Generative AI for Educators

This lesson investigates how AI tools can be used to design personalized learning experiences and helpful communication. You’ll delve into specific use cases where AI tools can modify your existing class materials to effectively meet the diverse needs of every learner, your colleagues, and guardians and families.

Modify materials with AI

An AI tool can be a fun and helpful teaching partner when you want to modify existing class materials and transform them into personalized learning experiences for students. There are numerous ways they can help you differentiate and customize content. Here are some examples:

Write summaries

Create clear and concise summaries of challenging articles, enabling students to grasp key concepts more effectively.

Adapt text complexity

Customize learning resources to various reading levels. For example, an AI tool can help adapt the reading level of complex or technical document to be accessible to 7th graders.

Modify projects

Design different activities and instructions to appropriately challenge and support students with different experience levels.

Prompts for modification

Now that you’ve reviewed a few examples of modifications of materials, examine the following prompt templates. Note that each of the following templates offers two options: One is very detailed, which is intended to help the AI tool provide a more targeted and successful output; the other is shorter, similar to the prompts you encountered previously throughout this course. Review both options and decide which one will be most helpful to you. Then, simply copy and paste the text into the AI tool of your choice and fill in the blanks. Each prompt may be refined for all sorts of applications, depending on your unique requirements:

Summarize content prompt

I am a [Enter your role]. Summarize the following content for any students who are not present during the classroom discussion. Ensure the summary is clear, concise, and easy to understand:

Subject and topic: [State the subject and specific topic covered in the lesson]

Reading or excerpt: [If appropriate, enter reading or excerpt name, or paste in the content]

Reading level: [Note the desired reading level]

Learning objectives:

[Enter learning objective]
[Enter learning objective]
[Enter learning objective]

Key points and details: [Summarize the main points and arguments]

Terminology: [Define or explain any important terms or concepts used in the lesson.

Format: [Specify the desired format, such as bullet points, a timeline, a comparison chart, etc.]

Specific theme or context: [Include information about the content’s theme or the context in which it will exist]

Level of detail: [Adjust the level of detail to be appropriate for your objective]

I am a [Enter your role]. Summarize the following content for any students who are not present during the classroom discussion. Ensure the summary is clear, concise, and easy to understand:

Subject and topic: [State the subject and specific topic covered in the lesson]

Reading or excerpt: [If appropriate, enter reading or excerpt name, or paste in the content]

Reading level: [Note the desired reading level]

Learning objectives:

[Enter learning objective]
[Enter learning objective]
[Enter learning objective]

Key points and details: [Summarize the main points and arguments]

Terminology: [Define or explain any important terms or concepts used in the lesson.

Format: [Specify the desired format, such as bullet points, a timeline, a comparison chart, etc.]

Specific theme or context: [Include information about the content’s theme or the context in which it will exist]

Level of detail: [Adjust the level of detail to be appropriate for your objective]

Summarizing content prompt — short version

I am a [Enter your role] teaching a lesson about [State the subject and specific topic covered in the lesson]. Summarize the following content for any students who are not present during the classroom discussion: [Enter reading or excerpt name, or paste in the content]. The reading level is [Note the desired reading level].

Bonus ideas

Here are some bonus ideas for annotations, tailored summaries, and a helpful checklist. Consider how they might improve or reinforce your prompt for even better results:

Ask the AI tool to include relevant annotations within the summaries, pointing out important definitions, figures, or connections to other lessons.

Further tailor summaries by focusing on key points and addressing any potential gaps in understanding.

Give students a checklist summarizing key points and learning objectives, allowing them to self-assess their understanding and identify areas for further exploration.

Adjust a reading level prompt

I am a [Enter your role]. Adjust the reading level of the following text to make it more accessible for students at a [Target reading level] level.

Original text: [Paste in the text]

Subject: [Note the subject of the text]

Topic: [Specify the specific topic covered in the text]

Target audience: [Describe the students who will be reading the adjusted text, including their age, grade level, and any relevant learning needs]

Key points to preserve: [List the essential information and main points that must be retained in the adjusted text]

Vocabulary: [Include any complex vocabulary or jargon that needs to be simplified or explained]

Sentence structure: [Reference any desired changes to sentence length or complexity]

Additional notes: [Add any other helpful information or preferences for the adjusted text, such as tone, format, or specific areas to focus on]

Adjust a reading level prompt — short version

I am a [Enter your role]. Adjust the reading level of the following text to make it more accessible for students at a [Target reading level] level. [Paste in text.]

Bonus ideas

Here are some bonus ideas for scaffolding, making connections, and interactivity. Consider how they might improve or reinforce your prompt for even better results:

Note individual learning needs, such as areas of strength or weakness. Based on this information, the AI tool can generate personalized summaries or reading paths tailored to each student’s specific understanding and preferences.

After adjusting the reading level, ask the AI tool to identify key differences and create a scaffolded summary that bridges the gap between the two texts, highlighting key vocabulary and concepts. This can be especially helpful for students who are struggling with the original text or need differentiated support.

Incorporate interactive elements within the adjusted text, such as definitions that appear when a word is clicked. This can provide immediate clarification of complex vocabulary and promote active engagement with the reading material.

Modify project activities prompt

I am a [Enter your role]. Modify the following project activities to better suit the needs and interests of my students:

Project title: [Enter the title of the project]

Subject: [State the subject of the project]

Grade level: [Enter grade level]

Topic: [Note the specific topic covered by the project]

Current project description: [Provide a brief description of the project as it currently is]

Target audience: [Describe the students who will be participating in the project and their particular interests]

Desired Modifications:

Areas for modification: [Specify which aspects of the project you want to modify, such as the difficulty level, scope, assessment methods, or specific activities]

Reasons for modification: [Explain why you want to make these modifications, such as making the project more engaging, accessible, or aligned with student interests]

Desired outcomes: [Describe what you hope to achieve by modifying the project, such as promoting deeper learning, fostering collaboration, or addressing individual needs]

Additional information: [Include any other relevant details, such as available resources, time constraints, or specific learning objectives you want to address]

Modify project activities — short version

I am a [Enter your role]. Modify the following project activities to better suit the needs and interests of my [Enter grade level] students: [Describe the project]. My students are [Describe the students who will be participating in the project and their particular interests].

These are just a few ideas to get you started; the possibilities are endless when it comes to modifying and enhancing learning materials! Get creative, experiment, and determine what works best for your students and your teaching style.