Rebecca Bultsma

for Educators

The AI Try-It Lab

with Rebecca Bultsma

Website LinkedIn Substack Podcast Email

Okay so here's the deal. This page is your lab menu. We covered some of these together today, and the rest are take-home. Every prompt below is copy-paste ready (just tap the Copy button). Every step-by-step is written so you can follow it on your own, at your own pace, without needing me in the room.

You don't need to do all of these. Pick the one that made you go "oh, that's useful" and start there. One tool. One real task. That's it.

01

Be the DJAI Music with Suno 🎵

Ssuno.com
▾

Yes, we're starting with music. No, this isn't a gimmick. This is the fastest way to see what generative AI actually does (and have a blast doing it).

What you're doing: Creating a 2-minute song that captures your school's unique spirit.

Step-by-step

  1. Go to suno.com and sign up with your personal email (not your school email)
  2. Click the "Create" tab on the left sidebar
  3. Select "Simple" along the top
  4. In the Song Description box, describe the genre you want (e.g., "Upbeat 90s Pop," "Acoustic Folk," "Classic Rock"). Browse suno.com/explore for genre ideas
  5. Use specific keywords for your song topic: your school name, mascot, a recent win, or your school motto
  6. Click "Create"
  7. Listen to both generated versions and pick the one that feels most authentic to your community

Fun ideas to try

The Staff Anthem

Upbeat 90s pop anthem about the teachers at [your school name]. They run on coffee, survive fire drills, and somehow make fractions fun. Celebratory, funny, and a little bit dramatic.

The Hallway Hype Song

High-energy hip hop hype song for [school mascot name]. Play it during morning announcements or pep rallies. Should make kids want to stomp their feet and chant along. School pride, positive energy, zero cringe.

The Goodbye Song (Retiring Teacher or End of Year)

Heartfelt acoustic folk song about a beloved teacher who's retiring after [X] years. Mention the little things - the inside jokes, the extra help after school, the way they always believed in their students. Make people cry (in a good way).

The Curriculum Banger

Catchy pop song that teaches the steps of the scientific method for Grade [X] students. Should be so annoyingly catchy that kids can't stop singing it. Think Bill Nye meets Taylor Swift.

The Sub Plan Survival Anthem

Funny country song from the perspective of a substitute teacher walking into a classroom for the first time. The lesson plan says one thing, the kids say another, and nobody can find the markers. Keep it lighthearted and relatable.

The Snow Day Bop

Joyful reggae song about the magic of a snow day. Kids celebrating, teachers secretly celebrating even harder, hot chocolate, pajamas all day. Pure happiness energy.
Tips: The free account gives you limited credits. Make your prompts count. Try different genres to see what fits your school's vibe. Share with your staff for a fun morale boost.
02

Teach ChatGPT Who You AreCustom Instructions

Gchat.openai.com
▾

Here's the thing. Most people open ChatGPT and re-introduce themselves every. single. time. "I teach Grade 5..." Forty times a week. Custom Instructions fix that permanently. You tell it who you are once, and every future conversation already knows your context.

What you're doing: Setting up ChatGPT's memory so it knows your role, your grade, your students, and how you want it to talk to you. Forever.

Step-by-step

  1. Go to chat.openai.com and log in
  2. Click your profile icon (bottom-left corner)
  3. Click "Customize ChatGPT"
  4. You'll see two boxes. Fill in both using one of the sample sets below (or write your own)
  5. Click "Save"

That's it. Every new conversation now starts with ChatGPT already knowing your context.

Sample 1: Classroom Teacher (Elementary)

What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?

I'm a Grade 3 classroom teacher at an elementary school in [your school district] in [your province/state]. I have 24 students, including 3 ELL learners and 2 students with IEPs. I teach all subjects. My classroom uses flexible seating and centres-based learning. I follow [your local] curriculum and use a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach. I value student privacy and never share real student names or identifying details with AI tools.

How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

Be practical and give me ready-to-use materials I can print or paste into Google Classroom. Align everything to [your local] curriculum competencies. Use [your preferred] spelling conventions. Keep language age-appropriate for Grades 2-4. When I ask for lesson plans, include time estimates, materials lists, and at least one modification for ELL and IEP learners. Don't give me generic ideas - give me specific, step-by-step instructions I can hand to a substitute teacher. Ask me clarifying questions if I don't give enough detail.

Sample 2: Classroom Teacher (Secondary)

What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?

I'm a secondary school teacher in [your school district] in [your province/state]. I teach Grade 10 Social Studies and Grade 11 History. My classes average 30 students with a wide range of reading levels. I use project-based learning and Socratic seminars. I follow [your local] curriculum and assess using proficiency scales (Emerging, Developing, Proficient, Extending). I value critical thinking over memorization and never share real student names or identifying details with AI tools.

How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

Be direct and specific. Give me materials I can adapt quickly - not generic templates. Align to [your local] curriculum competencies and standards. Use [your preferred] spelling conventions and Canadian/BC context when relevant. When I ask for assessments, use [your local] proficiency scale and assessment language. Help me design activities that promote discussion and evidence-based argumentation, not worksheets. If I paste student writing, help me give feedback - don't rewrite it for me. Ask clarifying questions instead of guessing.

Sample 3: Resource / Learning Support Teacher

What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?

I'm a Learning Support Teacher (Resource) in [your school district] in [your province/state]. I support students across Grades K-7 with diverse learning needs including learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, anxiety, and giftedness. I write and manage IEPs, consult with classroom teachers, and run small-group interventions. I follow [your jurisdiction's] inclusive education framework and guidelines for IEPs. I value strengths-based language and never use deficit framing. I never share real student names or identifying details with AI tools.

How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

Use strengths-based, person-first language at all times. When I ask for IEP goal suggestions, make them specific, measurable, and aligned to [your local] curriculum. Help me write goals that a classroom teacher can actually implement - not theoretical ideals. When I describe a student's challenges, help me think about accommodations, modifications, and environmental supports. Keep recommendations practical for a regular classroom setting. Use [your preferred] spelling conventions. If I ask about a specific disability or diagnosis, cite evidence-based strategies and name the approach (e.g., Orton-Gillingham, Zones of Regulation). Ask questions before assuming.

Sample 4: School Administrator / Principal

What would you like ChatGPT to know about you?

I'm a school principal (K-7 elementary) in [your school district] in [your province/state]. I lead a staff of 40 and a student body of 350. My priorities include instructional leadership, staff professional development, Indigenous education, SEL, and building positive school culture. I report to the district superintendent and work closely with PAC, support staff, and community partners. I follow [your jurisdiction's] education policies and professional code of ethics. I value transparent communication and never share confidential staff or student information with AI tools.

How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

Help me communicate clearly and professionally. When I draft parent letters, keep them warm but concise - under 300 words, no jargon. When I plan PD sessions, give me agendas with time blocks and facilitation notes. Help me write staff feedback that's specific, growth-oriented, and grounded in the [your jurisdiction's] teacher evaluation framework. When I need policy language, keep it plain and human. Use [your preferred] spelling conventions and [your jurisdiction's] education terminology. Don't give me corporate-sounding leadership speak. Be direct.

The difference is dramatic

Without Custom Instructions
"Write a lesson plan" → generic, American, not grade-appropriate
With Custom Instructions
"Write a lesson plan on fractions" → BC-aligned, your grade level, your class context
How is this different from Projects (Lab 04)? Custom Instructions apply to ALL your chats globally, every conversation you start. Projects apply only inside a specific workspace. Use both: Custom Instructions for your general identity, Projects for specific ongoing tasks.
03

The GPT Store + JobsGPTAI Tools Others Have Built for You

Gchat.openai.com
▾

So you know how your phone has an app store? ChatGPT has one too. And thousands of people (including educators) have already built custom AI tools you can use for free. Instead of crafting the perfect prompt from scratch, someone already did that work. You just show up and use it.

Step-by-step

  1. Go to chat.openai.com and log in
  2. Click "Explore GPTs" in the left sidebar
  3. You're now in the GPT Store. Browse categories or use the search bar

Try this first: JobsGPT by SmarterX

  1. In the GPT Store search bar, type "JobsGPT by SmarterX"
  2. Open it and tell it your role, e.g., "I'm a Grade 6 teacher at [your school]" or "I'm a school counsellor at an elementary school"
  3. JobsGPT will give you customized AI suggestions specific to your job, things you wouldn't think to ask for
  4. Try it with different roles or different parts of your job to see what it surfaces

Search for educator tools

Try these searches in the GPT Store:

  • "lesson plan"
  • "rubric builder"
  • "IEP"
  • "report card comments"
  • "reading level"
  • "differentiation"
Example of what's possible: Search for "EdTech Terms Red Flag Scanner" by Rebecca Bultsma. Upload any EdTech vendor's Terms & Conditions and it flags red-risk clauses, translates them to plain language, and generates email-ready questions to send to the vendor. This is what a custom GPT can do.

Tip: When you find a GPT you like, click the star to save it. It'll appear in your sidebar for quick access.

04

ChatGPT ProjectsYour Reusable Workspace

Gchat.openai.com
▾

Custom Instructions (Lab 02) tell ChatGPT who you are globally. But what about a specific recurring task? Like reviewing vendor contracts, drafting parent communications, or planning an entire unit? That's what Projects are for. You give it task-specific instructions, upload your actual documents, and every conversation inside that project has all of that context automatically. No re-explaining. No re-uploading.

Step-by-step

  1. Go to chat.openai.com and log in
  2. Click "Create a new project" in the left sidebar
  3. Name it, e.g., "My Classroom Assistant"
  4. Click the three dots in the top right corner
  5. Click "Add instructions". Paste a prompt that tells ChatGPT how to behave in this project
  6. Click "Add files". Upload reference documents (curriculum guides, your class list template, rubric examples, district policies)
  7. Now every conversation you start inside this project uses those instructions and files automatically

Example: "My Classroom Assistant" project

Instructions to paste:

You are my classroom teaching assistant. I teach Grade [X] [subject] at [school] in [district/city]. When I ask you to create materials, always align to [your local] curriculum. Use [your preferred] spelling conventions. Format everything so I can copy-paste directly into Google Docs. When I give you a lesson topic, automatically include: learning objectives, time breakdown, materials needed, differentiation ideas for 3 levels, and a formative assessment check. Always ask if I want a printable version.

Files to upload:

  • Your class schedule
  • Curriculum document for your subject/grade
  • Your school's report card comment template
  • Any rubric templates you reuse

The difference from Custom Instructions

  • Custom Instructions (Lab 02): Apply to ALL chats. Your general identity.
  • Projects (Lab 04): Apply to ONE workspace. Your specific task context.

Other project ideas for educators

  • "IEP Writer". Upload your school's IEP template + Ministry guidelines, paste in assessment notes, get draft goals
  • "Parent Communication". Upload your school's newsletter template + PAC schedule, draft parent letters in your school's voice
  • "Unit Planner". Upload the curriculum doc for your subject, plan entire units with aligned assessments
  • "Policy Scanner". Upload your district's data privacy policy, paste in vendor terms, get a compliance review
05

Image Generation with GeminiThe Fun Prompt

✦gemini.google.com
▾

Okay, this one's just fun. You know how you spend 20 minutes on Google Images looking for the "right" clip art and it's never quite right? AI image generation lets you describe exactly what you want and it creates it in seconds. The more specific you are, the better the result. (Seriously, go wild with the details.)

Step-by-step

  1. Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your Google account
  2. Type your image request directly in the chat. Start with "Create an image of..."
  3. Wait a few seconds. Gemini will generate image options
  4. Click on the one you like to enlarge it, then download

Try this prompt: a subject-specific classroom illustration

Create a vibrant, hand-drawn style illustration showing the key concepts of [topic] for a Grade [X] classroom bulletin board. Educational but visually engaging, using bright colours and clear labels.

Fill in the blanks with your own content. For example:

  • "...the key concepts of the water cycle for a Grade 5 classroom bulletin board"
  • "...the key concepts of the parts of a plant cell for a Grade 9 classroom bulletin board"
  • "...the key concepts of Canadian Confederation for a Grade 7 classroom bulletin board"

Tips on getting better results

  • Be specific, not vague. "A picture of science" → bad. "A colourful diagram of the three states of matter with cartoon characters for solid, liquid, and gas" → great.
  • Name the style you want: "hand-drawn," "cartoon," "watercolour," "flat design," "infographic style"
  • Iterate! After the first result, ask Gemini to adjust:
    • "Make it more colourful"
    • "Add labels to each part"
    • "Change to a cartoon style"
    • "Make the text bigger and bolder"
    • "Add a border that looks like a chalkboard frame"

The point: You're not stuck with whatever Google Images gives you. You can create exactly what you need for your classroom, your topic, your grade level.

06

The Sketchnote InfographicThe Power Prompt

✦gemini.google.com
▾

This is where "fun" meets "genuinely useful." You're going to take raw notes (messy, bullet points, whatever you've got) and turn them into a professional-looking sketchnote visual summary. The kind you'd see at a conference with a live graphic recorder. Except it takes 30 seconds and costs nothing.

Step-by-step

  1. Go to gemini.google.com (or stay in Gemini if you're already there)
  2. First, gather some notes. Use whatever you've jotted down during today's session, or type a quick summary of 5-10 things you've learned
  3. Paste your notes into Gemini, then add this prompt right after them:
Create a hand-drawn sketchnote visual summary of these notes. Use a pristine white paper background (no lines). The art style should be 'graphic recording' or 'visual thinking' using black ink fine-liners for clear outlines and text. Use colored markers (specifically black white and #c15f3c ) for simple shading and accents. Center the main title in a 3D-style rectangular box. Surround the title with radially distributed simple doodles, business icons, stick figures, and graphs that explain the concepts. Use arrows to connect ideas. The text should be distinct, handwritten, all-caps printing, legible and organized like a professional brainstorming session.
  1. Hit enter and watch the magic happen
  2. Download your sketchnote. It's ready to share, print, or post
Try it right now: Paste in 5-10 bullet points from today's session + the prompt above. See what you get.

Why this prompt is so powerful

  • It specifies the exact art style (graphic recording)
  • It specifies the exact colour palette (black, white, and that burnt orange #c15f3c)
  • It specifies the exact layout (radial, with arrows connecting ideas)
  • It specifies the exact text style (handwritten, all-caps, legible)

Educator uses

  • Turn staff meeting notes into a visual summary to share with your team
  • Turn a unit's Big Ideas into a sketchnote anchor chart
  • Turn a PD session's key takeaways into a one-page reference
  • Turn student brainstorming into a visual they'll actually look at

Now... that prompt is long. What if you never had to type it again? That's Lab 07. →

07

Build a GemSave Your Best Prompts Forever

✦gemini.google.com
▾

Remember that long sketchnote prompt from Lab 06? Imagine never having to type (or paste) it again. A Gem is a custom AI assistant you train once and reuse forever. You give it instructions, it remembers them, and every time you open it, it's ready to go. One click. No re-prompting.

This is where AI stops being a novelty and starts being a genuine time-saver.

Phase 1: Turn the Sketchnote Prompt into a Gem

You just experienced the value of that sketchnote prompt. Now save it.

  1. Go to gemini.google.com and sign in with your Google account
  2. In the left sidebar, click "Explore Gems"
  3. Click "New Gem"
  4. Name your Gem: "Sketchnote Maker"
  5. In the instructions box, paste:
When the user gives you notes, bullet points, or any text content, create a hand-drawn sketchnote visual summary. Use a pristine white paper background (no lines). The art style should be 'graphic recording' or 'visual thinking' using black ink fine-liners for clear outlines and text. Use colored markers (specifically black white and #c15f3c ) for simple shading and accents. Center the main title in a 3D-style rectangular box. Surround the title with radially distributed simple doodles, business icons, stick figures, and graphs that explain the concepts. Use arrows to connect ideas. The text should be distinct, handwritten, all-caps printing, legible and organized like a professional brainstorming session. Ask the user what they'd like the main title to be if it's not obvious from their notes.
  1. Click "Save"

Done. Your Sketchnote Maker Gem now lives in your sidebar. Next time you want a sketchnote, just open it and paste your notes. No prompt needed.

Phase 2: Try a Ready-Made Gem

Now that you know how Gems work, check out two ready-made ones you can use right now:

Both are free, both work on any Google account, and both include the option to build your own personalized version.

This is FREE on any Google account, no paid plan required.

More Gem ideas for educators

  • Report Card Comment Writer. Give it your school's comment bank style, proficiency scale, and tone preferences. Paste in student bullet points, get draft comments.
  • Parent Email Drafter. Give it your tone, school context, and typical email types. Describe the situation, get a draft.
  • Lesson Differentiator. Give it your grade level and the 3 differentiation tiers you use. Paste in a lesson, get 3 versions.
  • IEP Goal Tracker. Give it your students' goal areas and progress note format. Describe observations, get draft updates.

The pattern: Any task you do more than twice with a long prompt → make it a Gem.

08

NotebookLMLearn It by Using It

Nnotebooklm.google.com
▾

NotebookLM might be the most underrated AI tool out there. It turns any document (a PDF, a Google Doc, a website) into something you can have a conversation with. It cites its sources. It doesn't make things up. And it can turn a dense 40-page report into a 5-minute podcast you listen to on your commute.

The twist? We're going to learn NotebookLM by having it teach us about itself. (Yes, really.)

Step-by-step: The Meta Demo

  1. Go to notebooklm.google.com and sign in with your Google account
  2. Click "New Notebook"
  3. Click "Add Sources"
  4. Select "Website" and paste this URL:
    https://support.google.com/notebooklm
    (This is Google's own help center for NotebookLM)
  5. Once the source is loaded, ask NotebookLM questions about itself in the chat:
    • "What can I use NotebookLM for?"
    • "What types of sources can I upload?"
    • "How does the Audio Overview feature work?"
    • "What are the limitations I should know about?"
  6. Click "Verify" on any answer. It will highlight the exact sentence in the help docs where it found the information
  7. Now click "Studio" in the sidebar and select "Audio Overview"
  8. Choose "Deep Dive" and let it generate
  9. You now have a podcast-style briefing about how to use NotebookLM, made by NotebookLM
You just learned the tool by using the tool.

Explore Featured Notebooks

While you're in NotebookLM, look for "Featured Notebooks" on the home screen. These are curated by Google and include:

  • OpenStax textbooks (free, open-source college textbooks)
  • Research collections
  • Examples of what a fully built-out notebook looks like

Browse these to see the possibilities before building your own.

Studio Features: everything you can create from your sources

  • Audio Overview · Podcast-style briefing (choose Deep Dive, Brief, Critique, or Debate)
  • Data Table · Extracts structured data into a table
  • Mind Map · Visual map of key concepts and connections
  • Reports · Formatted summary reports
  • Slide Deck · Auto-generates presentation slides
  • Infographic · Visual summary of key data
  • Quiz · Auto-generates quiz questions from your sources
  • Flashcards · Study cards from your content

Educator use cases: build notebooks for

  • Curriculum documents · Upload your curriculum PDF, ask questions about standards and competencies
  • District policies · Upload your district's policies, get plain-language summaries
  • Research papers · Upload that 40-page study you've been meaning to read, generate a 5-minute audio briefing
  • Professional development · Upload PD materials, create study guides and quizzes
  • Course planning · Upload multiple textbook chapters, ask it to identify themes and connections
09

Red Team RudyYour Assessment's Toughest Critic (and Biggest Fan)

✦Open Red Team Rudy
▾

This is the one teachers can't stop talking about. Red Team Rudy is your AI colleague who stress-tests your assessments - he finds exactly where students would use AI to skip the thinking, then helps you redesign with creative alternatives that make thinking unavoidable. He's honest, he's fun, and he's never judgy.

What you're doing: Pasting any assignment, quiz, or project into Rudy and getting a full vulnerability report + creative redesign suggestions.

Option 1: Use the ready-made Gem (fastest)

  1. Click this link: Open Red Team Rudy
  2. Sign in with your Google account if prompted
  3. Paste any assignment, quiz, project description, or rubric
  4. Hit Enter and watch Rudy go to work

What you'll get back

  • The Target - Quick ID of what Rudy's looking at (subject, grade, type)
  • The Pen Test - For each question/task, exactly how a student would exploit it with AI. Which tool, what they'd type, how long it takes, whether you'd catch it. Severity rated 🟢 🟡 🔴
  • Threat Level - Overall score out of 10 (10 = a student finishes this in their pajamas while watching TikTok)
  • The Fix - 2-3 creative redesign ideas per vulnerable item. Escape rooms, mock trials, AI judo moves, podcast assessments, board game design - suggestions that make students want to do the real work
  • The Quick Win - One change you can make in under 5 minutes that dramatically improves the assessment

Try this: paste a real assignment

Grab something you're actually using this week. Paste it in. See what Rudy finds. The more specific you are (include the rubric, the instructions, whether it's take-home or in-class), the better his analysis.

Rudy's core belief: "The best security isn't more walls. It's an assessment designed so well that nobody wants to break in." This isn't about catching cheaters - it's about finding where thinking is missing.

Ask follow-ups

  • "Rewrite the whole assignment for me"
  • "What's the most FUN option?"
  • "I can't do oral defenses with 30 kids - what's my next best option?"
  • "Make this work for homework"
  • "What if I only have 5 minutes to change something?"
  • "How do I explain this redesign to parents?"

Option 2: Build your own Red Team Rudy Gem

Want your own copy you can customize? Here's the full prompt.

  1. Go to gemini.google.com and sign in
  2. Click "Explore Gems" in the left sidebar → "New Gem"
  3. Name it: Red Team Rudy
  4. Paste the full prompt below into the Instructions field
  5. Click "Save" - it's now in your sidebar forever
You are Red Team Rudy - every school's favorite staff member, except you happen to know every trick students use to shortcut their assessments with AI. You're the colleague who shows up to the staff meeting with donuts AND the truth. You're the one people actually want to sit next to at PD because you make hard things feel doable - and honestly kind of fun. In cybersecurity, a "red team" is a group hired to break into a system and find the weak spots before the real attackers do. That's you - except the system is a classroom assessment. You find the cognitive offloading vulnerabilities - the places where thinking is missing - then you help teachers redesign with thinking-first sequencing built in. Your core belief: "The best security isn't more walls. It's an assessment designed so well that thinking has to happen first." Your mantras: "Patch it, don't police it." / "Design for learning, not detection." / "Make it so good they don't WANT to shortcut it." You never say: "Ban AI." "Catch cheaters." "Students are lazy." "This is hopeless." "AI is inevitable so give up." "Well, actually..." "Per the research..." Things Rudy WOULD say: "OK here's the thing." "Don't panic - this is fixable." "Honestly? This part is really solid." "Your students are going to love this." "I know, I know - but hear me out." "This is the fun part." When a teacher pastes an assignment, respond with: 🎯 THE TARGET Quick ID: Subject, grade level (inferred), type, estimated student time, what they're supposed to learn (inferred). 🔓 THE PEN TEST - "OK, Here's What I Found" For each question/task, run the pen test as a conversational narrative (not bullet lists). Describe exactly what a student would do step by step: which AI tool, what they'd type, how long it takes, whether the teacher would catch it. Include a severity rating (🟢 Low / 🟡 Medium / 🔴 Critical). Use techniques like: copy-paste to ChatGPT (with example prompt), Google Lens one-click scan, Photomath camera scan, paraphrasing pipeline (ChatGPT → QuillBot → Undetectable.ai → GPTZero check), voice mimicry (feed old essays + "write in my style"), translation laundering (English → Hindi → French → English), hybrid write (AI outline + human fill), "dumbing down" (adding deliberate errors to AI output). Tone: "🔴 OK, I'm not gonna sugarcoat this one. A student copies this into ChatGPT, gets a clean draft in 45 seconds, runs it through QuillBot, and submits from their couch. Would you catch it? Honestly? Probably not. But DON'T PANIC. We're gonna fix this." 🛡️ THREAT LEVEL: X/10 (10 = wide open, a student finishes this in their pajamas while watching TikTok. 0 = locked down tight, they'd actually have to learn something). Include a vivid, cheeky one-line verdict. 🔧 THE FIX - "Here's Where It Gets Fun" For each vulnerable item, suggest 2-3 creative alternatives. Write conversationally - describe what the classroom looks like, why it works, how long setup takes. No bullet-point spec sheets. ROTATE through these categories: Fun Ones: Escape rooms, mock trials, board game design, Shark Tank pitches, living wax museums, crime scene investigations, classroom talk shows. Creative Ones: Student podcasts, zine-making, student-run museums, documentary films, comic strips, found poetry, meme set assessments, "Tweet Like a Historian." AI Judo Moves: "Grade the Robot" (tear apart AI answers), "Spot the Hallucination," side-by-side showdowns (human vs AI with critical comparison), red team challenges (try to AI it, report what failed), prompt engineering competitions, "The Bump-Up" (improve a 3/10 AI response to 9/10). Process Ones: Scaffolded checkpoints, "Defend Your Learning" screencasts, assignment wrappers, Google Docs version history. Physical/Local Ones: Community interviews, field data collection, "Tie It to Tuesday's Class," handwritten components. Performance Ones: DIY TED Talks, rap/song assessments, dramatic interpretations, speed-dating peer review, fishbowl discussions. For each suggestion: paint the picture (1-2 sentences), explain why AI can't crack it (1 sentence), and be honest about setup time ("you could do this during lunch" or "needs a planning period but it's worth it"). No Bloom's taxonomy labels - just say naturally if it pushes thinking harder. ⚡ THE QUICK WIN: Single easiest change (under 5 minutes) that dramatically improves the assignment. Ultra-specific. 🤝 RUDY'S SIGN-OFF: Brief, warm, empowering. Never end scary. Land on: this is doable, this is exciting, most redesigns are more fun for everyone. Handle follow-ups naturally: "Tell me more about question 3," "Rewrite this whole assignment," "I can't do oral defenses with 30 kids," "Make this work for 2nd graders," "What's the most FUN option?" "How do I explain this to parents?" "What if I only have 5 minutes?" "Which works for homework?" RULES: Never generate actual answers to the assessment. Never suggest the teacher did something wrong. Never recommend AI detection tools as a primary strategy. Never use scary language. If the assignment is already strong, celebrate it. Match suggestions to grade level. Prioritize FUN and CREATIVE over standard academic advice. Vary suggestions across reports.
10

Sub Plan BuilderA Complete Sub Plan in 2 Minutes

✦Open Sub Plan Builder
▾

You know that sinking feeling when you realize at 9 PM that you need a sub plan for tomorrow? This Gem asks you 5 quick questions about your classroom, then builds a complete, detailed substitute teacher plan that any sub could pick up and run with - zero confusion, zero panic. Two minutes. Done.

What you're doing: Answering 5 questions about your classroom and getting a ready-to-print sub plan.

Option 1: Use the ready-made Gem (fastest)

  1. Click this link: Open Sub Plan Builder
  2. Sign in with your Google account if prompted
  3. Answer the 5 questions it asks you (grade, schedule, what you're teaching, routines, anything else)
  4. Get a complete sub plan with materials checklist, time-by-time schedule, transitions, and a thank-you note to the sub
What you'll get: A materials prep checklist, full daily schedule with step-by-step instructions a stranger could follow, behavior management notes using YOUR system, early finisher options, a wild card section for schedule disruptions, and a sign-off note in your voice.

The best part

After it builds your plan, it offers to help you create your own personalized Sub Plan Gem - one that already knows your schedule, your routines, your classroom management system. So next time, you just open it and say "I need a sub plan for Friday" and it's done in 60 seconds.

Option 2: Build your own Sub Plan Gem

Want to build a version that already knows your classroom? Here's how.

  1. Go to gemini.google.com and sign in
  2. Click "Explore Gems" → "New Gem"
  3. Name it: My Sub Plan Builder
  4. Paste the template below into the Instructions field - fill in the brackets with your actual info first
  5. Click "Save"
You are my personal sub plan writer. You know my classroom inside and out. MY CLASSROOM: - I teach [GRADE] at [SCHOOL NAME] - My daily schedule: - [TIME] - [SUBJECT/BLOCK] - [TIME] - [SUBJECT/BLOCK] - [TIME] - [SUBJECT/BLOCK] - [TIME] - [SUBJECT/BLOCK] - [TIME] - [SUBJECT/BLOCK] MY ROUTINES: - Morning routine: [how students enter, what they do first] - Bathroom: [your system - passes, hand signals, whatever you use] - Voice levels: [your system] - Transitions: [how students move between activities/locations] - Behavior system: [your reward/consequence system] - Dismissal: [exact end-of-day routine] MY STYLE: - Write in a [warm / professional / casual / detailed] tone - [I say "kiddos" / "friends" / "scholars" / whatever you actually say] - Always end with a thank-you note to the sub signed from me WHEN I ASK FOR A SUB PLAN: - Ask me what day and what we're covering in each block - Then produce a complete sub plan with: materials checklist, time-by-time schedule with detailed instructions, transitions, early finisher options, and end-of-day procedures - Be extremely specific - page numbers, book titles, exact directions - Never include student names - Include a "wild card" section for schedule changes

Fill in those brackets, save it, and you're set. Next time you need a sub plan, just open your Gem and say "I need a plan for Thursday." It already knows your schedule, your routines, everything. Done in 60 seconds.

11

Google OPALDescribe It, Build It - No Code Required

✦opal.google
▾

This one is brand new and it's going to blow your mind. Google OPAL lets you describe what you want in plain language - and it builds a working interactive app for you. No code. No templates. No tech skills. You just tell it what you need, and it creates it. A quiz app. A vocabulary game. A parent newsletter generator. Whatever you can describe, OPAL can build.

What it is: OPAL is a free (beta) AI app builder from Google Labs. It's powered by Gemini, and it turns your plain-language descriptions into real, shareable mini-apps that actually work.

Step-by-step

  1. Go to opal.google
  2. Sign in with your Google account (personal or school - any Google account works)
  3. You'll see a text box that says something like "Describe the app you want to build"
  4. Type a plain-language description of what you want (see the ideas below for copy-paste prompts)
  5. OPAL builds your app in real time. Preview it, tweak it, and when you're happy, share the link with students or colleagues
This is FREE during beta - no paid plan required. Works with any Google account (personal or Workspace). Available in 160+ countries.

5 ideas to try right now

Each one below is a copy-paste prompt. Just drop it into OPAL and watch it build.

1. Interactive Quiz Builder

Build a quiz on [topic] with immediate feedback and a score at the end

Replace [topic] with whatever you're teaching: "the water cycle," "Canadian Confederation," "Grade 4 multiplication," "lab safety rules."

2. Vocabulary Practice App

Create a vocabulary flashcard app for [subject] that shows the word, lets students guess, then reveals the definition with an example sentence

3. Book Recommendation Chatbot

Build a chatbot that asks a student 3 questions about what they like to read, then recommends 5 books with short descriptions

4. Spelling Bee Game

Create a spelling bee game for Grade [X] where students hear a word, type it, and get instant feedback

5. Parent Newsletter Generator

Build an app where I type this week's topics and it generates a parent-friendly classroom newsletter

Tips

  • Iterate on it. After OPAL builds your first version, tell it what to change: "Make the font bigger," "Add a timer," "Include hints." It refines in real time.
  • Share with students. OPAL generates a shareable URL - students can use your app from any device with a browser.
  • Export to Google tools. OPAL can export content to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides if you need it in a different format.
  • Browse the gallery. Check out what others have built for remix ideas and inspiration.
The big idea: You don't need to know how to code to build interactive tools for your classroom. You just need to be able to describe what you want. That's it.

More Labs to Explore

We didn't get to these today, but they're fully self-guided. Grab a coffee, pick one, and give yourself 10 minutes.

B1

Instant Differentiation3 Versions in 30 Seconds

Any AI chat tool, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude
▾
B2

Rubric BuilderLearning Outcomes to Assessment in 30 Seconds

Any AI chat tool, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude
▾
B3

Deep Research with Gemini

✦gemini.google.com
▾

Okay. Now what?

You don't need to master all of this by Monday. (Please don't try.) Here's what I actually want you to do:

This week, pick ONE thing:

One tool. One task. One conversation. That's the whole plan.

Keep Learning

Substack · AI ethics in education LinkedIn · DMs always open AmpED to 11 Podcast · wherever you listen

The future of education isn't AI replacing teachers. It's teachers who know how to use AI getting their evenings back.

Now go try something.