Classroom Magic #3: Best Use of AI

The one thing a teacher can never be is boring.

This has always been the case. But never so much as now.

When kids have access to an overwhelming array of entertaining content, even the best, most dynamic, most charismatic teachers will find it difficult to compete with Instagram and YouTube.

But not impossible.

In 1999, a Qwest Communications commercial was filmed at Roy’s Motel and Cafe in the desolate desert town of Amboy, California. Amboy sits along Route 66, and in the commercial, a traveler stops at Roy’s.

Not expecting much, he asks, “Got entertainment?”

“All rooms have every movie ever made in any language, anytime, day or night.”

Wow.

I remember watching that and thinking, I want to go there!

I didn’t care how barren the landscape was. Being able to spend a few days watching any movies I wanted seemed really cool.

The guy asks, “How is that possible?” and the truth is, it wasn’t. Not then.

Qwest (which has since been absorbed into Lumen Technologies) was only imagining the future.

They were prescient. That future is here! Not only can we watch any movie ever made, we can listen to any song ever recorded. We can view art at every museum in the world. We can access every book ever published. Add to that all the games and new content streamed to kids’ devices 24/7. Beyond that, kids can instantly communicate with anyone, anywhere.

How can a classroom teacher compete with that?

By making the curriculum interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun. To do that, we have to get to know our students while simultaneously understanding that even the brightest ones don’t always know what will be interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun for them.

If you put me into that mythical hotel room, I would probably choose movies I knew about. Movies I’d already seen or heard about.

But what about all the movies I’ve never seen or heard about that might be interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun for me to watch? The smart thing for me to do (although it fights our human default of settling for the familiar) would be to listen to a movie expert who has taken the time to learn about me.

Since teachers don’t typically get to choose their curriculum, the best ones are constantly asking themselves, How can I make this lesson interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun for this group of students?

To do that, they must be attuned to their students—their likes, dislikes, and overall vibe.

Classroom Magic is about learning how to make school interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun. But I write about teaching and education from a macro view. I don’t know your students and what you’re teaching them.

And when no obvious answer comes to the question, "How can I make this interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun?"—ask AI.

If you’re teaching:

• Integers

• Coordinates

• Subordinating Conjunctions

• The Transcontinental Railroad

• Area and Perimeter

• The Call of the Wild

• Solids, Liquids, and Gases

Just ask AI...

For example, ask AI, “How can I make The Transcontinental Railroad interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun for my 4th graders?”

You’ll find that it will generate lots of ideas. Some might be fabulous. Some you’ll discard. Some you’ll adapt. You know your kids. AI doesn’t.

But whether you use AI or not, make it a habit to always think: How can I make this lesson interesting, meaningful, relevant, and fun for my students?

To avoid being boring, that question has to be asked.