C123 (Application): Our Learning Journey with ChatGPT

​Good afternoon to my favorite people, I’ll just call you my Lu Crew.  If you haven’t guessed, I’m your host, Lu Gerlach from thinkchat, and I am having fun with today’s episode. As we end 2023, I want us to think about where technology has greatly exploded this past year and where it is rapidly going in the years to come.  We cannot pretend that it won’t change our roles as educators.  Of course it will. At the same time, we need to look at AI as a partner in getting information more quickly and sometimes more accurately.

​We have known for quite some that the internet is the depository of information and we are the facilitators of meaning making.  Our role will require us to know how to engage with the technology to gain the maximum output.  With this in mind, we are going to explore our new relationship with ChatGPT in this episode and challenge ourselves to start using it tomorrow. 

Before we begin, I want to be clear that our goal is meaning making.  More is not more.  For ChatGPT to be effective in our practice, we need to know how to engage it successfully.  Here is my attempt in modeling the process while making some mistakes along the way.  I will present my prompt, ChatGPT responses, and my commentary of the answers.  

Let’s get started!

Attempt #1

My Prompt
What is a good prompt to start a search in ChatGPT for teachers who are new to the process?  Many teachers get frustrated, because they often do not get the answer they are looking for, because the prompt is not detailed enough.  What suggestions do you offer? 

ChatGPT Response
Creating effective prompts for ChatGPT, especially for teachers new to the process, involves providing clear and specific instructions. Here are some suggestions:

Be Specific About the Request
Instead of a general query like "Teaching tips," try something more specific like "Effective strategies for teaching mathematics to elementary students" or "Classroom management techniques for elementary school teachers."  Think about what is the heart of what you want to know.  More is not always more, so watch your words.

Use Descriptive Language
Include relevant details in your prompt. Instead of "Teaching resources," try "Online resources for creating engaging science lesson plans for elementary."  The more you can describe what you need, the better the system can give you an output that is in alignment with what you want. 

Ask Open-Ended Questions
Encourage detailed responses by framing questions in an open-ended manner. For example, instead of "How to teach science," ask "What are innovative approaches to make science lessons more interactive and enjoyable for elementary students?"  I love open-ended questions, because they allow for more possibilities for exploration.  The only problem is being too open, because then you will receive answers that go beyond the scope of your research. I would use a variety of factual, conceptual, and debatable questions in my prompt.  For more info about those, check out the Plan for Inquiry guide on my website. 

Provide Context
Briefly explain your situation or context to get more personalized responses. For instance, "I am a new elementary teacher seeking strategies to motivate students during remote learning."  This helps the system to differentiate what information it will give you, so you are not overwhelmed.  Pretty smart, eh? 

Use Multiple Sentences
Break down your request into multiple sentences or bullet points to make it clear and organized. This can help avoid ambiguity and improve the chances of receiving relevant information.  I do this all the time and it’s amazing what it will spit out. This is perfect for words within a unit of inquiry.  If you are struggling to know how to connect them, I ask ChatGPT to sort the list using related concepts, so I can see the relationship between the words.  It’s such a time saver!

Specify Grade Level or Subject
If your query relates to a specific grade level or subject, include that information. For example, "Effective teaching methods for introducing Shakespeare to 9th-grade students."  I received this answer, because my original prompt was not focused on elementary students.  I’ve had to modify all of the answers to be more specific to elementary. Something to consider. 

Request Examples
If you're looking for practical examples, explicitly mention it in your prompt. For instance, "Can you provide examples of play-based learning activities for fifth-grade students while exploring migration?" This allows for detailed search, but also specific to the content you are teaching.  I’m lovin’ it!

Mention Constraints
If there are constraints or specific conditions you need to consider, mention them in your prompt. For example, "Teaching strategies for a classroom with limited technology resources."  This will help to limit

Remember, the more details and context you provide in your prompt, the better the chances of getting a relevant and helpful response.

Attempt #2

Lu Prompt
What is a good prompt to start a search in ChatGPT for elementary teachers who are new to the process?  Can you share it in the voice of Lu Gerlach, the host of Confessions of a PYP Teacher?  I revised this, because I wanted to see if I was missing anything and see if it could mimick my voice. 

ChatGPT response
Certainly! Crafting a detailed and effective prompt is key to getting the information you need. Here's a suggestion for elementary teachers who are new to the process:

Be Specific About the Request (Lu's Touch):
"Hey amazing educators! Lu here, venturing into the world of elementary teaching. Any secrets on making math an adventure for our little ones or tips for taming the energy in our vibrant classrooms?"

Use Descriptive Language (Lu's Style)
"Calling all science enthusiasts! I'm on the lookout for online gems that can add a spark to our elementary science plans. Any fabulous resources to create lessons that leave our kiddos wide-eyed and full of wonder?"

Ask Open-Ended Questions (Lu's Curiosity)
"Picture this: elementary science that feels like magic. What are your favorite, out-of-the-box methods for turning 'How to teach science' into 'Wow, science is awesome!' for our young learners?"

Use Multiple Sentences (Lu's Clarity):
"Hey awesome educators! I'm a fresh face in the teaching world and could use your guidance. Specifically, I'm curious about effective strategies for introducing storytelling to my lively 2nd graders. Any tips or engaging activities you've found success with?"

Specify Grade Level or Subject (Lu's Precision)
"Calling all storytelling enthusiasts! I'm in need of your brilliance. What are your favorite teaching methods for bringing the magic of stories to life in a 2nd-grade classroom?"

Now that you are done laughing about how ChatGPT perceives my online voice, I want to take a moment to be serious.  How are you using the platform to enhance your teaching practice? 

Wasn’t this humorous yet telling at the same time?  Now it’s your turn to practice and make your own voice with ChatGPT.  Let’s start slowly and go from there.  

​Application

I want you to go onto the platform and type in 2-3 prompts as suggested above and be sure to include:
​

• Your context
• Your learner needs
• Your curricular and unit objective
• What you need in the end

Evaluate the responses and create follow-up prompts to refine the answer to where it will be useful.  Be sure to share with us your prompts and ideas on X @thinkchat2020 and LinkedIn @lugerlach. I’m curious to see how it goes! 

By the way, I asked ChatGPT for the first time to help me write this episode and all of the application series.  If you are specific and thoughtful in your prompt, you will get some amazing ideas.  Will it be perfect?  NO.  This is where the human has to make sense of the outcome and create meaning.