191: Plan lessons faster with AI

In this episode of the Ditch That Textbook podcast, hosts Matt Miller and Karly Moura delve into the exciting world of lesson planning with AI. They explore free tools that can help educators save time, offering quick teaching strategies and tech tips that can be implemented immediately. Additionally, they provide updates on education news and share innovative ideas for utilizing the template of the week. 

News and Updates

• YouTube will show labels on videos that use AI

• We have a new community! Join AI for Admins, an email newsletter and community providing AI tips, discussion, and policy ideas for school/district leaders.

• The Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit is almost here! Get all of the details and snag your FREE ticket at ⁠DitchSummit.com⁠

The Big Idea

• Artificial intelligence can help you write lesson plans faster -- and give you new ideas you might not consider. Here are some tips and strategies you can use. Check out our post Lesson planning with AI: Save time and get ideas.

• Ask an AI assistant for a lesson plan. Suggested tools: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Bard, Perplexity, Anthropic Claude.

• Use AI tools to create lessons or parts of lessons for you. Suggested tools: MagicSchool.ai, EduAide, Diffit Curipod.

Tech Tips

• This idea comes from Nadine Gilkison, she suggests using responses from your students’ interest surveys to help craft AI prompts. Using resources like MagicSchool.ai’s “Make it Relevant” tool you can generate ideas that make what you’re teaching relevant to your class based on their interests and background. Check out: Student interest surveys to connect learning to their world - Ditch That Textbook

• Use Google Forms to record data about your students.  Check out:  25 practical ways to use Google Forms in class, school 

Quick Teaching Strategies:

• Try the add-and-pass strategy but add an AI twist by having an AI assistant generate the prompt for you! Ask AI to begin a story using your content. Have students either finish the story or use the add-and-pass strategy to complete it. Check out: Add and pass: A fun activity to get them moving AND creating - Ditch That Textbook

• Create a checklist for common feedback for students. Read:  How do I give feedback to 100+ students?

Template of the Week

• ⁠Be the Bot template from Ditch That Textbook

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