Getting Started with AI
When I first started using AI tools in my classroom, I was focused on how much time they could save. Over time, I realized that how I used the tools mattered more than the tools themselves.Here are three mistakes I’ve made—and what I’ve learned from them.
🛑 Mistake 1: Treating AI Output as Final
One of my first mistakes was using AI-generated content without making enough adjustments. While the output was helpful, it didn’t always align with my students’ reading levels, knowledge, or instructional goals.I’ve learned that AI is a starting point, not a finished product. It still requires intentional decisions to make sure materials truly support student learning. Blind use of AI generated documents is not helpful to students and will create more work later.
🛑 Mistake 2: Limiting Myself to One Tool
A second mistake I made when I began using AI was relying too heavily on one AI platform. I initially used Magic School AI for almost everything classroom-related without taking the time to explore what other tools could offer.Over time, I realized that different tools serve different purposes. For example, I’ve found Claude especially useful for generating more formal, structured documents that could be great study guides when the appropriate information is shared beforehand. Exploring multiple platforms helped me work more efficiently and choose the right tool for the task.
🛑 Mistake 3: Not Using AI to Differentiate Instruction
A third mistake that I made was that I wasn’t fully using AI to support differentiation. While I was saving time, I wasn’t always using that time to create materials that met the needs of different groups of students.AI makes it easier to adjust reading levels, vary vocabulary, and create multiple versions of the same task. I could have been more intentional about designing activities that would support different subpopulations of learners, especially those developing academic language.
Now, when I use AI tools, I focus on adapting what is generated instead of blindly using them, whether that means creating multiple versions of a reading passage or adding supports that help students engage more fully with the content.
Final Thoughts
AI tools are powerful, but they work best when paired with thoughtful teaching. The goal isn’t just to work more efficiently. It’s to create learning experiences that are accessible, intentional, and meaningful.