Beyond the Curtain:
Curating the Magic of AI
"You've always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself."
The "Great and Powerful" AI doesn't have to be a mysterious force. In this hands-on sandbox, we move beyond generic prompts to explore Collaborative AI.
We are focusing on the Heart, Brains, and Courage of AI use in the classroom:
Critical Thinking
Evaluating AI outputs against your disciplinary expertise.
Meaningful Design
Ensuring human collaboration respects original scholarship.
Adaptive Mindset
Preparing for whatever version of AI emerges next.
The Brains: Critical Thinking
The Scarecrow Gem
Your critical thinking thought partner.
* Requires Google account to access
Quest Steps
Launch the Scarecrow Gem and upload your course materials or brainstorm ideas for a new course module.
Ask: "Based on this content, what are the 3 most difficult concepts for students to grasp? Why?"
Challenge the Brains: "Now, create a counter-intuitive analogy for the most difficult concept that only an expert in my field would find accurate."
The Transformation
Use the Scarecrow to find the 'missing pieces' in AI logic. Challenge it to see your field through a non-traditional lens.
The Heart: Meaningful Design
The Tin Woodman Gem
Focusing on human connection.
* Requires Google account to access
Quest Steps
Launch the Tin Woodman Gem and share an assignment description or brainstorm ideas for a high-impact student project.
Ask the Heart: "How can I make this assignment feel more real and urgent for my students so they WANT to do the work themselves?"
Brainstorm: "What elements of personal reflection or community connection could I add to make this assignment AI-resistant?"
The Transformation
Shift from 'policing AI' to 'designing for human meaning.' Focus on why the work matters to the student's soul.
The Courage: Adaptive Thinking
The Cowardly Lion Gem
Embracing the future of teaching.
* Requires Google account to access
Quest Steps
Launch the Lion Gem and share a 'traditional' assignment or brainstorm ideas for a brand new learning activity.
The Pivot: Ask "How could this learning outcome be demonstrated through a completely different medium, like a podcast or museum exhibit?"
The Scaffold: Ask the Lion to generate a rubric for one of these new creative formats that values 'process' over 'final polish.'
The Transformation
Have the courage to let go of 'the way we've always done it.' Use the Lion to pivot, play, and reimagine your pedagogical assumptions.
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