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Getting creative with AI in the classroom

Part 2 of an AI resource series for educators

This page is for educators ready to take the next step — trying out AI in real teaching contexts, without losing sight of learner voice, equity, or integrity.

This is guide 2 in a 6-part series from Ako Aotearoa, designed to help educators explore AI in education — safely, ethically, and in ways that reflect our values in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Each guide offers practical steps, real examples, and reflective tools to support your journey. Whether you’re just starting or deepening your practice, these resources are here to support you.

Explore practical, creative, and safe ways to integrate AI tools into your teaching.

Start Small — Where AI Can Add Value

You don’t have to go all in. Try one thing at a time.

Planning:	Generate quiz questions, brainstorm session outlines
Admin:	Draft feedback, condense learning outcomes
Content:	Rephrase complex ideas, simplify texts, visualise processes

Educator Insight:

"I used ChatGPT to reword assessment instructions into simpler language for my ESOL learners. They immediately looked less anxious."

Prompt Ideas:

“Give me five reflection questions about teamwork for hospitality students.”
“Simplify this explanation of osmosis for a Level 3 learner.”
“Turn these bullet points into a short paragraph about safe lifting.”

Start in low-risk areas where mistakes don’t carry big consequences.

AI-Enhanced teaching ideas

Try These in Class

Teaching Activity	AI Use Example
Brainstorming	“List 10 ideas for engaging learners in a budgeting topic”
Summarising	“Summarise this 2-page article in 5 bullet points”
Rewriting	“Make this feedback sound more encouraging”
Compare + Critique	“Give me two versions of an introduction to critique”
Vocabulary Builder	“What are simpler synonyms for these words?”
Visual Learning	Use DALL·E to visualise abstract concepts

Educator Tip:

Let students compare their writing with AI-generated versions.

Ask: “What’s missing?” or “What would you change?”

Student-Facing Use — With Integrity

Scaffold Their Use

Make AI use visible, not secret
Ask students to highlight or annotate what AI helped them with
Use prompts that require editing, reflecting, or comparing

Suggested Learner Prompts:

“Ask ChatGPT to create a sample response — now rewrite it using your own words.”
“Use AI to summarise this article, then compare it with your version.”

Design Tasks with Voice and Value

Instead of...	Try...
Standard essay	AI-generated draft + student critique/reflection
Reading summary	Compare your summary with an AI one
Memorise and repeat definitions	Explain the concept in your own context or industry