Do you have favorite AI tips for educators? I’m writing this post on my way to lead a workshop. We’ll focus on using artificial intelligence to support instructional planning in Colorado. It’s my second time working with this group, and tomorrow, we’ll dive into strategies for designing lessons and customizing learning experiences for individual students.
From personalized learning to streamlining administrative tasks, AI tools are making a big impact in classrooms worldwide. Many educators are exploring how AI can enhance teaching and learning. Today’s post captures some of the best tips for educators. I reached out to past guests of the Easy EdTech Podcast to gather their recommended resources related to AI. As we approach the end of the calendar year, I wanted to see which tools have captured their attention so far this school year.
AI Tips for Educators
In this blog post, I’ve compiled insights from a handful of educators who’ve joined the Easy EdTech Podcast. They’ve shared their favorite AI tools, from popular platforms to hidden gems, all with the potential to transform your teaching practice. Below, you’ll find the recommendations they submitted to me and quick links to the podcast episodes where they were featured. Be sure to explore their suggested resources while listening to our conversations on their areas of expertise!
Consensus
Eric Sheninger – Unlocking Personalized Learning in K-12 Ep. 275
My favorite AI tool as of late is Consensus. It allows users to search peer-reviewed research on virtually any strategy, idea, or initiative. It has become a great asset in my role as a coach, as I can now seamlessly align research to the timely feedback I provide to leaders. The same can be said for writing, as I can now instantly support any ideas or opinions with justification. I also train school administrators on how they can use Consensus to supercharge their feedback and build support for large-scale change.
Gemini
Karalee Wong Nakatsuka – Teaching Civics in a Digital World Ep. 252
I have enjoyed using Google’s Gemini AI as a tool for brainstorming, refining ideas, and writing. Recently, I asked Gemini to create nine scenarios in which eighth-grade students could exercise their right to freedom of expression in school. Gemini generated the list, along with an answer key; I reviewed the scenarios, adjusted the prompt to get results closer to my liking, and then revised the final version to better suit the needs of my classroom. I also reviewed and revised the answer key, which was not 100% accurate. Gemini AI isn’t perfect, and human judgment is still essential, but it is a powerful tool that can free up teachers to focus on the more complex tasks only we humans can accomplish.
Check out more Gemini tips here: 15 Teacher Tips to Use Gemini to Save Time
SchoolAI
Alana Winnick – Making the Most of AI for the Second Half of the School Year Ep. 251
SchoolAI is a user-friendly tool that’s packed with features to save teachers time—everything from lesson plans and differentiation to assessments, newsletters, IEPs, and so much more. It’s like “AI with training wheels” for teachers who may not have much experience with AI, making it approachable while also allowing those ready to dive deeper to prompt their own custom chatbots and integrate their own materials. What really makes it stand out for me is the student-facing component. In a world where assignments can be completed by AI in seconds, we need to rethink how we approach learning and empower students with the skills to use AI efficiently. SchoolAI makes this possible, allowing students to engage directly with AI in a safe space through custom, hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding.
Nicholas Provenzano – Comics in the Classroom and an AI Connection Ep. 274
Spaces from SchoolAI is a game-changer for both students and teachers, providing a truly personalized learning experience that adapts to each student’s needs. With AI tutors available whenever students need help, learning becomes more accessible and engaging. Teachers can track student progress in real time with a powerful data dashboard, enabling quick, targeted support exactly when it’s needed. Spaces is inclusive, offering tools like speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and translation in over 150 languages, making it accessible for all learners. For educators, the Discover Page gives instant access to over 100,000 ready-to-use resources, while the Space Creator tool makes crafting custom lessons easy and efficient. Plus, with a secure, education-focused environment, SchoolAI Spaces delivers a safe, supportive space for meaningful learning every day.
MagicSchool
Nita Creekmore – How Digital Forms of Communication Can Impact Relationship Building Ep. 257
Nita is a literacy educator who always needs to know the meaning and buy more time. When she learned about MagicSchool that’s exactly what happened! MagicSchool allowed her to create rubrics for her student’s writing assignments, create choice boards and even generate emails quickly and efficiently to communicate with parents.
You can find MagicSchool on this list of AI tools: How to Use AI to Make Presentation Slides
ChatGPT
Nicki Slaugh – Unlocking Personalized Learning in K-12 Ep. 275
As a principal, I have a few favorite AI tools that significantly enhance my work. My go-to is ChatGPT-4, which I’ve customized to reflect my writing style and educational philosophies! I love it. For example, when I provide a rough draft of ideas, accommodations, or personalized learning options, it refines them while maintaining my unique voice. This ensures my communications feel authentic and aligned with my vision rather than robotic or overly formal, which is very important to me. I do not ever want to write like a robot or seem “not present” in my writing.
Check out more ChatGPT tips here: 25 ChatGPT Prompts to Help You Teach with Movies
Chatbox
Michael Creekmore – How Digital Forms of Communication Can Impact Relationship Building Ep. 257
Michael is a school counselor who also loves writing on his blog. As a school counselor, taking pictures of kids can breach confidentiality. Using the Chatbox AI app to create pictures of students is extremely helpful. Additionally, the app is great for storyboarding and transforming text prompts into pictures that serve as inspiration for further articles.
Adobe Express
Dr. Jacie Maslyk – Unexpected Ways to Connect Literacy and STEM Ep. 264
Adobe Express is one of my favorite tools! The generative AI features can be really powerful when it comes to literacy. I love introducing these features to the classroom teachers and students that I work with because they are easy to use and allow us to tap into creativity. For example, using the Text-to-Image feature allows learners to practice using precise language and storytelling while creating incredible digital images. AI-generated images can also be used as writing prompts or conversation starters to support reading, writing, speaking, and listening in any classroom.
Check out this post featuring Adobe Express here: How to Make Your Own Coloring Book Pages with AI
Kami
Laurel Kirchhoff – Teaching Civics in a Digital World Ep. 252
Kami has become an essential EdTech tool in my classroom, taking interactivity and engagement to a whole new level. It’s so much more than just an annotation tool—it’s a learning ecosystem where students can actively participate and interact with their learning. Kami’s accessibility features, like talk-to-text, are incredible because they allow every student to fully participate. The new AI tools are also a game-changer! I can now create higher-level questions to assess my students’ learning, provide feedback easily, and even track their progress with helpful data analytics. Whether we’re working on collaborative projects or individual assignments, Kami fuels creativity and makes learning more accessible and fun!
I’m so grateful that this group of past podcast guests was able to share a few of their favorite AI tools. As you jump into the list, let me know which ones are your favorite! Reply to my weekly newsletter (sign up here), or send me a message on Instagram (follow along here).
I’ve included direct links to each guest’s episode on the Easy EdTech Podcast right here in this blog post. These episodes are full of insights, stories, and practical tips directly from educators who’ve been navigating different educational spaces. I encourage you to tune in to these conversations on your favorite podcast platform (you can even listen to them on TV). Whether you’re commuting, enjoying a coffee break, or unwinding after a long day, it’s the perfect opportunity to get inspired and stay informed about the latest advancements in educational technology.
