show how it can assist with grading or feedback.
7. Best Practices for Effective Interaction:
   • Teach them how to ask clear, specific questions and follow up on responses to refine answers.
8. Ethical Considerations and AI Literacy:
   • Discuss the importance of AI ethics, responsible use, and ensuring that ChatGPT supports—not replaces—human judgment in education.

By covering these topics, teachers will have a solid foundation to start using ChatGPT in their classrooms.

Wow! I’m a fan so far! I went back to the original response and saw that ChatGPT asked, “Would you like more detailed examples or resources?” I responded with, “Yes, please share more detailed examples of resources.” And this is what it gave me:

Here are more detailed examples and resources that you can share with teachers to help them get familiar with ChatGPT:

1. Introduction to ChatGPT:

• Example: Create a slide or document that explains ChatGPT’s role as an AI-powered assistant. Mention how it can help save time in everyday tasks such as planning lessons, answering questions, and brainstorming ideas.
• Resource: Provide a link to OpenAI’s website or introductory video about ChatGPT’s capabilities. You can also point them to basic tutorials such as this ChatGPT introductory blog post.

2. Basic Commands & Interactions:

• Example Activity: Ask teachers to come up with a lesson-related question, such as “What are some creative activities for teaching multiplication?” Then, type the question into ChatGPT and review its response together.
• Resource: Create a “Beginner’s Command Cheat Sheet” with prompts like:
  • “What are the causes of climate change?”
  • “Summarize the main points of a Shakespeare play.”
  • “Create a quiz for a 4th-grade math class.”
• You can also direct them to a list of prompts such as this prompt guide for educators.

3. Practical Classroom Uses:

• Example: Show how ChatGPT can generate differentiated instructions. For instance, prompt: “Explain the concept of fractions for a 3rd grader, a 7th grader, and a high school student.” This helps teachers see how to adapt the AI’s responses for different learning levels.
• Resource: Provide a list of use cases for teachers:
  • Lesson planning: “Create a week’s worth of biology lessons for high school.”
  • Quiz creation: “Generate a 10-question quiz on the American Revolution.”
  • Feedback: “Provide feedback on a student’s essay about global warming.”
• Share articles on AI in education such as this one from ISTE.

4. Personalizing Responses:

• Example Activity: Encourage teachers to input more specific prompts such as “Help me design an interactive science lesson for 5th graders with special needs.” Then, show how to refine or adjust ChatGPT’s response by asking follow-up questions, like “Can you make this lesson more engaging by adding multimedia elements?”
• Resource: Provide a guide on how to adjust ChatGPT’s responses for different learners. This can include:
  • Adjusting complexity levels: “Explain Newton’s Laws of Motion in a fun way for 10-year-olds.”
  • Making content relatable: “Explain the causes of World War I using analogies students might relate to.”
  • Personalization tips from this educational AI resource.

5. Ethical Considerations & Limitations:

• Example Discussion: Facilitate a discussion around the ethical use of ChatGPT in classrooms. Highlight the importance of checking AI-generated information for accuracy and not using AI to replace critical thinking or creativity.
• Resource: Create a document with a list of “Dos and Don’ts” for using ChatGPT in education:
  • Do: Use it to inspire creativity, develop lesson ideas, or explain complex concepts.
  • Don’t: Rely on it for factual data without verification.
• Provide readings like AI ethics in education to highlight these concerns.

These resources can guide teachers in effectively integrating ChatGPT into their daily teaching routines, enhancing their lessons, and saving time. Would you like help preparing any specific resources or activities for your training sessions?

I of course was going to answer this last question, so I copy/pasted the “1. Introduction to ChatGPT Example” and made a slight revision; “Create 5 slides that explains ChatGPT’s role as an AI-powered assistant. Mention how it can help save time in everyday tasks such as planning lessons, answering questions, and brainstorming ideas.” This was the response:

Here’s an outline of 5 slides that explain ChatGPT’s role as an AI-powered assistant, and how it can help save time for teachers. I’ll provide key points and a simple structure you can use for each slide.

Slide 1: Introduction to ChatGPT

Title: What is ChatGPT?

• Key Points:
  • ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model developed by OpenAI.
  • It can understand and generate human-like text based on prompts.
  • ChatGPT can assist with a wide range of tasks in education, from lesson planning to brainstorming ideas.
  • Purpose: Save teachers time and provide creative assistance.

Visual: Include a basic visual of ChatGPT as a virtual assistant or a flowchart showing its uses.

Slide 2: Lesson Planning Made Easier

Title: Use ChatGPT to Plan Lessons Efficiently

• Key Points:
  • Generate lesson plans based on grade level, subject, and curriculum needs.
  • Create differentiated lesson plans for students of varying abilities.
  • Example: “Create a lesson plan for 3rd-grade science about the solar system.”
  • Save hours of planning time by generating outlines, activities, and even assessments.

Visual: Display a sample lesson plan generated by ChatGPT (simple text output) alongside traditional manual planning.

Slide 3: Answering Educational Questions

Title: Get Quick Answers to Complex Questions

• Key Points:
  • ChatGPT can explain difficult concepts in simple terms.
  • Useful for answering student questions or clarifying tricky topics during prep time.
  • Example: “Explain the water cycle in simple terms for 4th graders.”
  • Tailor responses based on the age and learning needs of your students.

Visual: Show an example question with ChatGPT’s detailed, easy-to-understand response.

Slide 4: Brainstorming Ideas & Activities

Title: Generate Creative Ideas and Teaching Strategies

• Key Points:
  • Brainstorm activity ideas, creative teaching strategies, and student engagement techniques.
  • Example: “Suggest engaging activities for a history lesson on the American Revolution.”
  • Use ChatGPT to come up with fun, interactive class projects, group discussions, and homework ideas.

Visual: Show a list of creative activities generated by ChatGPT for a specific lesson.

Slide 5: Saving Time on Everyday Tasks

Title: Time-Saving Tasks for Teachers

• Key Points:
  • Use ChatGPT to automate repetitive tasks like creating quizzes, generating writing prompts, or summarizing content.
  • Example: “Create a 10-question quiz on photosynthesis for middle school.”
  • Use ChatGPT as a teaching assistant to streamline grading, report comments, or provide student feedback.

Visual: Compare the time spent on these tasks manually vs. using ChatGPT to complete them quickly.

Conclusion (Optional Slide): “Why ChatGPT Can Be Your Teaching Assistant”

• Summarize how ChatGPT can enhance your productivity, allowing you to focus on what matters most: teaching and engaging with your students.

You can design these slides with visuals and text using PowerPoint, Google Slides, or any preferred tool. Would you like assistance in creating the actual presentation or ideas for specific visuals?

It is fair to say, I have gone down the rabbit hole. I am going to continue this journey and by the end, will have created a presentation on AI and ChatGPT that I think my staff will enjoy and hopefully embrace. Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI said, “these are the stupidest the models will ever be.” Might as well jump on the train now before it gets too far ahead and too fast for us to get on and enjoy the ride.  We don’t want to be shouting like the White Rabbit, “We’re late! We’re late! For our ChatGPT date!”