5 Ways for Teachers to Use ChatGPT

As an English teach, I can tell you that when I first learned about Chat GPT, I was frustrated, upset, and even feeling a bit defeated. As an English teacher, I pride myself on being able to provide my students with step-by-step writing instruction that helps them build their skills and confidence. For years, I focused on teaching writing as a process and using class time for writer’s workshops. With ChatGPT, I plan to continue that teaching philosophy.

And now that it seems as if ChatGPT isn’t going anywhere, it is time to view it as a helpful, time-saving teacher tool. Here are five Chat GPT uses for teachers.

1. Use ChatGPT to write emails home to parents

Sending emails home to parents takes time, but it is an essential part of the job. Teachers can save some time by using ChatGPT to generate emails home. Here is a look at several examples that I was able to generate using AI technology.

PROMPT:

Write an email from a teacher to a parent about the student using their phone in class during instructional time.

RESPONSE:

Subject: Use of phone during class

Dear [Parent's Name],

I am writing to bring to your attention an issue that has been occurring in my class recently. [Student's Name] has been using their phone during instructional time, which is disrupting the learning environment for both [Student's Name] and their classmates.

As you know, the use of phones during class is prohibited, as it can be a distraction and prevent students from fully engaging in the lesson. Additionally, it can also create a disrespectful atmosphere in the classroom.

I would appreciate your help in addressing this issue. Please speak with [Student's Name] about the importance of being present and fully engaged in class, and remind them of the school's policy on phone use during instructional time.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
[Teacher's Name]

However, these emails home do not need to be negative. Teachers can also use Chat GPT to generate positive emails home.

PROMPT:

Write an email from a teacher to a parent praising a student who has been participating in class and contributing to classroom discussions.

RESPONSE:

Dear [Parent's Name],

I am writing to express my appreciation for the positive contributions [Student's Name] has been making in my class recently. [He/She] has been consistently participating in class discussions and group activities, and [his/her] input has been valuable and insightful.

[Student's Name] has been demonstrating a deep understanding of the material and [his/her] enthusiasm for learning is contagious. [He/She] is always willing to share [his/her] thoughts and ideas, and [he/she] is respectful and considerate of the opinions of others.

[Student's Name] has also been taking initiative to help classmates with their learning and has been a great group member. [He/She] takes the time to explain difficult concepts and [he/she] goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is on the same page.

I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge [Student's Name] hard work and dedication. [His/Her] participation in class has been an inspiration to other students, and I have no doubt that [he/she] will continue to excel in [his/her] studies.

Please let [Student's Name] know that [his/her] contributions are valued and appreciated.

Sincerely,
[Teacher's Name]

2. Write Lesson Plans

I am so fortunate that I teach in a district that does not require teachers to submit daily or weekly lesson plans to administration ahead of time. In fact, when I think about some teachers having this additional responsibility, I just get so mad. We have so many other things that we need to do.

However, for those of you who have to submit weekly lesson plans, using ChatGPT can be a helpful tool. Here is a look at the lesson plan that ChatGPT generated for me.

PROMPT:

Write a lesson plan for ninth-grade English about how to write a thesis statement

RESPONSE:

Objective: Students will be able to write a clear and specific thesis statement for their literary analysis essay by the end of the lesson.

Materials:

Handout on the elements of a thesis statement
Example thesis statements and essays
Graphic organizer for outlining a thesis statement

Warm-Up:

Begin the class by having students brainstorm a list of potential essay topics related to the current unit of study.
Have students share their ideas with a partner and discuss why they think each topic would make for a strong essay.

Direct Instruction:

Introduce the concept of a thesis statement and its importance in a literary analysis essay.
Distribute the handout on the elements of a thesis statement and go over it as a class.
Use example thesis statements and essays to model the process of creating a thesis statement and how it relates to the overall essay.
Have students work in small groups to generate a thesis statement for one of the essay topics brainstormed during the warm-up.
After each group has come up with a thesis statement, have one representative from each group share their statement with the class and receive feedback.

Guided Practice:

Provide students with a graphic organizer to help them outline their thesis statement.
Have students work independently to create a thesis statement for their chosen essay topic using the graphic organizer.
Circulate around the room and provide feedback and support as needed.

Independent Practice:

Assign a literary analysis essay for homework and remind students to include a clear and specific thesis statement in their introduction.

Closure:

Review the importance of a thesis statement in a literary analysis essay and remind students to always strive for a clear and specific thesis statement.
Collect the graphic organizers and give feedback on students' thesis statements.

Assessment:

Observe students during independent practice and provide feedback on their thesis statements
Collect and grade the literary analysis essays, paying particular attention to the strength of the thesis statement.

3. Write a daily learning objective

If you feel like you spend more time preparing your whiteboard or agenda slide by adding in the daily or weekly lesson objectives than you do actually putting your lesson together, ChatGPT can help you out.

Personally, I’m not as pleased with this response as I am with the emails home or the lesson plans, but the AI technology did provide key learning objectives when I tried it out.

PROMPT:

Write a daily learning objective for a high school English classroom where the students will learn how to synthesize information and write an essay

RESPONSE:

Today's learning objective: Students will be able to synthesize information from multiple sources and use it to write a well-supported literary analysis essay.

By the end of the class, students will be able to:

Understand the importance of synthesizing information from multiple sources in order to build a well-supported argument
Identify key pieces of information from various sources that relate to the topic of their essay
Use evidence from multiple sources to support their thesis statement in a literary analysis essay
Organize and structure their essay in a clear and logical manner
Write a well-supported literary analysis essay that demonstrates an understanding of the material and the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources.

Although, when I regenerated the response, I received a much better learning objective.

RESPONSE:

Learning Objective: Students will be able to synthesize information from multiple sources and use it to write a well-supported literary analysis essay by the end of the class.

4. Use ChatGPT to generate a permission slip

Teachers can also use AI technology to save time in generating permission slips for classes. Whether the permission slip is for watching a movie in class or reading a book from the classroom library, ChatGPT can save teachers time.

Please note: As noted even by ChatGPT, make sure that the permission slip you use is in accordance with your school’s, district’s, and state’s policies and regulations.

PROMPT:

Write a student permission slip for watching a PG-13 movie in class that contains language and violence.

RESPONSE:

Student Permission Slip for Watching a PG-13 Movie in Class
Date: _____________
Student's Name: ____________________________
Parent/Guardian's Name: ____________________________
Movie Title: ____________________________
Class: ____________________________
Teacher: ____________________________

I, ____________________________ (parent/guardian's name), give permission for my child, ____________________________ (student's name), to watch the PG-13 rated movie ____________________________ in class on _____________ as part of the curriculum. I understand that this movie may contain language and violence.

I have discussed the content of this movie with my child and we have agreed that it is appropriate for him/her to view it in a classroom setting. I understand that my child has the right to not participate in this activity and will not be penalized for not viewing the movie.

I also understand that should I have any concerns or questions about the movie, I will contact the teacher, ____________________________, directly.

____________________________ (parent/guardian's signature)
____________________________ (student's signature)

Please return this slip to the teacher no later than _____________.

Note: This is a sample permission slip and should be adjusted accordingly to the school and state laws, and regulations.

5. Use ChatGPT to generate grading rubrics

While I don’t think it is the best idea to use these AI-generated rubrics as-is, I think that using ChatGPT to generate a rubric that teachers then modify to fit their assignment is a great way to save time!

PROMPT:

Create a rubric to grade an argument essay.

RESPONSE:

Criteria	Excellent (4)	Good (3)	Satisfactory (2)	Unsatisfactory (1)
Thesis Statement	The thesis statement is clear, specific, and arguable. It presents the main argument of the essay and guides the entire essay.	The thesis statement presents the main argument of the essay, but it may not be as clear or specific.	The thesis statement is present, but it may not be specific or arguable.	The thesis statement is not present or it is not clear, specific, or arguable.
Evidence and Analysis	The essay presents a strong and well-supported argument with evidence and analysis from multiple sources. The evidence is used effectively and appropriately to support the thesis statement. The analysis is insightful, critical, and demonstrates a deep understanding of the subject.	The essay presents a good argument with evidence and analysis from multiple sources. The evidence is used appropriately to support the thesis statement, but the analysis may not be as deep or insightful.	The essay presents an argument with some evidence and analysis from one or two sources. The evidence may not be used effectively or appropriately to support the thesis statement, and the analysis may be limited.	The essay presents a weak argument with little or no evidence and analysis. The evidence used may not be relevant or credible, and the analysis may be superficial.
Counterarguments	The essay presents and effectively refutes counterarguments, showing a balance and fairness in the argument.	The essay presents and addresses counterarguments, but the refutation may not be as effective or convincing.	The essay presents counterarguments but does not address them effectively or at all.	The essay does not present any counterarguments.
Organization and Clarity	The essay is well-organized and easy to follow. The introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion are clearly defined and logically connected. The essay uses transition words and phrases effectively. The language is clear and appropriate for the audience.	The essay is organized and easy to follow, but some parts may not be as clear or logically connected. The essay uses transition words and phrases, but they may not be used consistently. The language is mostly clear and appropriate for the audience.	The essay is not well-organized and may be difficult to follow. The introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion are not clearly defined or logically connected. The essay uses few or no transition words and phrases. The language may not be clear or appropriate for the audience.	The essay is poorly organized and difficult to follow. The introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion are not defined or connected. The essay uses no transition words and phrases. The language is not clear or appropriate for the audience.

Note: This is a sample rubric, it can be adjusted according to the specific assignment and class.

As you can see, ChatGPT might be useful in the classroom. If teachers decide to use ChatGPT in the classroom, I recommend that they use any and all AI-generated text as a template, not as a source in its entirety. It is always best practice to read through the generated text and change and modify the text as needed.