ai, as we all know, has created a new “normal” in teaching. Our students are increasingly using generative ai tools for a wide range of tasks, from research to creative projects. As educators, it is essential that we adapt to this change, not only by incorporating ai into our teaching, but by doing so ethically and effectively. To help guide this transition, I have compiled key tips on what to do and what not to do when using ai in the classroom. These insights come from my personal experiences with ai and from my research, which culminated in my recently published book titled ChatGPT for teachers.
What ai should do:
Embrace ai for creative projects
While I often say that ai cannot replace human creativity (and that is true), ai can amplify and extend it. For certain creative projects, ai can be a great help. For example, when you are coming up with ideas for teaching a topic or lesson plan, use ChatGPT or Claude to help you brainstorm a few ideas, then choose the ones that work for you and adapt them to your teaching context. The same goes for when you want to come up with unique and creative activities for your classroom. Tell the ai bot what you want to teach and let it provide you with a few ideas for how to do it.
Similarly, when working on a writing project or assignment, ai tools like ChatGPT, CLaude, Gemini, Jasper, etc. can be used to help overcome, for example, writer’s block. The way I do this is by copying the last part I’m stuck on and asking the ai bot to complete it. While it doesn’t always work perfectly, it opens up new avenues for thinking and creativity. Use ai as a tool to support, amplify, and enhance your creativity, not replace it.
Learn to give directions
I have written a whole book (amazon.com/dp/B0D9SWSQWM”>ChatGPT for teachers) on the importance of stimulation and discussed a wide variety of strategies that teachers can use to create well-crafted stimuli and generate accurate results.
Remember that prompts are the key to unlocking the potential of generative ai and chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude are only as good as their prompts. We can have the same query in mind, but get different results from the chatbot depending on how we structure and word our prompts.
In fact, in my opinion, induction is one of the most important skills in today’s educational landscape. Both teachers and students need to explicitly learn how to write effective instructions and communicate with ai in more efficient ways.
Use ai as an assistant
One of the best ways to harness the educational power of ai is to use it as an assistant. For example, in my writing projects, I write the initial draft myself and then send it to ChatGPT paragraph by paragraph and ask it to edit and improve its overall style without changing the meaning. I make sure that ChatGPT works with my own ideas and does not include those of others, which reduces the risk of hallucinations and plagiarism.
When using ChatGPT as a research assistant, establish clear roles in your message. For example, you could start with: “You are my research assistant, please help me find information on (topic) and make sure it is accurate and relevant to my needs.”
Always check ai results
As I discussed in my book, ChatGPT can generate inaccurate information and sometimes even make up references, a phenomenon known as “hallucination.” This happens because ai chatbots don’t process language the way humans do. Instead of truly understanding meaning, they string words together based on statistical patterns and predict the most likely sequence of tokens (words) that should follow. This can generate results that sound plausible, but are ultimately incorrect. It’s important to always verify the information provided by ai tools to avoid these problems.
In their current versions, ai chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, and Gemini still struggle with the hallucination problem. While they have improved significantly compared to previous versions, they are still imperfect. It is essential to always verify any information generated by these tools. Personally, I completely avoid using ai chatbots to generate factual data. Fact-checking ensures that you are not relying on potentially inaccurate or fabricated information, which helps maintain the integrity of your work.
What ai should not do
Don't replace teacher-student interaction with ai
ai can assist in teaching, but it cannot replace the value of human connection. No matter how advanced the technology, your personal touch is crucial to enhancing student learning. As social beings, students thrive on empathy, emotional intelligence, and the bonds they form with teachers—qualities that ai simply cannot replicate. The relationships you build and the emotional support you provide are far more impactful than any technological tool. You, as a teacher, are irreplaceable in fostering real growth and learning.
Let's not allow ai to replace critical and creative thinking
The goal of education is not just to create students, but also lifelong learners who are able to critically interact with the world around them. If we do not foster in students the ability to question, explore, and see alternative perspectives, we will have lost our purpose as educators. This is particularly crucial in the age of ai. Students need to understand that not all information generated by ai is accurate. They need to be encouraged to question, fact-check, and dig deeper, making sure they do not accept ai answers at face value.
Let's not neglect ethics in the use of ai
We cannot fully realize the educational potential of ai without using it ethically and responsibly. It is essential to educate students about intellectual property and copyright before they use ai tools. They must understand that ai, like ChatGPT, can sometimes plagiarize content, either verbatim or paraphrased without proper attribution. Teaching students about the ethical implications of ai in learning is crucial to foster responsible use and ensure respect for the original content.
Let's not ignore digital literacy
For students to make the most of ai tools, they need a solid foundation of digital literacy. Understanding how ai works is essential, just as coding was once emphasized. Students need to know that ai is not intelligent in the human sense, but is based on statistical learning and computational operations. They need to understand that effective use of ai requires supervision and well-structured guidelines. Teaching them how ai generates responses will allow them to better navigate and control these tools.
Related: Top 10 ai Tools for Teachers
Final thoughts
I hope you find these insights useful as you approach the integration of ai into your teaching practice. While ai offers incredible opportunities, it is important to approach it with well-thought-out strategies that enhance student learning without losing the essential human connection. By following these tips, you can ensure that ai becomes a powerful assistant in the classroom while maintaining ethical and responsible use.
