Using AI to up-level your classroom
Welcome to 2024. The year of mainstream artificial intelligence.
It’s been around a while and yet in 2024 less than one third of Americans say they use AI on a daily basis.
AI can be as simple as using a chatbot for customer service and music list playlist recommendations like my new favorite “Daylist” on Spotify.
McKinsey stated that by 2045 Ai could automate up to 50% of our daily jobs, largely in careers that are knowledge based. And when I read that sentence, I got a little concerned because that is where my career lies. And then, I read the next line. The shift in automated tasks means that many employees will need to “use tools such as generative AI in the same way we use search engines and word processors.”
What that is telling me is, why not learn it now and be ready when it comes more mainstream!
As someone who did my first ChatGPT query in late 2022 to write a real estate love letter for a house we ended and used it this week to tweak some middle school questions about plant growth. I am happy to be your AI Guinea Pig!
I think the question most professionals have is, “can we use it to save time in our day to day life or work life”. The answer is yes, in varying shades of gray depending on your ideas for use, willingness to implement and your level of integration.
How To Effectively Start Using AI In Your Life and Work
Types of AI to try out!
ChatGPT: This is the OG (ok, don’t quote me on that, but it’s the first one I heard of). Use ChatGPT to do writing type tasks like coming up with titles for your upcoming presentations to getting gift ideas for gifts for your fishing loving grandpa.
Magic School: For the teachers out there, Magic School is a great place to start lesson planning, assessment planning or even translations for your multi language learners
Canva Magic Media: Canva has implemented a few AI tools into its interface. One is Magic Media where you write and idea for an image and Canva creates it.
There are plenty more to look at and sift through, but if you are new to AI I would suggest picking one that is most aligned with a task you would like to get some help with and start feeling comfortable using one AI tool for that task.
AI is a great place to unleash your creativity. Instead of attempting to Google something, you can use a very specific query in AI to get your ideas started.
For example, let’s say you are looking to name an event, plan a vacation, make a meal plan or even write a lesson plan. Ai is a great starting place to get ideas. But, Ai can’t do ALL the work for it. It comes down to how you ask the question and that all starts with a great prompt.
How To Make Good AI Prompts
To make a good Ai prompt follow these simple rules taken from Harvard (I mean, it’s Harvard and Elle Woods trusts them).
-Be Specific
AI has the power of the internet in their grasp. If you ask it a general question you are going to get a general response.
For example I asked ChatGPT (my AI of choice but there are plenty others) for a meal plan for a family of 4. She spat out breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas for 7 days and of those 21 meals I think my family would only eat 5.
I made the prompt more specific by adding in details that my kids are picky, we eat dinner for breakfast on Thursdays, and our main protein sources. And you better believe it that I would actually try all 7 of the ideas!
Be specific! And if AI pops out something that doesn’t work, give feedback and tweak. I love providing good feedback for my AI by saying “Thanks, you are on the right track. Could you try again with ________ in mind”
-Use Do and Don’t
AI loves directions. When you are able use “do” and “don’t” in your prompts, this allows the search to easily eliminate things that don’t sound good to you.
For example:
“Don’t use the word “very” in my MOH speech”
“Don’t provide any spicy foods in my meal plan”
“Do use any horticulture/plant puns.”
This is very helpful when you are building on your ideas.
Let’s say you were asking to name your new podcast and you are a dog walker, but you want the word Dog in the podcast for SEO reasons. Make sure you tell AI or you might end up with ideas like Pawsome Podcast or Canine Companion Chronicles.
-Use Examples
If you have examples, USE THEM in your prompts. Last summer I used AI to help with jazzing up some email subjects for our signature virtual conference. I was able to upload the email subjects I used that had great open and click rates and AI was able to suggest more ideas for me to A/B test.
You can also do this for life things like vacation planning (share what you’ve loved in the past) or professional things like editing your resume.
Where Do You Fall On The AI Conundrum
Now, don’t hear what I am not saying. I do not believe AI can replaces your human creativity.
I am currently sitting on my couch with my dog staring at me waiting to be taken on his daily afternoon walk typing away. If I placed the title for this blog into AI, it would totally write it. And I also think it would come off as a robot and if you have read my work, you would know it is not me.
I think about my incredible website and brand designer Nicole and what she was able to pull out of my brain and put into paper would never be replicated.
What about your favorite teachers from school, do you think they could just replace them with a robot that knows the curriculum in and out without an ounce of compassion or rapport? I don’t think so.
Or my go to color consultant Sarah Kraus. I tried the AI color analysis and got Autumn every single time because of my brown hair and dark hazel eyes. And on September 16, 2022 she in person draped me as a dark summer. And I never tried to wear earthy greens and mustard yellows again!
So, I am wondering:what is your level of commitment to experimenting with AI?
Are you All in, have mediocre interest, or have decided it’s not for you?
Connect with us on Instagram to get in on the AI conversation! We’d love to know your thoughts.
Three Trends in Learning for 2024 (that might stand the test of time)
New year, new trends am I right?
From hearing that you have to be on TikTok to learning that 90’s fashion is back and if you are in your mid 30’s you are cringing.
Trends come and trends go and one place that we KNOW this is a constant is education.
Platforms, initiatives, behavior techniques, rapport building exercises, virtual learning and more change faster than the Super Bowl betting predictions.
As an educator with over a decade of experience in the standard high school classroom and another half decade in adult education via online business I would say I am more than skeptical about trends in general.
I want the tried and true because I know it works and can last the test of time.
Therefore, I scoured the internet for trends in learning for 2024 and with my intense critique rivaling that of Miranda Priestly in Devil Wears Prada I present to you 3 trends in learning that (might just) last!
Let’s get into it ⬇️
3 Trends in Student or Adult Learning That Might Actually Last
1️⃣"Snack media"
No, this isn't the Jetson's microwave that automatically makes food for you. And no, not even like the Disney Channel Movie "Smart House" PAT (Personal Applied Technology) system to make you a snack.
Nope, snack media is also called "nano-learning"
This is a learning trend that leans into Gen-Z's proclivity to keep everything short and sweet.
This allows learners to learn what they need quickly with short form videos, infographics, podcasts and even interactive activities.
Basically it helps teach one specific skill and cuts the fluff that you might see on a traditional course.
Why is this important to your students?
➡Your students ARE Gen Z (if not Generation Alpha) and they are growing up with instant gratification and quick results.
➡Your students actually want to learn, you might just be not “hitting” it right for this new generation. Try something new that gets to the end of the lesson faster!
Why is this important to you as an entrepreneur?
➡Your clients habits are changing with technological advancements (and it's not just Gen Z, millennials also prefer short form learning)
➡People want to acquire new skills faster (and will pay for that experience)
➡People want to learn. This includes your clients. Have you thought about how a client experiences your learning activities?
2️⃣Gamification
Teachers, are you rolling your eyes yet? You already know kids are loving Gimkit, Blooket, Quizlet Live and [insert the next trendy platform that we’re hit with 🤪].
I get it, if you have to learn another game you might just go crazy. But I hate to be the one to break it to you… gamification is probably here to stay.
And guess what? If you grew up with a gameboy, super nintendo or even playing the snake game on your cell phone (GUILTY!), you started this trend.
Gamification is a learning technique that weaves in game-like elements like prizes, rewards, points, badges, quests and more. For the main purpose of making learning more interactive and engaging.
A whopping 67% of students agreed that gamified learning is more motivating than a traditional course. And when I say students, I mean ALL students regardless of gender, age, status or profession.
And it’s not just motivating, it actually increases the overall performance of the learner. So my fellow educators, it’s time to game it up!
Why is this important to your students?
➡Your students want to be entertained. That doesn’t mean you need to be a stand up comedian. You can pass some of that “work” off to games like Blooket, Gimkit, Quizizz and Kahoot.
➡This is another way to give your students a quick break from lecture or group work.
➡ Going off script and reminding you that games in class don’t have to be on the computer. You can incorporate many in person games like review Jenga, Connect 4, Grudgeball and Stinky Feet. Check out this blog post from The Not So Wimpy Teacher for directions on these review games.
Why is this important to you as an entrepreneur?
➡Your clients like a challenge. Can you implement it into your course, membership or coaching? Maybe a 5 day reading challenge or 45 Grit like Jenn Boughey (check out her highlights).
➡Games introduce awards into your programs. What are some ways you can recognize your clients? Maybe a client spotlight in your newsletter or even a monthly snail mail prize for a client.
➡If you have an online course, there are many built in apps for gamification. If you need help navigating this hit reply and let the G&G Team help you add this to your client offerings.
3️⃣Upskilling
Upskilling is exactly what it sounds like, acquiring new skills to level up! Students and Adult learners love an achievement (like we talked about in gamification).
A global study in 2023 found that Gen Z’s (including current 12 year olds to 27 year olds) have a desire for power and achievement. Even more so than millennials, gen X, boomers and the silent generation.
Providing an opportunity to provide upskilling can help satisfy your learners craving for achievement.
That is why more and more Americans spend money on online training, hiring coaches or spending money learning in other ways.
Why is this important to your students?
➡Your students are going to eventually leave your class. What are they leaving with? Is there a certification you can provide them with? In the Career Technical Education world we have commonly seen ServSafe, Youth For the Quality Care of Animals YQCA, Financial Education EverFi and National Career Readiness Certificate or NCRC.
➡Some students aren’t headed to college (and we are perfectly OK with that at G&G). Even still, there might be a way to provide them a certification or at minimum career skills to help them land their first job outside of high school.
➡ If you teach littles, we get that this is a little outside your realm. Upskilling can be as simple as tying shoes, lining up silently in the hall or holding the door open for other people. Those are mighty important skills for your students to learn as people!
Why is this important to you as an entrepreneur?
➡People who undertake Upskilling earn around $8,000 more than peers who haven’t taken training.
➡Think about you! What type of upskilling would help you elevate in your business?
➡People want to be on the “up-and-up” to stay relevant in the job market. What can and do you provide your clients to serve this need?
➡If you have an online course, you are already doing this. What do your clients get to show for their learning? Is there a blurb that you could provide them for their LinkedIn or Resume?
So, trends come and trends go. (Personally I am thankful for the outdated trend of puka shell necklaces.)
I am 87.5% certain that these trends will be here to stay at least until Generation Alpha decides to shake up the whole world.
With these timeless trends (a little bit contradictory, huh?) I’m curious to know, which one will you focus on first? At G&G, we’re personally leaning into SNACK MEDIA, so connect with us on Instagram and let us know what you’re up to!
What it’s like learning outside of your discipline
I was a teacher, specifically an agriculture teacher for a decade. One thing that we pride ourselves on was being a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Over my career I taught close to twenty different classes, most years teaching upwards of 6 different subjects. That kind of daily mind gymnastics bounding from one topic to another makes your brain expand in many different ways.
Truly, I was gifted with the opportunity to be flexible and work outside of my zone of genius daily.
Many industries don’t allow for this. You typically “stay in your lane” and do the work that you’ve been asked to do. So let me ask you… when was the last time you decided to step outside of your zone of genius?
While it might seem like staying in your one lane is the best thing to do, overspecialising can actually be detrimental to your career and business.
Being able to learn in a broad spectrum can help you achieve more in your current career and even move up. There are three values of learning outside of your discipline. Let’s take a look.
Three Values of Learning Outside Your Discipline
Learn new skills
Think about all the skills you need to do your job well. It’s a long list right? I can almost bet that some of those skills on your list are beneficial in other careers.
Like time management, hello! What about collaboration with team members or conversations with a client? You can decide to take some time to learn about more broad skills needed for your career.
For example, you might be a course creator for health/wellness but stepping outside of your niche and learning about email marketing might benefit you greatly.
What about if you are a teacher? Could taking a project management course help you gain skills in “getting it all done”?
Your new skills will help you elevate where you are in your career and allow you to enhance the skills you already have.
Alternate Thinking
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and they simply say something that just blows your mind? It’s because you have never even ventured to think the way they think – how amazing right?!
When you look at a problem or situation from a different vantage point you are able to get your brain to work in new and different ways.
I distinctly remember going to a conference session on history, not my favorite subject. What I walked away with was a new learning strategy I had never thought of to use in my classes about timelines. Who knew? Certainly not me. I had to immerse myself into something new to be able to gain that new knowledge.
Improve your work
You’ve heard how the saying goes… “An old dog can’t learn new tricks.” Well, I call bull!
Humans are habitual, it’s in our nature. What you do in your job daily starts to become habitual.
When you take a step back and implement some new skills or techniques from outside of your discipline you may be able to improve your work. You get to avoid the “same old, same old” practices of old. You get to improve yourself and your work all at once.
And bonus? I bet your boss will be happy to see the new coming from you!
I recently wrote about this on LinkedIn and my friend Shelley mentioned she recently took up learning about pastries and it has been blowing her mind. She is an entrepreneur, communications director, coach and professional pianist.
Could you easily say this drive to learn about pastries isn’t beneficial to her? You could… but I would push you and ask why you think that.
Because the truth is that she is creating new neural pathways in her brain.
She is learning about processes. She is learning about directions. She is learning about patience. She is learning about trial and error. She is learning about quality control. She is learning about trying new things. She is learning from experimenting.
All of those things can help her in truly any career.
And the same can be true for you too.
There is no need to pigeon hole yourself into one area of growth.
You can build a library of skills and knowledge that will benefit you as a whole person. If you want to learn it, go for it. It is still beneficial to your brain and your whole self even if it isn't career driven.
Because at the end of the day learning doesn’t have to be results driven.
And if you want to dive into learning in 2024, join educators from across the country at Germinate Empowered. Registration closes on Saturday January 6, 2024.
If you read this after the registration deadline, stay connected with G&G through the podcast, blog, and Instagram
Saving Your Teacher Sanity with Exit Directions
Have you ever given your students directions and released them to work, only to have multiple kids ask you what they’re supposed to be doing? 😅
I think it’s probably happened to all of us and it can be a real frustration in the classroom as a teacher. To prevent this from happening on an ongoing basis, you can implement exit directions.
Exit directions bring true purpose and clarity in the classroom and quite honestly give you your sanity back!
Picture this: you’ve just delivered directions for what your students should work on next and you’re ready to exit the teaching stage. You project a slide on your board that everyone can clearly see and read.
Your students have little to no questions and are ready to get to work. The rest of class time is filled with students doing exactly what was expected of them and you end class feeling confident in yourself as a teacher!
That’s a picture you want to see, right?!
You can achieve that ⤴️ when you implement exit directions, friend!
What they are not: step-by-step written directions for the assignment - that’s what you give during your teaching time.
What they are: what they should be doing during and after they complete the assignment
For example, exit directions could be something like:
Get into groups of 4
Complete notebook assignment
When completed, get stamp
When done, [insert options they can do]
In order to do this well, we encourage you to couple your exit directions with images or emojis so that it captures your students' attention in a new way and so that it trains them that when they see the image, it sparks something in their brain and they know exactly what to do.
Implementing exit directions allows students to really lead themselves with a little guidance from you so that you aren’t the one having to do all of the heavy lifting throughout the entire day.
Try out Exit Directions in your classroom today to provide clarity, direction and purpose to your students while saving your sanity!
If you are hoping to hear more about Exit Directions, head over to the Green & Growing Education Podcast Episode 128 for our Educational Director to give you more tips and tricks.
Time to tweak your fundraising messaging
Fundraising gets a bad rap for being pushy and surface level.
We tend to associate fundraising in the AgEd world as meat sticks, wreaths and cookie dough.
In reality, it is so much more.
It’s about opportunity, it’s about impact, it’s about legacy!
The funds you raise give students an opportunity which impacts their lives and can eventually lead to a legacy they build for their families, friends and careers.
And that is the VERY reason we should put more intention and care into our fundraisers!
If you are looking for that intention and care. Here are three quick tips for you to tweak your fundraising messaging.
Be a storyteller
You know what sells? Things that people can buy EMOTIONALLY. How much more likely are you to buy the wreath from the kid who told the story about how the wreath is helping their chapter sponsor a local animal shelter versus the kid who just asks for the sale? Teach the students to tell the story of the fund. Remember you aren’t raising money, you are raising opportunities!
Be specific
Confused people don’t buy! When you are SPECIFIC about your fundraiser, it is easier for people to buy. Be specific about WHAT you are selling, WHERE you are selling it, WHEN they can pick up, and WHY you are selling it (remember to be a story teller). Make sure your students know the answers to all of these questions before selling!
Find your people
Not everyone wants a wreath, not everyone wants a geranium, not everyone wants a meat stick, not everyone wants a donut. AND THAT IS OK. Your job is to FIND the people who DO want it and SHOW UP where they are! Selling meat sticks with a newspaper article might not hit the right audience. Selling the plant sale with posters around the school might not hit the right audience. Dive deep into WHO the RIGHT buyer is, and find out where they show up, and sell there!
Set aside some time before you announce your next fundraiser to think through how you can be a storyteller, be specific and find your people.