The Language of AI: E7 - Critical Concepts to Understand

Fellow Educators,

I want to share something that’s been on my mind lately. As I’ve been using AI, talking about it, and coaching educators on how to incorporate it into their workflows, I’ve realized something important:

It’s not just about learning how to use AI. It’s about understanding your thought process when you use it.

Here’s what I mean: too often, when I start consulting with someone, the first questions are “What should I create?” or “How do I use it?” But I’ve come to see that the better place to start is Why and what is AI going to do for you?

What Is Your AI Mindset?

Whether you’re a school considering how AI fits into your teaching or a professional wondering how it can improve your workflow, the first question isn’t if or how to use AI—it’s why.

For example, if you’re a school leader, think about these questions:

• What will AI do for your students or staff?

• How will it help them grow, learn, or develop?

• What skills might be lost if you rely on AI too much?

And here’s a deeper one: Where does AI fit into the promise your school is making to the world? Whether you’re preparing high schoolers for college or university students for the workforce, AI has to align with the vision you’re creating for their future.

For me, this mindset has shifted everything. It’s not just about doing something with AI. It’s about how AI fits into my goals, my process, and my values.

My Analogy: Stop Patching the Boat

When I think about AI in education, I picture a boat. AI is poking holes in the boat, and most people’s instinct is to patch them—to block AI, catch students using it, or try to adapt old systems to this new reality.

But here’s my take: we don’t need to patch the boat—we need a whole new one. AI is fundamentally changing how education works, and it’s time to rethink our processes, not just tweak them.

How I Use AI: 3 Examples

I’ve been using AI in different ways to support my work and save time. Here are three key areas:

1. Content Creation

   • I use AI to generate ideas, outline articles, and draft text faster than I ever could before. It’s a huge time-saver, but it’s also about using that saved time to refine and improve my work.

2. Data Analysis

   • This one’s big for me. For example, I can take student feedback or survey results, drop it into an AI tool, and get instant insights: trends, themes, or even specific data points I hadn’t noticed.

3. Problem Solving & Planning

   • This is more personal, but the other day my wife asked ChatGPT to organize her to-do list into manageable 15-minute chunks. It helped her get past that mental block of “Where do I start?” and gave her a clear, actionable plan. That’s what I love—using AI with a purpose, not just randomly.

Building Your AI Mindset

Here’s what I want you to think about:

• What’s your goal? Before you dive in, ask yourself what you’re trying to accomplish.

• What’s the purpose? How will AI help you solve a problem, save time, or grow?

• Where does it fit? Think about how it integrates into your process, whether it’s teaching, learning, or even personal productivity.

For me, this has been a game-changer. AI isn’t just a tool I use—it’s something that forces me to rethink my approach to everything, from teaching to workflow to life. And I’m sharing this because I hope it helps you do the same.

Thanks for listening to this week’s episode. Take a moment to reflect on what AI can do for you—not just how you use it, but why you use it—and let me know what comes to mind. Talk to you all soon!

Activity: Building Your AI Mindset PDF

Purpose:

This activity is designed to help you reflect on your goals and clarify how AI can support your personal or professional workflow. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of your AI mindset and how to strategically incorporate AI into your work.

Thanks for taking the time to be part of a positive change in education compared to simply burring your heads in the sand.

Cheers,
Matthew