In an educational landscape shaped by the constant ebb and flow of change and technological advancements, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it is essential for educators to embrace technology that is not just making a guest appearance; it’s a permanent and ever-evolving fixture that demands our ongoing attention and adaptation as it continues to advance. As educators, you bear the weight of constant change, which can at times feel overwhelmingly daunting to keep pace with. You comprehend that it’s a professional obligation to consistently engage in reflection, contemplating how you can evolve your teaching approaches to nurture students’ development and equip them for future careers that are still unknown. Furthermore, you recognize that for your students to truly embrace innovative learning methods, it’s essential to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology like ChatGPT. For those who may be unfamiliar, I asked ChapGPT to provide a simple explanation of what it is, “ChatGPT is a smart computer program that can talk with you and help answer your questions, just like having a conversation with a helpful friend. It uses its knowledge to provide information and have discussions on many different topics.” By integrating it into your instructional moves, you become the model, guiding them in exploring and harnessing its potential in ways that are both productive and meaningful.

In the book, AI Infused Classroom: Inspiring Ideas to Shift Teaching and Maximize Meaningful Learning in the World of AI, Holly Clark shares “If you are teaching our youngest students, you’re educating children who will graduate from high school and go to college in the mid 2030s and beyond. These same students, as adults, will work for approximately 50 years (as the retirement age shifts) and eventually retire around 2085.” Yes, read that again. And now again. Has that sentiment sunk in yet? I can assure you that it took me a few minutes to internalize the above. This perspective reinforces the role of education as a bridge to the future, spanning generations. As torchbearers of knowledge, educators shoulder the responsibility of equipping learners for a world defined by perpetual change, fostering the adaptability and resilience needed for a lifelong journey of learning.

Let’s face it – your students can and will be the models for this change too. Have you ever noticed what happens when you put technology into the hands of kids? With just a few taps, they often decipher things quicker than the very adults guiding them! Therefore, as you  navigate these shifts to your practices, invite your students and colleagues to explore the technology with you – This collaborative spirit, fueled by innovation, can be the spark that ignites fresh ideas and discoveries. In AJ Julianni’s latest blog post titled, What Happens When Kids “Care” About Their Learning, he shares the following: 

We already know what works and doesn’t work.

Kids are not normally engaged in lectures, textbooks, homework, and traditional assessments.

Our best learning experiences as adults didn’t happen when compliance was the focus either.

We know what happens when kids can tap into inquiry, and curiosity, and solve problems.

We know what happens when students get to work on challenges that are meaningful.

We know what happens when learners dive into a relevant curriculum and project-based learning experience.

We know what happens when kids care about their learning.

When looking at these statements above, can’t you say the same for the adults you teach? In the book Leading the Whole Teacher by Allyson Appsey, she writes, “Educators have servant hearts, and they desire to continuously improve so they can serve their students better.” When planning any worthwhile professional learning experiences, great facilitators and presenters are thinking about what instructional practices they can model for teachers to explore themselves and then implement tomorrow! Great presenters are also doing their best to stay on the cutting edge of best practice and are inspired to share relevant instructional strategies.

Professional Learning Ideas to Implement Tomorrow

Since its launch in November 2022, I have been consistently incorporating ChatGPT into my daily routines in order to get more comfortable with its capability and impact. As I prepare to facilitate a number of professional learning experiences this year, I am making it a commitment to model and incorporate the use of AI and ChatGPT into my presentations. Since writing is the way I process my ideas and thoughts, it is my hope that you can make them your own and benefit from them too!

Here are four interactive activities that I plan to use to empower teachers with fresh approaches to teaching writing, mirroring the dynamic classroom environments I’m hoping to continuously create.

**Before implementing these ideas, I suggest that you go to the website openai.com and click on CHATGPT. Explore it! Type in simple prompts such as: Can you tell me a short story? Tell me a joke, Provide a summary of the book The Outsiders, Tell me a fun fact about space, Help me come up with a creative writing prompt, Share some famous Albert Einstein quotes, Provide easy chocolate chip cookie recipes for me. Have fun – the generated answers will most likely be mind blowing. Keep in mind that you will have to keep refining your prompts for more specificity.**

Activity 1: Collective Story Building

Prompt: “Let’s create a story together! We’ll start with an opening sentence, and each participant will contribute the next sentence in sequence. Feel free to let your imagination have fun!”

Presenter’s Instruction: “As a group, let’s craft a unique story using ChatGPT. I’ll kick things off with an opening sentence. Then, I’ll pass it to the first person, who will continue the narrative. We’ll keep passing the story around, building on each other’s ideas. Remember, there are no wrong answers here – let’s have fun with this!”

Example: 

To provide you with some more clarity about this idea, here is an example of a story that was generated by ChatGPT:

Opening Sentence: “On a misty morning in the enchanted forest, a curious young fox named Finley woke up with a sense of adventure tingling in his fluffy tail.”

Participant 1: “He stretched his paws and yawned, his eyes glinting with excitement as he peered into the thick underbrush.”

Participant 2: “Not far away, a mischievous squirrel named Squeaky chattered from a tree branch, inviting Finley to join in a game of hide-and-seek among the ancient oak trees.”

Participant 3: “As they scampered through the forest, the leaves rustled with secrets and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of wildflowers.”

Participant 4: “Suddenly, a soft melody echoed through the trees, drawing their attention to a clearing where a musical hummingbird named Melody was flitting about, creating magical tunes with every flutter of its wings.”

Activity 2: Imagination Spin: Igniting Writing Adventures

Prompt: “Spin the virtual wheel and receive a writing prompt (Have ChatGPT generate the specific prompts you’d like). Use ChatGPT to write a brief response within 5 minutes.” (I will use a tool called Wheel of Names to insert the prompts for this activity).

Presenter’s Instruction: “Welcome to the Virtual Imagination Spin Writing Adventures! Spin the wheel and receive a prompt. You’ll have just 5 minutes to respond using ChatGPT. Don’t worry about perfection – focus on the creative process. Let’s see what amazing ideas ChatGPT can help you generate!”

Examples of Prompts:

Prompt 1: “Imagine stumbling upon a mysterious door in your school. Describe what lies beyond it.”

Prompt 2: “Take on the persona of a unique superhero and narrate an eventful day in their life.”

Prompt 3: “If you could communicate with animals for a single day, portray the interactions and experiences.”

Prompt 4: “Write a heartfelt letter to your future self, sharing your hopes, dreams, and advice.”

Prompt 5: “Reimagine a pivotal scene from your favorite book with a twist, altering the outcome or events.”

Activity 3: Character Spotlight Interviews

Prompt: “Choose a character from your favorite book. Imagine you’re that character. Begin a conversation with ChatGPT as if you’re being interviewed.”

Presenter’s Instruction: “Get into character! Select a character from a book you love. Imagine you’re that character and engage in an interview with ChatGPT. How would your character respond to questions? This activity will help us explore different character voices and perspectives.”

Examples to get educators and students started (Prompts and Questions were generated by ChatGPT):

• Harry Potter Prompt: “Imagine you’re Harry Potter being interviewed by a journalist from the wizarding world. Answer questions about your adventures and experiences at Hogwarts.”
  • ChatGPT: Harry, could you share with us your most memorable moment during your time at Hogwarts?
  • ChatGPT: How did it feel to learn that you were a wizard and had a place in the magical world?
• Katniss Everdeen Prompt: “You’re Katniss Everdeen from ‘The Hunger Games.’ ChatGPT is a reporter from the Capitol, curious about your journey. Respond to questions about your life in District 12 and your time in the Games.”
  • ChatGPT: Katniss, what was your daily life like in District 12 before the Hunger Games?
  • ChatGPT: How did you learn to become such a skilled hunter and survivalist?
•  Greg Heffley Prompt: “Be Greg Heffley from the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ series. ChatGPT wants to know about your middle school experiences. Share your thoughts on friendship, family, and surviving school.”
  • ChatGPT: Greg, how do you navigate the challenges of middle school and the social dynamics?
  • ChatGPT: Can you tell us about a particularly funny or embarrassing situation you’ve faced at school?

Activity 4: Collaborative Paragraph Wordsmithing

Prompt: “Here’s a paragraph. Collaboratively revise, edit, and enhance it using ChatGPT’s suggestions. Aim for a polished and impactful version.”

Presenter’s Instruction: “Let’s dive into revising editing! You’ll receive a paragraph, and together, we’ll use ChatGPT’s suggestions to enhance it. Think about how you guide your students through the revision process. Apply those strategies here, and witness the transformation.”

Examples of Paragraphs To Provide Educators/Students (generated by ChatGPT):

Original Paragraph

The sun was out, and the birds were happy. It was a pretty day. I chose to walk in the park and enjoy the good weather. While walking, I saw flowers and trees. I also saw a squirrel. It was a nice time.

ChatGPT Enhanced

“The sun was shining, and the birds were chirping. It was a beautiful day outside. I decided to go for a walk in the park to enjoy the nice weather. As I walked, I saw colorful flowers and green trees. I also spotted a playful squirrel chasing its tail. Overall, it was a great experience.”

Original Paragraph

The house was scary. It was a stormy night. I was afraid. The wind was making loud sounds, and the trees were making noises. I waited for a moment before opening the squeaky door. When I got inside, I felt cold and shivery. I heard strange sounds from the dark areas. I really wanted to leave.

ChatGPT Enhanced

“The old house was spooky. It was a dark and stormy night. I was terrified to go inside. The wind was howling, and the trees were creaking. I hesitated for a moment before opening the creaky door. Once inside, I felt a chill down my spine. I heard strange noises coming from the shadows. I couldn’t wait to leave.”

Embracing Technology to Shape Tomorrow’s Educators
You are preparing students for a future filled with innovation and change. Facilitators of professional learning and educators can embrace tools like ChatGPT to create engaging learning experiences that mirror the evolving classroom landscape. Since you encourage students to explore new horizons, it’s always a good time to step out of your comfort zones and embrace leveraging technology. So I ask, how will you leverage AI learning experiences to refine your professional learning sessions and instructional practices to foster and unlock educators’ and students’ potential?