Practical AI Leadership: Mastering the Basics of AI for School Leaders

Presented by Kris HagelInternal WorkshopFor PSD Staff

Practical AI for School Leaders: A Guide to Getting Started

This presentation, delivered on December 3, 2024, offered school leaders a practical introduction to Generative AI, focusing on foundational knowledge, advanced prompting techniques, and strategies for building reusable AI tools.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand Your AI Comfort Level: The presentation categorized attendees into four levels: Cautious Observer, Curious Explorer, Confident Partner, and Innovation Leader, encouraging self-reflection on current AI proficiency.
  • Embrace the AI Mindset: Move beyond simply asking "how can AI help me?" to actively exploring and experimenting with AI tools.
  • Master Advanced Prompting Techniques: Learn and apply four key techniques to enhance AI interactions:
    • Persona Pattern: Define a specific role and personality for AI to adopt, ensuring contextually appropriate responses.
    • Few-Shot Prompting: Provide examples to guide AI in generating outputs that align with your desired style and format.
    • Chain of Thought Prompting: Request that AI explain its reasoning process step-by-step, leading to more transparent and insightful results.
    • Template Pattern: Create structured templates for AI to populate, ensuring consistency in recurring tasks like documentation or reporting.
  • Build Reusable AI Assistants: Streamline administrative tasks by developing custom AI tools tailored to your school's specific needs.
  • System Prompts are Key: By understanding and applying the core elements of system prompts - persona, audience, scope, tone, and instructions - leaders can build powerful and targeted AI interactions.

Actionable Insights:

  • Experiment with the Persona Pattern: Identify common communication tasks and create prompts that embody your unique leadership style.
  • Practice Few-Shot Prompting: Use examples of your past work to guide AI in tasks like writing discipline responses, creating staff meeting agendas, or summarizing professional development sessions.
  • Utilize Chain of Thought Prompting: Apply this technique to complex decision-making processes, such as budget analysis, student discipline investigations, or master schedule development.
  • Develop Templates for Recurring Tasks: Streamline your workflow by creating and testing template prompts for tasks like parent conference documentation, incident reports, or teacher improvement plans.
  • Explore Tools for System Prompt Writing: Utilize resources like the OpenAI Playground and Meta System Prompt to refine your prompt engineering skills.
  • Continue Learning: Engage in dedicated work time and read the provided article to deepen your understanding of AI's potential.

Looking Ahead:

This presentation empowers school leaders to confidently navigate the evolving landscape of AI in education. By mastering these practical techniques and embracing a proactive mindset, leaders can leverage AI to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and ultimately create a more supportive and effective learning environment for all students.