Use AI as Your Teaching Co-Pilot

Hello Reader,

You’ve probably used AI to write an email, brainstorm ideas, or create lesson materials. But here’s the question:

"Are you using AI as a co-pilot or just a shortcut?"

Short Cut Thinking vs. Co-Pilot Thinking

Shortcut Thinking:

“Write a lesson plan for me”
“Make a quiz”
Accept the first response
Use output without editing
Let AI shape the direction

Co-Pilot Thinking:

“Here’s my lesson objective and help me outline 3 variations based on ability levels.”
“Can you draft 5 quiz questions that test critical thinking?”
Ask follow-up questions to refine tone or depth
Use output as a starting point, then personalize
You stay in control and AI assists, not decides

When you treat AI like a co-pilot, your mindset shifts:

You don’t just ask for help. You guide the process.
You don’t just accept answers. You challenge them.
You don’t let AI replace your thinking. You amplify it.

What Co-Pilot Collaboration Looks Like

Let’s take a real-world example:

Task: Create a worksheet on conditionals for intermediate learners

❌ Shortcut approach: “Make a worksheet on conditionals.” (Copy + paste)

✅ Co-pilot approach: “I’m preparing a 20-minute practice activity on conditionals for adult learners. Can you generate 3 short exercises with clear context and include one that builds in speaking?”

→ Then: “Great, can we simplify the vocabulary slightly?”
→ Then: “Let’s add an example answer for the open-ended question.”

AI fluent users guide, revise, question, and decide.

Co-Pilot Thinking Changes Your Daily Work

When you adopt the co-pilot mindset, your teaching workflow shifts:

Student Feedback: AI can help generate clear, respectful messages personalized for learning needs.
Formative Assessments: You can create adaptive quizzes by asking AI to vary tone, complexity, and structure.
Lesson Planning: Instead of starting from zero, you can draft multiple pathways for different learners and edit them faster.
Communication: From parent updates to social media posts, you get a solid first draft then make it yours.
Professional Development: Ask AI to summarize articles, simulate scenarios, or help you practice messaging for leadership or conflict.