Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having a massive impact on the way we think about teaching and learning. From acting as a thought partner when creating lesson plans to personalized learning experiences for students, AI offers endless possibilities. At a few events this year, I’ve shared ways to use AI images with students.
If you joined me at events in Massachusetts, New York, or Georgia (to name a few), you know I’ve led sessions on the topic of how to use AI images. These images can bring lessons to life, spark creativity, and make learning more engaging for students of all ages. This has been a popular topic on the blog and podcast, too, but I’m taking it a step further today.
In this blog post, we’ll explore several ways you can use AI images with your favorite EdTech tools. Whether you’re looking to create stunning visuals for presentations, generate custom ebook illustrations, or develop interactive learning materials, AI images can be a game-changer in your teaching toolkit.
What to Know About AI Images
Here on the blog as well as my Easy EdTech Podcast, I’ve shared practical tips and stories from educators who are using generative AI in their classrooms. On the blog, I’ve highlighted various AI tools and provided step-by-step guides on creating and using AI-generated visuals to enhance lessons. In podcast episodes, I’ve interviewed experts and teachers who discuss the impact of AI and shared tips on how to use images to enhance student engagement and creativity.
There are a handful of tools you can use to create AI-generated content. Adobe Firefly has been a favorite this year, but as we look at the six ideas on the list, you’ll find a few others sprinkled in. AI-generated images are created using advanced algorithms that can produce high-quality visuals based on specific prompts. You can customize the images to fit the needs of your next lesson or classroom activity.
6 Ways to Use AI Images with Your Favorite EdTech Tools
Let’s take a look at a half dozen ways you can use AI images alongside the EdTech tools you already love!
Nearpod matching game
When working with teachers in New York earlier this year, I modeled how to create images in Adobe Firefly to bring vocabulary words to life. I then took the images I made and added them to another favorite tool, Nearpod. Nearpod is an interactive presentation tool I used as a classroom teacher, and I love sharing with other educators.
After creating AI-generated images with Adobe Firefly, I added the images to a Nearpod matching game activity. You could certainly display the images on an interactive whiteboard to spark a discussion with students. However, combining AI-generated images with Neapod to create a matching game is a fun option. Like all of the ideas on this list, it can also spark a discussion with students on AI-generated content and how you are exploring this technology.
Google Slides presentation
Another great way to use AI-generated images is to add them to a slide deck to enhance a presentation. If you can’t find a great image for a presentation, you can use an AI image generation tool to make your own. Google Slides is just one option. You might add an image you create to a Keynote or Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
Video background in Adobe Express
I’ve mentioned the “Animate with Audio” feature in Adobe Express a few times on the blog. It’s a fun one to use when creating videos for or with students. Although this feature is populated with plenty of backgrounds to choose from, you can also add your own image to the background behind your animated character. If you create an image using an AI tool, download it as a JPG or PNG file, then upload it to the “Animate with Audio” tool in Adobe Express.
Coloring book page for Seesaw
Did you catch my blog post on how to use coloring book pages you’ve created with AI? It’s a favorite strategy for making the most of AI tools and takes just a few steps. Once you create your own coloring book page, you can save it as a picture file. Then, you can add it to the background of an activity in Seesaw. When you share the activity with students, they can use the drawing tools in Seesaw to color in the digital coloring book page.
Exit ticket in Padlet
I love sharing tools that give students lots of ways to share their learning. If you’ve attended a workshop or webinar with me where I share strategies for exit tickets, then you might have tried out this Padlet strategy. In addition to having options to use text, audio, or video to add a response to a collaborative board, students can also use the “I can’t draw” feature in Padlet. The name of this feature is not my favorite. But, I love how Padlet gives quick access to this tool embedded right into the platform.
Design a book cover for Book Creator
If you make interactive books to share with your students, you might want to use AI images when designing a cover. You can use a tool like Microsoft Copilot Designer or Magic Media in Canva. They can help you make the perfect image for the book you want to share with students. Then, you can open up Book Creator and add the picture to the book’s cover.
AI images offer a unique and exciting way to add a creative element to your next lesson or activity. By using these images alongside your favorite EdTech tools, you’ll find that AI-generated content has a clear place in your current workflow. Whether you’re designing a new lesson plan or updating existing materials, AI images can add a fresh and dynamic element to your classroom.
Don’t forget to explore my AI resources! I have a free ebook that provides additional tips and tools for integrating AI into your teaching practice. You can find more information, along with the free downloads on this Artificial Intelligence resource page.
