Lately, I’ve been using AI tools more intentionally to support my work as a teacher. When you’re juggling multiple preps, tight timelines, and students with different needs, it helps to have something that keeps your materials organized and ready to use. One tool that’s stood out for me is NotebookLM, powered by Google. It lets you upload documents and get summaries, lesson outlines, questions, and more—without reinventing your system.
What You Can Do With It
For Lesson Planning
Upload your standards or curriculum docs and ask NotebookLM to summarize them. Have it break down unit goals into daily lesson objectives. Need a week-long plan for plant cells? It’ll sketch it out, complete with suggested activities.
For Classroom Content
Turn your slides or textbook chapters into study guides. Generate short-answer questions or checks for understanding. Use the audio feature to turn a lesson into a podcast-style listen-along for students who benefit from auditory learning.
For Teacher Collaboration
Share a notebook with your team to co-plan or organize interdisciplinary units. Review PD notes, school improvement plans, or training materials together. Work on a department resource library with tagged and summarized documents.
For High School Teachers
Use it to prep students for speeches, essays, or project research. It can help summarize articles or give feedback on structure. Create rubrics and alignment documents that tie your assignments to TEKS, ISTE, or district initiatives.
For Middle & Elementary Teachers
Take your unit plans and create daily materials with quick prompts. Build student-facing review tools from existing stories or readings. Prep visuals or timelines from nonfiction texts to make abstract ideas more concrete.
A Few Tips for Getting Started
Head to notebooklm.google.com. Upload a few documents or copy/paste a lesson plan. Try simple prompts like: “What are the main themes of this article?” or “Create a 3-day lesson plan from this reading.” Save your outputs in the notebook, organize by unit or subject, and collaborate with a colleague.
Things to Keep in Mind
Students under 18 shouldn’t be using NotebookLM directly, but you can use it to create materials for them. It doesn’t learn from or store your data—so it’s a safe place to work through lesson ideas without worrying about privacy. It won’t replace your experience or insight, but it can definitely help you work faster, stay organized, and think through lessons with a different lens.
NotebookLM is one of the tools I keep coming back to. It’s flexible, practical, and doesn’t require a huge learning curve to be useful. Whether you’re in a planning crunch or brainstorming your next unit, it’s a good tool to have in your kit.
I’ve been using EnlightenMe.ai to streamline how I grade and give feedback on student work. It lets me upload my assignment instructions and rubrics, grade a few samples, and then the AI helps generate feedback that stays aligned with what I originally designed. It saves me time, especially when I’m juggling multiple classes or back-to-back assignments.
One of my favorite features is that EnlightenMe doesn’t just give student feedback—it also gives me insight as the instructor. I can see patterns in my scoring, suggestions for how to clarify parts of my rubrics, and even reminders to maintain consistency across sections. It helps me reflect on how I’ve structured my assignments and where I can improve them for the next time.
The platform works with PDFs, Google Docs, and Google Drive, so I don’t have to change how I collect or organize student work. The feedback it generates is detailed but editable, so I can customize before sending anything back.
If you’re looking for a practical way to save time without losing quality, EnlightenMe is worth checking out. It’s a strong addition to any teacher’s workflow, especially if you’re aiming to be more efficient while still giving students meaningful feedback they can actually use.
I’ve started using H5P to make my online classes more engaging and interactive. The platform allows me to create activities like drag-and-drop, interactive videos, quizzes, and clickable texts that feel familiar to students who already use edtech apps and online testing platforms.
H5P lets me break away from static lessons and offer multiple ways for students to interact with content. It supports different learning styles and keeps students active in the process. Whether I’m embedding a comprehension check inside a video or building quick review games, H5P has added variety and energy to my digital lessons.
For the past three years, I’ve used Perusall in several of my high school and dual enrollment courses to shift how students interact with reading assignments. Instead of reading a textbook or article in isolation, Perusall turns reading into a collaborative and engaging activity. Students can annotate texts, ask questions, and respond to each other in real time or asynchronously.
This changes the rhythm of reading. What was once passive becomes active. Students highlight key ideas, tag comments, and clarify confusion together. It helps build reading comprehension and annotation habits they can apply in other courses. More importantly, it turns reading into a shared learning experience.
While onboarding new students can sometimes be a small hurdle, especially at the start of the term, once they’re in, the tool works smoothly. I’ve seen students answer each other’s questions faster than I could in person, and I’ve watched class discussions improve because students show up better prepared.
I recommend Perusall for anyone teaching secondary or post-secondary courses where you want students to dig into texts, connect ideas, and learn from each other—not just the teacher.
Groovelit is one of the newer tools I’m exploring to make writing more consistent in my classroom without adding more to my grading queue. I’ve used other AI writing tools like Brisk and Grammarly, but what stands out about Groovelit is how it’s built specifically for teachers and students.
I’m planning to use Groovelit as a quick writing station for low-stakes practice, short responses, warm-ups, and review activities. It gives students immediate feedback on clarity, organization, grammar, and tone. For me, that means more chances for students to revise their work and see writing as a process—not just a grade.
What You Can Do for Free
With a free Groovelit teacher account, you can:
Create unlimited writing assignments Track student scores and feedback View student submissions in a teacher dashboard Assign prompts with word counts, tone, audience, or skill focus Encourage student revision with built-in feedback
Students get instant feedback after each submission and can revise right away. I like that this supports the kind of self-monitoring and reflection I already try to build into my instruction.
What’s Limited on the Free Version
There are a few limitations to keep in mind:
Students don’t get a saved portfolio of their writing unless you upgrade You don’t get access to all writing traits or rubrics Some advanced analytics and customization options are locked behind the paid plan Peer review and deeper revision tools are only available with a Pro account
That said, the free version is still solid. It works well for building writing habits and helping students improve in short bursts without the pressure of full essays.
How I Plan to Use It
I’ll be testing Groovelit in the following ways:
Warm-ups and bellringers: 3–5 minute responses to daily prompts with instant feedback Exit tickets: Short reflections or content-based summaries Response practice: Copy editing, news writing, and journalism skill-building Revision stations: Students revise older work using the feedback from Groovelit Independent practice: Especially helpful for students who need extra grammar or organization support
Because it gives scores and growth tracking over time, I can also use Groovelit to set writing goals and show progress during conferences or parent meetings.
Final Thoughts
Groovelit is a free, no-frills way to add more writing to your classroom. If you’re looking to build writing stamina, reduce your grading load, and make writing practice more student-centered, it’s worth exploring. You can sign up at groovelit.com and start building your prompts in just a few clicks.
Let me know if you’re trying it out or want to compare notes. I’m always looking for ways to bring more writing into the week without burning out.
Over the past few semesters, I’ve started using AI as a planning partner. One of the most helpful things I’ve done is upload my course syllabi, lesson plans, and scope and sequence into tools like ChatGPT to help me look for ways to improve instruction through the SAMR model and align more closely with ISTE standards.
The SAMR model helps categorize how we integrate technology. Substitution is the most basic level, like switching a printed worksheet for a Google Doc. At the top of the model is Redefinition, where students are doing things that weren’t possible before, like designing interactive media projects or collaborating in real time with others outside the classroom.
Pairing SAMR with the ISTE Standards gave me more clarity on how to build student skills beyond just completing assignments. The ISTE Standards focus on things like creativity, problem-solving, digital collaboration, and responsible use of technology. They also encourage students to take more ownership of their learning and become active digital citizens.
When I reviewed my Intro to Speech Communication course, I saw that a lot of my assignments were already using tech at the Substitution and Augmentation levels. But when I used AI to suggest shifts into Modification and Redefinition, it gave me practical ways to do it. For example, I turned a traditional group presentation into a multimedia project where students created digital storyboards, embedded audio, and linked peer feedback using collaborative tools.
I also found that while my students were using tech tools, we hadn’t spent enough time talking about responsible digital behavior or media bias. That’s when I brought in ISTE-aligned reflection prompts and small-group analysis of online communication platforms to fill in those gaps.
AI didn’t do the work for me, but it did help me see my planning through a different lens. It flagged areas for growth and helped me make instructional decisions that aligned with student needs and the tech we already had available.
Try this in your planning:
Pick one unit or lesson you already teach. Ask ChatGPT or another tool, “How can I improve this lesson to better align with the SAMR model and ISTE standards?” Look for a small shift you can make to increase student creativity, collaboration, or critical thinking. A few small changes can go a long way in helping students connect with content and build real-world digital skills.
For the past three years, I’ve used Perusall on and off in my high school classes. It’s a tool I keep coming back to, especially when I want students to engage more deeply with reading and each other. When I focus and help students get going, Perusall can be a strong tool for building collaborative reading habits.
Perusall is a social annotation platform. It turns a reading assignment into a space for students to highlight, comment, ask questions, and respond to each other in real time. It works well in classes like Professional Communication, Audio/Video Production, and Dual Enrollment Speech because it encourages students to interact with the content and each other.
Getting students set up can take time. Some terms I’ve seen full buy-in and strong participation. Other times, the onboarding is frustrating. Account creation, tech access, and introducing another platform can be a barrier. That’s why I don’t use it every semester. But when I take the time to onboard students properly and model how to use it, the payoff is worth it.
Here’s what I’ve found helps:
I start with a short piece of text. That might be an article, a short chapter, or even a classroom policy. I join the thread. I post comments and respond like a participant to model the kind of engagement I want to see. I use it as formative assessment. It helps me track who’s reading, what they’re asking, and where they need more support. I grade for thoughtful engagement, not right answers. The goal is conversation, not completion.
When Perusall works, students read more carefully. Quieter students have more chances to contribute. The class enters discussion already warmed up. And students begin to ask better questions because they’ve already heard each other’s thoughts.
Perusall isn’t something I rely on all the time. But it’s a solid tool when I want to slow down and have students really sit with a piece of text. If you teach high school and want students to engage more with reading, I suggest trying it with one unit or one assignment. It can make reading more social, more visible, and more meaningful.
In my classroom, I rely heavily on digital tools, especially digital products like Google Docs and PDFs, when we’re working with articles, textbook excerpts, or full novels. But as many educators know, reading comprehension can be a struggle for a variety of reasons. Some students have difficulty focusing, while others benefit more from auditory or visual modes of engagement than from reading alone.
One solution I’ve found especially helpful is using audio narration tools to support student reading. I’ve tried a few over the years, but ElevenLabs has become my go-to, and here’s why.
Natural Voices That Don’t Sound Robotic
ElevenLabs has invested in research and development to produce AI-generated voices that sound natural and human, not robotic. This makes a difference. Students are more likely to engage with an audio narration when it sounds conversational and clear.
This is especially helpful for learners who:
Struggle to stay on task when reading silently Benefit from dual input (reading and hearing) Are learning English or are emerging bilinguals Prefer listening as a way to process content
How I Use It in Class
I use ElevenLabs on iPads and iPhones. It lets me either:
Import PDFs directly and turn them into narrated readings Copy and paste text into the app and have it read aloud
This works well with most content: textbook chapters, novel excerpts, articles, or student writing.
Why It Works
Students have different preferences for how they engage with text. Using tools like ElevenLabs allows me to differentiate instruction and provide students with another way to access and understand material. This benefits all learners, not just those who struggle with reading.
As a teacher juggling six different preps—ranging from Professional Communication and DE Speech to UIL Journalism coaching—I know what it feels like to be buried under stacks of outlines, reflections, and drafts. Grading isn’t just time-consuming—it’s mentally exhausting. And for years, I thought that was just part of the job.
Then I started using Brisk Teaching, and everything changed.
Brisk has become my go-to tool for delivering meaningful, standards-based feedback in a fraction of the time it used to take. If you’ve ever wished grading felt more like teaching and less like punishment, this is for you.
🛠️ How I Use Brisk’s Targeted Feedback Tool
Here’s how I use Brisk in my classroom (and coaching spaces) to provide feedback that’s clear, aligned, and actually helpful:
✅ Standards-Based, In-Doc Comments
Brisk integrates directly into Google Docs, which means I can leave personalized, aligned comments inside student work. Whether it’s a speech outline, a UIL News Writing draft, or a journal reflection, Brisk allows me to assess with purpose—tying each comment back to specific learning targets or rubric criteria.
🧠 Actionable Insights for Every Student
Gone are the days of “Great job!” and “Needs work.” Brisk helps me deliver specific suggestions that tell students what to improve and why. That kind of clarity empowers revision, builds student confidence, and fosters a true feedback loop.
💡 Data-Driven Instruction from Real-Time Trends
Brisk doesn’t just improve my grading—it improves my teaching.
For example, after grading 25 persuasive outlines in DE Speech, I realized that more than half the class was struggling with transitions between main points. I used that insight to craft a targeted mini-lesson using Brisk’s Presentation Builder. Instead of reteaching blindly, I taught exactly what students needed.
💬 Real Talk: Brisk Saved My Weekend
“This is BRILLIANT. I was able to grade in 1 hour what would have taken me ALL DAY to do!! Brisk has given me back my weekend with my family.”
This is an actual testimonial, but honestly—it could’ve been written by me.
Brisk helps me work smarter, not longer. The quality of my feedback has improved, and I’m no longer sacrificing hours of personal time to get there.
📚 TEKS Tie-In: Why It Matters Instructionally
Using Brisk also ensures my feedback aligns with Texas TEKS. For example, in Professional Communication, one of our key standards is:
130.113(c)(9): Evaluate messages for clarity, organization, and logic.
Brisk allows me to assess these elements with precision, leaving students with clear steps toward mastery.
🚀 Final Thoughts: Make Every Comment Count
If you’re ready to stop drowning in grading and start giving your students feedback that truly supports growth, Brisk is the tool for you. You’ll get your time back, and your students will benefit from feedback that’s timely, personalized, and aligned.
Lesson planning across multiple preps—especially when you’re switching between Education Practicum, DE Speech, and AV Production—requires serious flexibility and fast adaptation. As a teacher balancing both CTE and core communication courses, I needed a tool that could keep up.
That’s where Brisk Teaching comes in.
Brisk has become my go-to lesson co-planner. Whether I’m scaffolding a pedagogy lesson or breaking down a digital media unit, Brisk helps me adapt, differentiate, and design—all in one easy-to-use platform.
🎯 What Brisk Does for My Planning Workflow
Here’s how I use Brisk to streamline and supercharge my lesson prep:
📚 Turn Any Content Into a Lesson
Brisk makes it incredibly simple to turn content—like a YouTube video, article, or transcript—into full lesson materials. In just a few clicks, I can generate:
• Editable slide decks that are ready to teach or customize
• Auto-generated quizzes in Google Forms with answer keys
• Depth of Knowledge (DOK) comprehension questions that challenge students at various cognitive levels
🧑🏫 Tailoring for TEKS and Content Areas
In Education & Training
I use Brisk to help my students analyze and apply learning theories like Constructivism and Behaviorism. With a few prompts, I get questions and tasks that directly support TEKS 130.142(c)(3)(C)—which focuses on applying educational psychology to instructional practices.
In AV Production
I upload transcripts from film theory videos or video tutorials, and Brisk instantly generates:
• Summary activities
• Key vocab terms
• Reflection questions
This makes academic content more digestible for visual learners while maintaining rigor.
🧪 Real Lesson Planning Example
Just last week, I built a full lesson around an article on Behaviorism. I dropped the article into Brisk, selected the grade level, and in under five minutes, I had:
• Key vocabulary terms
• 3 DOK-aligned comprehension questions
• A short formative quiz for quick assessment
All I had to do was tweak the instructions, and the lesson was ready to go.
TEKS Tie-In:
130.142(c)(3)(A): Analyze historical and theoretical foundations of education
Brisk doesn’t just save time—it supports instructional alignment.
☕ Fast, Flexible, and Teacher-Friendly
Whether you’re teaching pedagogy or production, Brisk gives you plug-and-play resources without sacrificing quality. It supports my instructional goals while freeing up time to do what matters most: connecting with students and refining the experience.
Whether I’m guiding a UIL editor through copy edits or helping a future teacher reflect on their learning style, one thing stays consistent: students need clear, purposeful feedback—and teachers need time to deliver it.
That’s why I use Brisk Teaching.
Brisk isn’t just a shortcut; it’s a coaching companion. It helps me support student growth in two very different but equally important roles: as a UIL Journalism coach and as a teacher of aspiring educators.
📰 In UIL Journalism: Precision Meets Practicality
UIL writing is fast, high-pressure, and technical—and Brisk helps my students level up their skills with:
• ✏️ Practice articles adjusted to different reading levels, so every student can engage with authentic journalism.
• 📋 Custom rubrics tailored to UIL genres like News, Editorial, and Feature Writing.
• 💬 Genre-specific feedback that supports revision and clarity—without vague generalizations.
Whether they’re tackling lede development or transitions in features, students know what’s working and what needs improvement.
🎓 In Education Practicum: Supporting Reflective Teaching
On the education side, I use Brisk to scaffold reflective writing for my future teachers.
Here’s how:
• I use Brisk to support the Reflection Journal assignment, where students evaluate their own learning process and apply theory to practice.
• Brisk helps generate prompts, feedback, and revision ideas that align with TEKS 130.144(c)(1)(F), encouraging students to grow as learners and educators.
• The writing isn’t just academic—it’s meaningful. Students reflect on pedagogy, identify areas for growth, and create action plans for improvement.
🎯 What Students Say (and How They Grow)
What stands out most is how students respond to the clarity and personalization Brisk offers. They know exactly why they’re revising and how it connects to real-world application—whether that means teaching 2nd grade one day or writing for a college paper.
“Brisk doesn’t just help me save time—it helps my students think like teachers and write like communicators. Whether it’s a future educator or a UIL feature writer, they get better with Brisk.”
🚀 Why This Matters
As educators, we want to develop more than just technical skills—we want our students to be:
• ✨ Reflective
• 🎯 Audience-aware
• 🧠 Critical thinkers
Brisk makes that possible without taking away your planning period (or your Sunday afternoon).
👇 Ready to Try It?
Coaching students to be reflective, analytical, and confident writers doesn’t have to be time-consuming. With Brisk, it’s built in.
In today’s diverse classrooms, teachers face the challenge of meeting the needs of students with varying reading levels and language proficiencies. This is where Brisk’s “Change Levels” feature proves invaluable. It instantly converts any online text into a Google Doc that is adjusted for different reading levels, translated into another language, or both. This feature helps teachers create more accessible and inclusive learning environments.
Supporting Differentiated Instruction
Differentiating instruction is critical to student success, as research shows that providing material at appropriate reading levels increases comprehension and engagement (Tomlinson, 2001). The “Change Levels” feature enables teachers to adjust the complexity of any text, making it easier for students at different levels to access the same content in a challenging but not overwhelming way. This approach aligns with Vygotsky’s (1978) Zone of Proximal Development theory, which suggests that students learn best when tasks are set slightly above their current ability with appropriate support.
Language Translation for English Language Learners
This feature offers a critical support tool for students learning English as a second language (ESL). Research indicates that providing translated materials alongside English texts can significantly improve language acquisition and comprehension (Cummins, 2000). By offering immediate translation options, Brisk helps ESL students stay engaged with classroom materials while developing their language skills. This also enables teachers to cater to bilingual classrooms or individual students, enhancing overall inclusivity.
Research-Backed Benefits
Research supports using digital tools like Brisk to improve accessibility and support diverse learners. A meta-analysis by Means, Bakia, and Murphy (2014) found that using adaptive learning technologies enhances learning outcomes, particularly in reading comprehension and language learning. Brisk allows teachers to scaffold instruction and tailor materials to students’ unique learning profiles by offering text-level adjustments and language translations, fostering better engagement and retention.
Conclusion
Brisk’s “Change Levels” feature offers a powerful solution for teachers striving to meet the needs of all students. By adjusting reading levels and providing translations, this tool not only improves accessibility but also aligns with research-backed strategies that enhance student learning outcomes. For educators looking to simplify the process of differentiation and language support, Brisk is an invaluable resource.
Streamline your teaching and engage your students with Brisk—sign up using my referral link here and discover how Brisk can transform your classroom!
References:
Cummins, J. (2000). Language, power, and pedagogy: Bilingual children in the crossfire. Multilingual Matters.
Means, B., Bakia, M., & Murphy, R. (2014). Learning online: What research tells us about whether, when, and how. Routledge.
Tomlinson, C. A. (2001). How to differentiate instruction in mixed-ability classrooms. ASCD.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.
Vocabulary plays a critical role in understanding course material in my Introduction to Speech Communication and Interpersonal Communication courses. Using Diffit, I can generate vocabulary activities that help students learn essential communication terms while reinforcing their practical applications.
Vocabulary acquisition is crucial for academic success, and research has shown that differentiated vocabulary activities enhance student retention and understanding (Graves, 2006). With Diffit, I can quickly create activities that are tailored to the varying proficiency levels in my dual enrollment classes. These activities help students engage with the material more effectively, whether they are learning about rhetorical strategies or interpersonal dynamics. Students can complete the activities digitally or use printed copies, depending on their preferences and learning needs.
Diffit’s versatility in creating differentiated materials has allowed me to better support my students’ vocabulary development. Enhance your lesson planning with Diffit—automatically create differentiated learning materials in seconds! Sign up using my referral link here and experience the ease of personalized instruction.
References:
Graves, M. F. (2006). The vocabulary book: Learning and instruction. Teachers College Press.
In today’s digital classroom, educators have a wealth of tools at their fingertips that can help transform simple ideas into engaging learning materials. One exciting approach is using AI tools likeChatGPT andElevenLabs to create stories from personal experiences and events, complete with visual and audio elements. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I used these AI tools to develop a kid-friendly story, complete with visuals and narration, and how easy it is to integrate these into platforms likeCanva to create an animated video.
This process not only demonstrates the power of AI in education, but also highlights how simple it is to use these AI storytelling tools to create engaging content for students. Let’s dive into the steps:
1. Story Concept and Outline
Goal: Develop a whimsical, kid-friendly story based on quirky neighborhood characters.
My Input: I provided ChatGPT with a list of personal memories and unique neighborhood events like “The Pig House,” “Flamethrower Incident,” and “The Dancing Man.”
Action: ChatGPT, one of the best AI-generated storytelling tools, transformed my list into a cohesive story by creating chapter titles and summaries based on these quirky events. Each chapter highlighted a fun character or event from my neighborhood, setting the tone for a whimsical tale that would capture the imagination of young readers.
2. Story Adaptation for Kids
Goal: Turn the outline into a cohesive story suitable for a children’s book or animated show.
My Input: I requested that ChatGPT adapt these events into a short story written in the playful, simple style of a children’s cartoon.
Action: ChatGPT crafted a narrative that introduced each character and event in a kid-friendly way, making it perfect for students. The story was not only entertaining but also illustrated the power of AI-generated stories for kids. It kept the language light, with fun themes like community and uniqueness, making it engaging and educational for young readers.
3. Image Creation for Visuals
Goal: Create AI-generated cartoon-style images to illustrate key scenes in the story.
My Input: I used Leonardo.ai (another fantastic AI tool for visuals) to generate images based on prompts crafted with the help of ChatGPT. I described specific scenes like “The Dancing Man twirling in the park” and “The Pig House with colorful flowers.”
Action: ChatGPT helped me generate detailed prompts for Leonardo.ai, ensuring the visuals matched the story’s whimsical style. These AI-generated visuals were essential for illustrating the key moments, helping bring the story to life in a vibrant, animated style. Such AI visuals can be a game-changer when creating multimedia storytelling in education.
4. Script for Audio Narration
Goal: Convert the written story into a script that could be used for audio narration.
My Input: I wanted to create an engaging audio version of the story using ElevenLabs’ text-to-speech feature, so I asked ChatGPT to break the story into a script with clear narration cues.
Action: ChatGPT simplified the narrative into a series of scenes that were easy to follow in an audio format, making it perfect for storytelling. The script was designed to keep listeners engaged, with clear directions for tone and pacing. This use of text-to-speech for kids’ stories not only made the narrative more engaging but also demonstrated the flexibility of AI-generated audio narration.
5. Final Adjustments and Revisions
Goal: Finalize the script, ensuring it flows smoothly and matches the desired style.
My Input: After reviewing the script and visuals, I requested minor adjustments to ensure the tone stayed cheerful and engaging.
Action: Based on my feedback, ChatGPT revised the script to ensure it aligned with the visuals and created a cohesive flow for narration. By incorporating the visuals and narration, the story was now ready for multimedia production, which is key for creating engaging stories with AI.
6. Ready for Audio Production
Goal: The script is now ready for audio production usingElevenLabs.io.
I used ElevenLabs’ AI-generated voiceovers to bring the narration to life. The platform’s customizable text-to-speech feature allowed me to match the narrator’s voice to the playful tone of the story, creating an engaging experience for young listeners.
7. Combining Visuals and Audio in Canva
Once the visuals and audio were ready, I usedCanva to create a video of the story. Canva’s intuitive interface made it easy to upload the AI-generated visuals and sync them with the audio narration from ElevenLabs. With simple drag-and-drop features, I could add animations, transitions, and text, bringing the story to life in a dynamic way.
This combination of AI storytelling tools—ChatGPT for the narrative, ElevenLabs for audio, and Canva for visuals—resulted in a highly engaging, kid-friendly story that could be used as a learning tool in classrooms. Canva’s multimedia features made the whole process smooth, allowing me to easily create a video that students would enjoy and learn from.
Why Use AI Tools in the Classroom?
Using AI in education can transform how teachers create and deliver content. Tools like ChatGPT, ElevenLabs, and Canva offer educators a way to personalize learning materials, making them more engaging and interactive. By combining AI-generated stories, visuals, and audio, educators can create lessons that captivate students while also meeting educational goals. Whether it’s for storytelling, lesson planning, or developing interactive resources, AI tools like these provide endless possibilities.
This step-by-step process highlights just how easy it is to create personalized, multimedia stories using AI tools. With just a few platforms, teachers can transform simple ideas into captivating learning experiences for their students.
Balancing lecture content, class discussions, and assessments can be time-consuming in my Introduction to Speech Communication course. With Class Companion, I’ve streamlined my lesson planning, using its ready-made resources and automated assessments to ensure my students consistently engage with the material.
One of the standout features of Class Companion is its ability to organize lesson plans and materials in an intuitive, easy-to-use format. Research shows that well-structured lesson plans improve student performance and better time management for teachers (Marzano, 2007). I can focus more on student interaction with Class Companion, knowing that my course materials are organized and easily accessible.
Incorporating Class Companion into your course planning process ensures you have more time to dedicate to the students and their learning needs.
Try Class Companion using my referral code here and experience the ease of streamlining your course materials.
References:
Marzano, R. J. (2007). The art and science of teaching: A comprehensive framework for effective instruction. ASCD.
If you live in Google Docs like I do, then you know the drill—multiple tabs open, copy-pasting feedback, digging through folders for rubrics or past lessons. It works… but it’s far from efficient.
That’s why I started using Brisk Teaching—and let me tell you, the integration is seamless. No new logins. No complicated onboarding. Just powerful tools that enhance what you’re already doing in Google Workspace.
里 Brisk Works Where You Already Work
Brisk is designed to live inside the platforms you already use:
• Google Docs
• Google Slides
• Google Classroom
No switching tabs, no exporting/importing, no third-party portals. If you’re already managing your classroom with Google tools, Brisk just plugs in and powers up.
六 How I Use Brisk Across My Preps
As a teacher with multiple preps—ranging from Professional Communication and DE Interpersonal Communication to UIL Journalism—Brisk helps me get more done with less stress.
Here’s what that looks like:
• UIL News & Editorial Writing: I give targeted feedback right inside student Docs with Brisk’s feedback tool. It saves me hours each week while helping students revise with purpose.
• Professional Communication: Brisk helps me generate rubrics for student speeches that are aligned, clear, and student-friendly.
• DE Interpersonal Communication: I use Brisk’s presentation generator to create quick, editable slide decks from articles or videos.
Make Any Resource Interactive with Brisk Boost
One of my favorite features is Brisk Boost—which allows me to turn a static article or video into an interactive lesson. Students move from passive reading or viewing to engaging with content in real time.
Real Example:
In Interpersonal Communication, I brought in a video on empathy. Brisk instantly:
• Summarized the key points
• Generated class discussion questions
• Suggested 2 exit ticket prompts
It turned a 5-minute video into a full 30-minute discussion-based lesson—without extra prep on my part.
易 Why It Matters
When students interact with content—whether it’s through exit tickets, structured discussions, or digital annotations—they learn better. Brisk makes that interaction easy to plan and manage.
And as a teacher? I get to spend less time reinventing the wheel and more time guiding meaningful conversations and growth.
Ready to Try It?
If you’re already in Google Workspace, Brisk will feel like an extension of your brain. It’s simple, effective, and saves time without sacrificing depth.
Want to see how it fits into your next assignment?
In my Introduction to Speech Communication course, providing students with accessible resources is key to success, especially when balancing high school and college-level expectations. With Diffit, I can easily create differentiated handouts that cater to various learning styles, ensuring all students can grasp complex communication concepts.
Diffit’s ability to automatically generate tailored materials allows me to create handouts that reinforce key course content, whether I’m teaching the components of effective speech or principles of audience analysis. Research suggests that providing structured, accessible materials helps students engage with the content and improves comprehension (Titsworth, 2004). Whether printed or used digitally, these handouts allow students to review critical information at their own pace.
For any educator managing a dual enrollment course, Diffit is a valuable tool for enhancing accessibility and student understanding. Enhance your lesson planning with Diffit—automatically create differentiated learning materials in seconds! Sign up using my referral link here and experience the ease of personalized instruction.
References:
Titsworth, B. S. (2004). Students’ notetaking: The effects of teacher immediacy and clarity. Communication Education, 53(4), 305-320.
Managing assignments and providing meaningful feedback can be time-consuming for any educator. That’s where Brisk’s “Streamline Assignments” feature excels. This tool simplifies the assignment workflow, allowing teachers to provide timely, engaging feedback that students can easily understand and apply.
Research highlights the importance of feedback in the learning process. Hattie and Timperley (2007) found that clear, actionable feedback can significantly impact student achievement. Brisk facilitates this by enabling teachers to streamline the feedback process, creating opportunities for students to reflect and improve. Additionally, by managing assignments efficiently, Brisk helps teachers focus more on instruction rather than administrative tasks.
Brisk’s “Streamline Assignments” feature is an indispensable resource for any educator who wants to enhance student learning while saving time.
Streamline your teaching and engage your students with Brisk—sign up using my referral link here and discover how Brisk can transform your classroom!
References:
Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81-112.
Mastering AP Style is a crucial aspect of UIL journalism competitions. From news writing to feature stories, students must demonstrate consistency in applying AP Style across different types of writing. Class Companion simplifies the process of learning and applying these standards, making it easier for students to improve their accuracy and consistency.
1. AP Style Practice Quizzes
Class Companion offers customizable quizzes that focus specifically on AP Style rules. Students can practice everything from proper punctuation and abbreviations to capitalization and numbers. Regular quizzes help reinforce AP Style guidelines, ensuring students retain this knowledge.
2. Immediate Feedback for Quick Corrections
One of the most powerful aspects of Class Companion is the immediate feedback it provides. When students submit assignments, they can receive automatic alerts for AP Style inconsistencies, enabling them to fix mistakes before final submission. This helps build good habits over time.
3. AP Style Reference Guides
Class Companion also allows students to access AP Style reference materials directly within the platform. If a student is unsure about a specific rule, they can quickly reference it while working on their writing assignment, reducing errors and improving overall consistency.
Tip: Assign weekly AP Style practice tasks through Class Companion, focusing on different sections of the AP Stylebook each time. Students will become more confident in their writing as they consistently apply the rules in both practice and formal assignments.
Help your UIL journalism students master AP Style with Class Companion—sign up today using my referral code here and watch their writing improve!
One of the key skills UIL journalism students must master is creating smooth transitions between quotes. A strong quote can fall flat if it isn’t effectively introduced or followed by a well-crafted transition. Class Companion is a fantastic resource for helping students refine this essential storytelling skill.
1. Identifying Weak Transitions
Class Companion’s writing analysis tools can help students identify weak transitions in their drafts. By reviewing feedback on the flow of their writing, students can see where abrupt shifts between quotes and narrative occur, prompting them to rework the transitions for smoother reading.
2. Practicing Transition Techniques
Class Companion provides practical exercises for mastering different transition strategies. For example, students can practice using transitional phrases, summarizing sections before introducing new quotes, and maintaining consistency in tone throughout their writing. These strategies can be directly tied to UIL journalism rubrics, where the fluidity of transitions impacts scoring.
3. Modeling Professional Examples
Students can use Class Companion to study examples of how professional journalists seamlessly transition between quotes and narrative. By reading and analyzing these models, students gain a better understanding of how transitions maintain the flow of a story without interrupting the reader’s experience.
Tip: Have students use Class Companion’s peer review feature to provide constructive feedback on each other’s transitions. This encourages collaborative learning and helps students identify what works well in their peers’ writing.
Enhance your students’ transition techniques with Class Companion—sign up using my referral code here and elevate their story flow in UIL journalism competitions!
