Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from April 2026. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey, and pass the assessment. For details, read the Registration & Credit Options section on the registration page.

Explore Google Gems, custom AI chatbots designed to serve as specialized learning partners for specific educational tasks and topics. This hands-on workshop will teach educators how to create personalized AI assistants that can support student learning while maintaining appropriate safety and privacy controls. Participants will learn the basics of setting up Google Gems and discover practical applications for classroom use, from subject-specific tutoring support to creative writing partnerships. You'll leave with foundational knowledge for implementing safe, focused AI interactions that enhance rather than replace meaningful learning experiences. If you're ready to explore customized AI tools that can be tailored to specific curriculum needs and learning objectives, this session is for you! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Create and customize Google Gems for specific educational tasks and learning objectives. 2. Implement safe AI learning experiences that support curriculum goals and student needs. 3. Design personalized AI interactions that enhance classroom learning while maintaining appropriate boundaries. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), Google (22), OK2Askarchive (87), professional development (319)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from March 2026. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey, and pass the assessment. For details, read the Registration & Credit Options section on the registration page.

Ready to help your students engage with AI productively and responsibly? This updated session provides practical, classroom-tested strategies for introducing AI tools that enhance learning rather than replace thinking. Discover how to create structured AI experiences that build digital literacy while supporting curriculum goals--from character conversations that deepen literature analysis to timeline creation that reinforces historical understanding. Learn to set up AI activities that can be seamlessly integrated into station rotation models or used as standalone experiences. We'll explore current artificial intelligence tools suitable for K-12 classrooms, discuss ethical usage guidelines, and share frameworks for teaching students to be critical consumers and creators--perfect for educators who want to address AI proactively while maintaining pedagogical focus! As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Implement structured AI learning experiences. 2. Create AI instructional stations. 3. Foster critical AI literacy. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), OK2Askarchive (87), professional development (319)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from October 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey, and pass the assessment. For details, read the Registration & Credit Options section on the registration page.

Explore AI prompt templates that make artificial intelligence accessible and practical for every K-12 classroom. In this interactive workshop, you'll discover how structured prompting frameworks can transform complex AI interactions into straightforward, reliable tools for creating engaging learning experiences. We'll focus on free AI platforms that can help you turn these prompt templates into differentiated materials, assessment ideas, and creative learning activities--all while maintaining pedagogical best practices. Whether you're completely new to AI or looking to streamline your prompting process, this session will equip you with simple, effective templates you can use immediately to enhance your instruction. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Apply AI prompt templates to create instructional materials for their specific classroom needs. 2. Use structured AI prompts to generate differentiated learning activities that serve diverse student populations. 3. Refine AI-generated content to ensure pedagogical effectiveness and alignment with learning objectives. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), OK2Askarchive (87), professional development (319)

Register to view this on-demand OK2Ask professional learning workshop from August 2025. Educators seeking recertification credit must watch the recording, complete the feedback survey, and pass the assessment. For details, read the Registration & Credit Options section on the registration page.

Save time and enhance your teaching practice with your new AI teaching assistant: Microsoft Copilot! In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn effective prompt engineering techniques you can use to generate lesson ideas, create differentiated materials, and develop scaffolded assessments aligned with learning objectives in minutes. Complete collaborative activities where you'll experiment with practical integration strategies that leverage Copilot as a teaching assistant while maintaining instructional integrity and addressing the unique needs of diverse learners. This session goes beyond basic operations to emphasize critical AI literacy, ethical considerations, and how to guide students in responsible AI use. Join us to discover how this powerful AI tool can transform your workflow while building essential skills for an AI-integrated educational landscape. As a result of this session, teachers will: 1. Craft effective prompts to generate differentiated classroom resources that meet diverse student needs. 2. Evaluate and refine AI-generated content while maintaining instructional integrity. 3. Design activities that develop student AI literacy and responsible use practices. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), Microsoft (55), OK2Askarchive (87), professional development (319)

How can I learn about AI and use this technology to enhance instruction? This article from the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series, reviewed here, shares background knowledge and practical resources to help educators integrate AI into everyday activities to increase productivity and introduce AI to students using interactive learning activities. Choose from a variety of activities, including books, videos, and learning games, suitable for both educators and students.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), professional development (319), STEM (371)

View this collection of artificial intelligence tools designed to transform the way you create and deliver engaging learning experiences. Harness the power of AI to streamline the lesson planning process, offering intelligent assistance in curriculum development, personalized learning pathways, and resource curation. From AI-driven content generators that suggest creative activities to adaptive assessment tools that provide real-time insights into student progress, these resources assist teachers as they craft dynamic, data-informed lessons that cater to diverse learning needs. Some of the tools can also help educators create more diversified lessons with differentiation options (from reading levels to choice boards) and translation into many languages in mere seconds.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), differentiation (92)

This collection of artificial intelligence tools is designed to enhance your and your students' project creation process. Use these tools to streamline workflow, boost creativity, and explore new possibilities in projects. From image creators to music makers, these tools can help your students utilize the latest advancements in artificial intelligence. Many of these tools also include translation features, making them suitable for multilingual learners.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), creating media (16), Project Based Learning (28)

Learn about and explore artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and tools educators can use to automate administrative tasks and improve student learning outcomes using the resources in this collection. These tools can help leverage AI's power to increase your productivity and efficiency in the classroom. Many tools can also allow AI to personalize student learning experiences and optimize lesson planning.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), differentiation (92), personalized learning (13), Teacher Utilities (215), writing prompts (55)

AI offers exciting opportunities to transform assessment practices. View this collection to find education-specific AI tools to create engaging, practical, formative, and summative assessments for your students. Some examples of AI tools for assessment creation include tools to help develop rubrics, feedback, reports connected to your learning objectives and standards, quizzes, portfolios, and more.

tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), assessment (145), Formative Assessment (47), quizzes (91)