Choose Reading Levels Carefully
AI tools can adjust text complexity. This is useful for differentiating instruction. Give the AI specific instructions. Tell it to rewrite a passage for a 5th-grade reading level. Or ask for a simplified version for English language learners.
However, always provide the original text to the AI. Do not ask it to generate content from scratch. This ensures the output is based on an existing, verifiable source. You control the core information while AI helps adapt its presentation.
Ask for Questions, Not Answers
Use AI to generate inquiry-based learning. Instead of asking for a summary, ask for guiding questions. For example, give the AI a historical document. Then prompt it: 'Generate five open-ended questions about this document that encourage critical thinking.'
This approach shifts AI from content provider to learning assistant. The AI helps frame the discussion. Students still research and form their own conclusions. They use primary and secondary sources you provide, not AI-generated answers.
Every Claim Needs a Page Number
This is crucial for transparency. When AI helps summarize or extract information, make sure it links back to specific pages. For example, give the AI a PDF of a textbook chapter. Ask it to 'Extract key facts about photosynthesis, and for each fact, cite the page number from the PDF.'
This ensures that any fact or statement in your lesson can be checked. Students can open the original source. They can find the exact location of the information. This practice teaches important research and verification skills. It builds trust in the materials you provide.
Classroom Example: The Water Cycle
Here is how to create a transparent lesson on the water cycle. First, select a trusted science textbook chapter or online article on the water cycle. Share this source with your students.
Next, use an AI tool. Upload the source text. Ask the AI: 'Based on this document, create a list of five key vocabulary words related to the water cycle. For each word, provide a one-sentence definition and the page number where it is defined or first appears.' Then, ask: 'Generate three comprehension questions about the water cycle, based on this text, that require students to refer back to the source to answer.'
Students now have a clear task. They have specific questions. They can use the provided vocabulary and source citations to complete the activity. They can verify every piece of information. The AI helped structure the activity. It did not replace the source material or student effort.