Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant inroads into the field of education, changing the way many educators approach their daily tasks. According to a survey by HolonIQ, 38% of education organizations have embedded AI technologies into their operations, primarily for machine learning and natural language processing applications​. Additionally, a survey conducted by Imagine Learning found that 90% of educators believe AI has the potential to make education more accessible for students by offering personalized learning methods​ (THE Journal)​.

Despite this growing reliance on AI, many educators still struggle with integrating these tools into their workflow in a way that enhances their teaching without compromising their unique voice and expertise.

The goal of this post is to help educators use AI tools more effectively in their writing processes, moving beyond simple copy-pasting to more thoughtful integration. By leveraging AI as a writing assistant rather than a mere convenience, educators can enrich their content, maintain authenticity, and provide more value to their students and wider school community.

It’s the Starting Point, Not the End

AI-generated text can be an excellent starting point for educators by providing a foundation upon which to build. It offers a way to quickly generate ideas and structure content. However, it is crucial to remember that AI outputs should not be considered the final product. Instead, use AI-generated text as a draft that you can expand upon, refine, and personalize. This approach ensures that the content remains authentic and tailored to the specific needs of your audience. By treating AI-generated text as a base, educators can save time while still delivering high-quality, customized material.

Personal Touch

One of the key advantages educators bring to their writing is their unique voice and expertise. AI can provide factual information and a coherent structure, but it lacks the personal insights and experiences that make content truly engaging and relatable. To add your personal touch, weave in anecdotes, examples from your teaching, and insights that reflect your expertise. This not only makes the content more engaging but also helps to establish a connection with your audience. This personal connection can transform a generic AI-generated text into a compelling and authentic piece of writing.

Review and Edit

It should go without saying, but revising AI-generated text is a crucial step to ensure that it meets your standards for accuracy, tone, and alignment with your writing or speaking style. AI can sometimes produce text that is factually incorrect, stylistically off, or not entirely aligned with your goals. Careful review and editing allow you to correct any inaccuracies, adjust the tone to fit your voice, and ensure the content is relevant and appropriate for your audience. This step is vital to maintaining the quality and integrity of your work. By thoroughly reviewing and editing AI-generated text, you can ensure that the final product is polished, accurate, and effectively communicates your message.

Avoiding Overused AI Terms

One of the telltale signs of AI-generated text is the repetitive use of certain words and phrases. A notable example is the word "delve," which has become increasingly common in AI outputs. According to a recent article, the overuse of such terms can make the text appear mechanical and impersonal, diminishing its effectiveness and authenticity. These overused words are often indicative of AI-generated content because they are commonly found in the models' training data and are used to fill in gaps when more context-specific language is unavailable.

Recognizing and avoiding these overused terms can help educators produce more natural and engaging content. By replacing these words with more varied and contextually appropriate alternatives, you can enhance the readability and uniqueness of your writing.

To help you avoid overused AI terms, here are a few examples of commonly used words and their better alternatives, based on my experience with AI. If you would like a more exhaustive list, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. 

• Delve: Instead, use "dive into" or "explore."

• Dazzling: Opt for "impressive" or "striking."

• Enhance: Use "improve" or "boost."

• Discover: Choose "find."

• Unveiling: Replace with "revealing" or "showing."

• Comprehensive: Use "complete" or "detailed."

• Inquire: Go with "ask."

• Discern: Opt for "identify" or "recognize."

• Vigilance: Choose "alertness" or "watchfulness."

• In conclusion: Say "to sum up" or "finally."

• Embark: Use "begin" or "start."

• Journey: Opt for "trip" or "experience."

By incorporating these alternative phrases into your writing, you can maintain a more natural and engaging tone.

Enhancing the Quality of AI-Generated Text

AI-generated text can provide a solid foundation, but the real value comes from blending these suggestions with your unique insights and experiences. As an educator, you possess a wealth of knowledge and personal anecdotes that can bring life to otherwise sterile AI content. Incorporating your own insights makes the content more engaging and relatable to your intended audience. 

One of the best ways to use AI in your writing process is for brainstorming and structuring content. AI tools can help generate ideas, create outlines, and provide a framework for your writing. However, it's important to use AI-generated text as a guide rather than for final phrasing. Here’s how you can effectively utilize AI:

1. Brainstorming: Use AI to generate a list of potential topics or angles on a subject.

2. Outlining: Let AI help you organize your thoughts into a coherent structure.

3. Drafting: Start with AI-generated text as a rough draft and then refine it with your personal touch.

By using AI in this way, you can streamline your writing process while ensuring the final product is uniquely yours.

Practical Tips and Tools

Several AI tools are particularly useful for educators looking to enhance their writing processes. Here are a few top recommendations:

1. Grammarly: This AI-powered writing assistant helps with grammar, punctuation, and style improvements. It also provides suggestions for clarity and engagement, making it an excellent tool for refining drafts.

2. Jasper (formerly Jarvis): Jasper is a versatile AI writing tool that assists with content generation, from brainstorming ideas to drafting full paragraphs. It’s particularly useful for creating initial drafts quickly.

3. Quillbot: Known for its paraphrasing capabilities, Quillbot can help educators rephrase text to improve readability and avoid plagiarism.

4. Scribe: This tool is designed to help educators create instructional content and lesson plans more efficiently by generating structured outlines and detailed content based on brief inputs.

5. ChatGPT: The advanced AI conversational model developed by OpenAI excels at generating human-like text based on prompts, making it a valuable tool for brainstorming ideas, drafting content, and even simulating student interactions for lesson planning. Its versatility allows educators to use it for a wide range of writing and instructional tasks.

Here’s a simple guide on how to effectively use an AI tool in your writing process:

1. Choose Your Tool: Select an AI tool that fits your needs (e.g., Jasper for drafting, Grammarly for editing).

2. Input Your Topic: Start by entering the topic or a brief description of what you want to write about into the AI tool.

3. Generate Content: Use the AI to generate an initial draft. For example, if using Jasper, you can ask it to create a paragraph about a specific aspect of your topic.

4. Review and Edit: Carefully review the generated text. Check for accuracy, relevance, and tone. Make necessary adjustments to ensure it aligns with your teaching style and objectives.

5. Add Personal Insights: Enhance the AI-generated text with your own insights, anecdotes, and examples to make the content more engaging and personalized.

6. Final Edit: Use a tool like Grammarly to proofread and finalize the text, ensuring it is polished and error-free.

Maintaining Professional Integrity

Ensuring the content remains original, plagiarism-free, and professional is crucial. Here are some tips:

1. Use AI as a Guide, Not a Crutch: Treat AI-generated text as a starting point. Always add your unique insights and rewrite portions to reflect your voice.

2. Paraphrase and Cite Sources: When incorporating information from AI outputs, paraphrase the content and cite sources where applicable to maintain academic honesty.

3. Check for Plagiarism: Use plagiarism detection tools like Turnitin or Copyscape to check the originality of your content before finalizing it.

4. Educate on Ethical Use: Teach students about the ethical use of AI tools and the importance of producing original work. Encourage them to use AI for brainstorming and structuring rather than verbatim copying.

By following these practical tips and leveraging the right AI tools, educators can significantly enhance their writing processes while maintaining the integrity and quality of their content.

As you begin integrating AI into your writing process, remember that the goal is to enhance your work, not replace your unique voice and expertise. Experiment with different AI tools, find what works best for you, and don't be afraid to adapt the suggestions to fit your style and needs.

Want to learn more about how to leverage AI in your school or district? Check out “Navigating the AI Revolution in Our Schools.” This book is a pivotal guide for educators, school administrators, and policymakers looking to embrace artificial intelligence  in educational settings. It offers a visionary exploration of how AI can transform teaching methodologies, personalize learning experiences, and bridge the educational divide for students with learning differences. Through a series of compelling narratives and case studies, the book illustrates the potential of AI to revolutionize the educational landscape, making it an indispensable resource for those at the forefront of educational innovation.