It may seem like artificial intelligence is all we hear about lately. From concerns about cheating and data privacy to the unlimited possibilities for using it to transform learning, there is a lot we still need to figure out. But for some people, just getting started can feel overwhelming and possibly even scary. If you identify with this, we’ve put together a quick starter guide for using an AI chatbot that will have you safely jumping in to see what everyone is talking about.

If you want to dig deeper, ISTE has a library of resources to help educators use AI in meaningful and safe ways.

A Brief Artificial Intelligence Primer

Artificial intelligence is a field that studies how computers can simulate human intelligence in areas such as learning, reasoning, and decision-making. This can be especially helpful in situations where replicable results are needed, such as surgeries and emergency responses, but where human decision-making might be affected by emotions, exhaustion, or stress. Artificial intelligence works by taking massive amounts of data and using it to make predictions, synthesize “new” results, and make decisions. It can process vast amounts of information very quickly, saving time and resources.

An AI “model” is a computer program that processes a set of information in a specific way. Each model is “trained” on a data set that could (and likely will) evolve over time. One of the challenges of artificial intelligence is that the results are only as good as the training data. This is why there are concerns about bias, representation, and false information in AI models.

Although you may be new to thinking about artificial intelligence, it has been in use for a long time. You probably have been using it without even considering it. Spam filters in your email, social media algorithms, and real-time navigational tools like Google Maps all utilize artificial intelligence to make decisions and predictions to benefit the user. While they have a high degree of accuracy, sometimes these models are wrong. This is one of the challenges of artificial intelligence.

Introduction to ChatGPT

A wide range of artificial intelligence tools is available for the public to use, and the number is growing daily. We’ll focus on ChatGPT because it’s popular, widely available, and easy to start with, but note that there are tools out there that may be more adaptable to educators’ needs.

ChatGPT from OpenAI is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot. With a chatbot, the user enters relevant information and makes a request. The chatbot uses the data in its artificial intelligence model to return an appropriate response. The user can ask the chatbot to fine-tune the results as needed. While some AI tools might be highly specialized—modeling weather patterns, predicting climate change, driving autonomous vehicles—ChatGPT is designed for general use. It has several “models” available. Each of these may have a different data set and/or process that data in a unique manner.

ChatGPT, which is operated by OpenAI, is free to use with some limitations. The free account may not have full access to the most up-to-date AI model and may limit the number of queries a user can make. OpenAI adjusts the account information over time, but the free account is typically just right for learning and will continue to be the right choice for many users.

Why Learn About AI? What are Some Concerns?

If you’re still feeling skeptical about exploring AI, you’re not alone. But there are several key reasons why it makes sense for educators to become familiar with AI tools:

1. It’s the future. AI is not going away, and having a basic understanding of what it is and how it works is helpful.

2. Your students will be using it, both now and in the future. As an educator, you can teach them to use AI safely and strategically and prepare them for future tech.

3. It can save time. AI can synthesize large amounts of information, such as summarizing a research study; breaking down complex projects into smaller tasks with deadlines; assisting with writing needs, including adjusting for tone and audience; and serving as a brainstorming partner when you’re feeling stuck.

4. It can provide ways to personalize and deepen student learning, creating new opportunities for creative thinking, problem-solving, and research-based tasks.

With all of the positive aspects of artificial intelligence, there are some essential things to keep in mind:

1. AI isn’t “smart.” Results may not always be correct, make sense, or be appropriate for the situation. Always apply your human intelligence to the results.

2. As with any online tool, you need to familiarize yourself with the privacy policy. Never enter sensitive information.

3. Bias and lack of representation are inherent challenges with AI, as mentioned above. Always review your results with an eye on how they reflect your students and the greater community.

Getting Started with ChatGPT

Now that you know what you’re getting into, check your school/district technology guidelines for any policies on ChatGPT and AI tools. They may have recommendations for other tools to use within your classroom. If it’s not appropriate to use ChatGPT in your school or district, consider setting up a personal account so you can practice crafting meaningful prompts and explore how you and your students can benefit from AI. Then:

1. Head to https://chatgpt.com/ and click “Create New Account” in the upper right-hand corner.

2. Sign in. This involves a few steps, which include verifying your email and entering your name and birthday. Make sure you read through the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

3. Manage your settings. When you enter your own data, queries, and revisions into a free ChatGPT account, OpenAI will use this information to train their data models by default. You can opt out of having your information used for training through the following steps:

   1. Click on your account icon and choose “Settings.”

   2. Navigate to the “Data Control Tab.”

   3. Click on “Improve the model for everyone” and toggle the setting to “Off.”

   4. For more information, visit the OpenAI Data Controls FAQ.

Some additional tips to consider:

• ChatGPT supports separate chats to keep information distinct. For example, you can create a chat for each class you teach or for special events and projects. ChatGPT will “remember” information you provided in the past to allow you to have an ongoing conversation. The “New Chat” button is at the top of the screen in the left sidebar.

• If you don’t want ChatGPT to save a specific conversation, click on the drop-down arrow next to “ChatGPT” in the header and toggle “Temporary Chat.” This also keeps ChatGPT from training on that chat instance.

• You can upload a document for ChatGPT to use as background information or to request a summary–but remember not to upload anything that contains sensitive information. Free accounts have some limits on uploading documents.

Suggestions for Starting Queries to Get Started

You can ask ChatGPT to write, search online, summarize, and brainstorm. It can also generate images. These requests for information are called “prompts” and learning how to craft the best possible prompts is an art unto itself. The stronger the prompt, the more useful the result.

In addition to the basic task at hand, consider the following when crafting your prompts:

• Persona - What role is the AI taking on? What expertise should it assume?

• Audience - Who should the end result cater to? Does it need to match a certain age level or skill level?

• Format - How should the end result be presented? Do you want bullet points or a timeline?

• Constraints - What limitations should be placed on the results? Are there time, budget, or other constraints?

• Tone - Are you looking for something lighthearted? Professional?

• Examples - Are there pre-existing documents or resources the AI can model its results on?

Don’t worry too much about crafting the perfect prompt right away. You are entering into a dialog with ChatGPT and you can always ask to refine your results!

We’ve put together some sample prompts to get you started in your exploration and help you think about different ways to utilize AI. While your results will differ from ours, we’ve also provided some follow-up questions to either refine or deepen your results. You should be able to see where a more specific prompt would have resulted in better results, but also how easy it is to clarify your needs. Have fun experimenting!

Prompt: Design a lesson plan for teaching high school freshmen about ChatGPT.

Follow-up prompts:

• [ChatGPT gave us a one-hour lesson.] Our class is actually 90 minutes. Extend the lesson with a fun activity.

• I have two students who speak primarily Spanish. Can I get instructions in Spanish to help them if they get stuck?

Prompt: Our elementary school is holding a bake sale and carnival to raise money for field trips. Today is October 22, and the event is on February 1. Create a timeline with steps to plan this event.

Follow-up prompts:

• The school is closed from December 24 to January 1. Adjust the timeline to skip that week.

• We split our planning team into two committees. One will do marketing and manage volunteers, while the other will focus on activities, donations, setup, and cleanup. Label Committee 1 and Committee 2 in the timeline.

Prompt: We're holding a weeklong day camp for our 5th graders over the winter break. What are some fun activities we can do with them inside and outside, with or without snow?

Follow-up prompts:

• What is a good winter-themed movie for this age group?

• What are those movies rated?

• Write an email inviting families to register their kids.

Prompt: My 5th-grade students have collected data on traffic patterns at an intersection near our school, including safety statistics. What are some creative and effective ways for them to present their data?

Follow-up prompt:

• I like the [interactive digital map] idea. Can I get instructions on how to create one?

Next Steps and More Information

Hopefully, you’ve had fun exploring ChatGPT and getting a sense of some of the possibilities AI can offer you and your students. We’ve given you some simple examples that can certainly save you time and even help you diversify your classroom activities. But learning to use AI effectively and meaningfully is a journey. The next step is to look beyond these basic tasks to examine how can AI deepen and customize learning opportunities for your students. Your school and district may already have initiatives in place to start to answer this question.

Here are some additional posts about the use of AI in the classroom and beyond:

• Easing the Burden on Schools: Five Quality Indicators for Edtech & AI Products

• 10 Easy Ways Teachers Can Use ChatGPT

• 5 Tips for Using AI in the Classroom

• Authentic Engagement: Michael Hernandez on Using AI and Meaningful Assessments to Reenergize Learning

ISTE also offers several books about AI for educators:

• “How to Teach AI” by Rachelle Dené Poth

• “AI for School Leaders” by Vickie F. Echols

• “AI in the Classroom (Jump Start Guide)” by Nancye Blair Black

For ISTE members, there are also webinars that explore using AI in the classroom:

• Empowering Civic Engagement Through AI: Integrating Generative AI to Teach Balanced Social Studies

• AI for Innovative Lesson Design

• AI for Inclusion: Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Student Learning Needs

• AI Exploration in the K-6 Classroom

• Altruism Through Machine Learning: Using AI as a Path for Students to Make Lives Better for Others

Christy Matte is the editor for the ISTE blog. She is passionate about lifelong learning, supporting and mentoring young people, and the power of technology as a tool for self-expression. She holds an M.Ed. in Technology in Education from Lesley University and has shared her joy for creative technological pursuits with kids and adults from Manhattan to Manila.

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