AI Insights #11

There's something energising about finding those small tweaks that make a big difference in our teaching practice.

This week, I'm sharing three discoveries that have genuinely changed how I approach different aspects of our work. From making exam prep more engaging to using AI tools to streamline SEND support, and reflecting on how we can use AI thoughtfully in our classrooms.

You'll find practical insights on how I've repurposed Mindjoy for instant exam prep feedback, created a quick-reference SEND guide using Perplexity, and used what I call the "AI sandwich" method to preserve deep thinking skills in our students.

Each of these came from those "there must be a better way" moments we all have, and I think I've found some solutions worth sharing.

Instant Feedback, No Fuss

Let’s face it...exam prep or 'past paper' lessons are usually pretty dull and not really what the students need. Drudging through past papers, handing out broad feedback that’s forgotten by the next lesson (it’s a slog). But this week, I found a way to change all that using Mindjoy, a platform that, while not designed for exam prep, really helped.

Mindjoy’s primary purpose is to help teachers create chatbots for students, but they recently added a new option called "Courses." Courses allow teachers to create interactive lessons with “blocks” for different activities. I decided to co-opt this setup: I built a “course” specifically for practice questions, adding past paper-style questions along with a point system and mark scheme.

For each question, Mindjoy’s AI provided feedback based on my mark scheme, giving students detailed, specific guidance on where they did well and where they could improve. I used this with both Year 12 and Year 13 students as they gear up for mock exams next week, and the feedback was great. Instead of the usual passive revision sessions, students were receiving personalised feedback directly relevant to their answers. They weren’t just going through the motions.

One small hiccup was Mindjoy’s bot feature within the course. Each course usually has a bot built in to support students with misunderstandings or questions as they go. Since it’s normally there to guide students, I had to get creative as I wanted them to work independently. For Year 13, I simply asked them not to use it. With Year 12, I created a “Give No Help” bot that told them to wait for feedback if they tried to ask for help. And to be honest, they didn’t play around with the bot at all. They were engaged because they saw the benefit of the activity, so there was no need for shortcuts.

Using Mindjoy like this was great. It wasn’t designed for this, but if you’re looking for a way to make revision meaningful and immediate, I’d say it’s worth a try.

Also, Mindjoy are really open to feedback, so I passed all this on. Who knows, this might be a new feature soon!

Transform Your Teaching with Hands-On AI!

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Explore the practical sessions where you’ll get to work with the tools and techniques that bring AI to life in your classroom:

Integrate TeachMateAI Effortlessly: Karen Dillamore and Lindsay Round will guide you through using TeachMateAI to enrich your lessons with ease.

AI for Diverse Learning Needs: Patrick McGrath from Texthelp will show you how AI can support a wide range of learners, ensuring no one is left behind.

Unleash Creativity with AI: Explore the intersection of creativity and technology with Trudi Barrow , and learn how to incorporate AI into design thinking.

Master ChatGPT for Classroom Impact: Jack Dougall will help you harness ChatGPT’s potential to spark critical thinking and engagement.

From Idea to Reality with AI: Join Inventor Club’s Ben Edmonds and Aaron Patching to turn concepts into real-world AI-powered models that solve practical problems.

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Creating a CAT4 and SEND One-Sheet with Perplexity

This week, I put together a quick-reference one-sheet for staff to help identify and support SEND students using CAT4 data. To get this done efficiently, I turned to Perplexity’s live search tool instead of ChatGPT, and here’s why.

While ChatGPT is excellent for general insights, Perplexity can give me real-time, and accurate information pulled straight from web searches, which was perfect for this task. In just a few minutes, I was able to pull specific details on CAT4 assessment areas, outline potential SEND indicators for low scores in those areas, and find practical observation tips.

The final one-sheet is straightforward and actionable. It breaks down each CAT4 area with potential SEND indicators, practical tips on what to observe, and evidence sources (like graphs) teachers can use to confirm or flag concerns. This resource now gives teachers a clear path to using CAT4 data for SEND identification, while also supporting closer collaboration with the SENDCO. And the best part?

It took just 10 minutes to put together, thanks Perplexity

A practical, down-to-earth pathway to kick-starting your AI journey

I’m thrilled to share a glowing review for my book, AI in Education: An Educator’s Handbook. Secondary teacher Aileen Wallace calls it a "a genuinely practical, down-to-earth pathway" for those looking to begin their AI journey in education.

Her words confirm my goal of making AI accessible and empowering for teachers everywhere.

If you're curious about bringing AI into your own classroom but aren't sure where to start, this handbook is packed with practical tips to help you get going with confidence.

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Preserving the Art of Thinking

As artificial intelligence is popping up everywhere, and people like myself are experimenting with ways to use it to support education, I can't help but worry that we're at risk of outsourcing "real thinking" to AI tools. The approach I've been using with my students - what I call the "AI sandwich".

You see, the danger with AI is that it excels at rapid information processing, essentially functioning as an ultimate System 1 tool. Let me explain what I mean by that:

Psychologists describe two distinct modes of thinking in the human brain - System 1 and System 2. System 1 is fast, automatic and intuitive. It's the mode we operate in for most routine, familiar tasks. System 2, on the other hand, is slow, effortful and analytical. It's the mode we engage when we're faced with complex problems that require conscious, deep-diving thinking.

For students, relying too heavily on AI could encourage them to stay firmly in that convenient, System 1 autopilot mode. After all, it's so much easier to just ask an AI for the answers than to wrestle with a problem, fail, and ultimately arrive at your own solution through the sweat and struggle of good old-fashioned System 2 cognition.

And that struggle, my friends, is precisely what builds the mental muscle needed for innovation, resilience and creativity. Just as physical exercise strengthens the body, the "mental weightlifting" of System 2 thinking is what develops the logic, persistence and problem-solving abilities our students will need to thrive. Imagine if AI had short-circuited the journeys of groundbreaking thinkers like Einstein - would they have even bothered developing their world-changing theories?

The "AI Sandwich" Method

This is where my "AI sandwich" approach comes in.

The idea is straightforward:

1. First, students tackle problems on their own, engaging that conscious, effortful mode of System 2 thinking.

2. Next, an AI system challenges their thinking, offering alternative perspectives and probing questions to deepen their understanding.

3. Finally, students revisit the original problem, having synthesised new insights.

It's a delicate balance, but I've found that using AI in this way - as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, deep analytical work - can be a powerful tool for cultivating the mental resilience and innovation skills our young people will need.

Educators, schools, and parents must be intentional about creating learning environments where AI is used as a support rather than a crutch. The key is helping students develop discernment - knowing when to use AI and when to embrace the struggle and cognitive exercise of System 2 thinking.

Because let's face it, the future will be built by thinkers. And I, for one, am determined to preserve the art of thinking in this age of artificial intelligence.

Ta-ra Duck

And on that note I will leave you to enjoy your weekend!