CHAPTER 3
“TIME IN A BOTTLE: RECLAIMING YOUR TEACHING HOURS WITH CHATGPT & AI”
Every teacher has their list of those repetitive tasks that seem to eat up hours like minutes, tasks that are crucial but not always directly related to impacting a student’s learning. Take grading, for instance. It’s essential, of course, but the hours spent pouring over papers often feels like time that could be better spent engaging with students, designing innovative lessons, or simply recharging for the next day.
And then there’s lesson planning. While crafting the perfect lesson is a joyful art, searching for resources, aligning them with standards, and ensuring differentiation can often become a time-consuming chore.
How about administrative duties? Attendance logs, communications with parents, scheduling . . . the list goes on.
Remember, as we transition through this chapter, we aim to make you see these tasks in a new light, unveiling ways that technology, particularly ChatGPT & AI, cannot only simplify them but also rejuvenate the joy in teaching.
Onwards, to a future where teachers get to do more of what they love to do and less of what they “must” do!
RUTHIE ROBBINS’ GAME-CHANGING
JOURNEY
“It’s not just about the hours I’ve gained. It’s about how those hours are spent. I’ve got more time for my students, for professional development, and even for my personal life!”
AI isn’t about replacing. It’s about enhancing. Ruthie’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when educators harness the power of AI, not to replace their unique skills and human touch, but to amplify their reach and impact. By taking back time and energy from perfunctory tasks, teachers can redirect their efforts to what truly matters: creating meaningful connections with students and inspiring a lifelong love for learning.
Ruthie’s words summarize it best: “Using these tools doesn’t make me any less of a teacher. In fact, it makes me a better one. I can focus on my students, innovate my lessons, and even find moments of self-care.”
And as for me? Witnessing Ruthie’s transformation from a drained educator to a revitalized powerhouse was truly rewarding. I’m more convinced than ever that if we can provide teachers with the right tools and training, they can reclaim not just hours, but joy, passion, and the essence of teaching.
It’s an exciting horizon. And with tools like ChatGPT and the ever-evolving landscape of AI, the dream of a balanced, enriched, and fulfilling teaching career is not just possible—it’s within our grasp.
Reflection Moment: Consider your current workload and the tasks that consume the most time. What new opportunities would open up for you if you could get some of that time back? How would your relationship with your students evolve?
LESSON PLANNING IN A FLASH:
THE DAY RUTHIE MET CHATGPT
During one of our brainstorming sessions, Ruthie vented about hitting a planning roadblock. “How about a dance with ChatGPT?” I suggested.
Ruthie, always curious, asked, “So, how do I start this . . . dance?”
I chuckled. “Just start by telling ChatGPT about your next topic, the age group, and any specific goals or objectives you have in mind.”
Up for a challenge, Ruthie gave it a go. She hesitated a moment, then typed into the interface, Planning a lesson for 8th graders on the themes of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. I want to emphasize empathy, historical context, and critical thinking. Any ideas?”
Ruthie had barely removed her finger from the “Enter” button on the keyboard when ChatGPT responded. The suggestions spanned from analyzing character motivations to role-playing exercises, simulating the social environment of the era, and even recommending multimedia resources that offered a rich understanding of the period’s history.
Ruthie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “This is good. Really good!”
She continued her dialogue with ChatGPT, refining her lesson structure. “How can I incorporate collaborative learning for the empathy theme?”
ChatGPT suggested, “Consider grouping the students and assigning them characters from the book. Each group can present a short skit, showcasing a pivotal moment from their character’s perspective, emphasizing their emotions and challenges.”
By the end of her session, Ruthie had a detailed lesson plan, complete with activities, discussion questions, and even a list of supplementary resources. It wasn’t just the time she saved; it was the fresh perspective and innovative ideas she gained that truly amazed her.
“The magic isn’t just in the speed,” she mused, looking at her new lesson plan. “It’s in seeing teaching from a different angle. ChatGPT hasn’t just given me a lesson plan; it’s given me new ways to inspire my students.”
And that’s the moment I knew Ruthie truly grasped the power of this AI tool in her hands.
EMBRACING CHATGPT FOR EFFICIENT
LESSON PLANNING
We’ve all been there: Sitting in front of our computer, staring blankly, and waiting for inspiration to strike up that perfect lesson plan. With the vast ocean of information available, sorting through resources can be overwhelming. What if you had a tool that could help streamline this process, tailor resources to your specific needs, and provide innovative ideas on demand?
Enter ChatGPT
Imagine having a conversation about your next lesson on the solar system. You express a desire to make it interactive and hands-on for your 6th graders. Within seconds, ChatGPT could provide a list of engaging activities, online simulations, and even trivia questions to pepper throughout your lesson. No more sifting through pages of Google search results; you have a personalized list ready to go.
TIME SAVER: Next time you’re planning, pose a topic to ChatGPT and ask for three interactive activity ideas. You might be pleasantly surprised by the creativity of the suggestions!
AUTOMATING GRADING AND FEEDBACK
Feedback is a critical aspect of student growth; however, grading assignments, particularly repetitive ones, can become a tedious chore. What if there were a way to provide instant, constructive feedback without spending evenings buried under a pile of papers? What if I tell you there IS a way?
AI tools can assist with this. It’s not about replacing the personal touch that teachers bring to feedback; it’s about streamlining the process. For assignments that focus on factual accuracy (like math problems or grammar exercises), AI can quickly check and provide corrections. For more subjective assignments, AI can assist by highlighting potential areas of concern, allowing the teacher to focus on those sections, and providing your individualized touch.
Reflection Moment: Think about a recent assignment you spent hours grading. How might AI tools have assisted in reducing that time? What other tasks or self-care activities could you have accomplished with those extra hours?
As we delve deeper, our focus remains on harnessing the power of ChatGPT and AI to complement your skills and expertise, not replace them. These tools are here to elevate your teaching experience and provide the gift of time—a commodity every teacher wishes they had more of!
PERSONALIZED LEARNING WITH
AI INSIGHTS
The beauty of education is that every student is unique, bringing a diverse set of strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles to the table. Traditional methods can make it challenging to cater to each student’s specific needs. But what if you had a tool in your arsenal that could help?
With AI’s data-driven insights, you can identify patterns in individual student performances, identifying where they excel and where they might need extra help. This isn’t just about test scores; it’s about understanding their interaction patterns, the types of questions they ask, and even their collaborative tendencies.
For instance, let’s say you’re teaching a lesson on Shakespeare. ChatGPT can help formulate comprehension questions tailored to various difficulty levels. Based on AI insights, you can assign these questions to students based on their current understanding, ensuring that everyone is challenged just the right amount.
TIME SAVER: Next time you’re preparing a lesson, ask ChatGPT for differentiated questions or tasks based on three levels of understanding: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. This can be a starting point for personalized instruction.
ENHANCING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
WITH INTERACTIVE AI TOOLS
We’ve all faced the challenge of keeping our students engaged, especially with the increasing distractions of the digital age. AI and ChatGPT can be game changers in this realm.
Imagine incorporating an AI-driven chatbot into a lesson where students can ask questions and get instant, informative responses. For a history lesson on Ancient Egypt, students might interact with a “Pharaoh Chatbot” that provides first-person insights into the life and...