Weekly Newsletter

Practical AI Strategies

PhD Retrospective: Three Years of GenAI in Education

Plus: The Term 3 Waitlist for Practical AI for Curriculum Leaders closes Sunday

Hi everyone,

I've been running a lot of online PD for the past few weeks, including some chunky three-hour workshops on topics like assessment and the use of AI for making teaching resources.

In many of the sessions, we've reached the same conclusion: GenAI doesn't save you time. The technology can be used in ways which contribute to quality resources, but it takes just as long to make them as doing things the old fashioned way.

Here's an example: In the past, I could easily spend an hour or two making the materials for a 60 minute workshop (or a year 11 English class). Much of that time was planning and then creating slides, handouts, and so on.

Now, with GenAI, I spend that same time planning and collating resources. I might use a deep research tool if I need to. I might send off a Claude Code agent to gather up some news articles or recent papers. The creation of the resources is faster, because I use Claude to make the final product. But all the up-front work actually takes a bit longer. And that's fine. If you stop viewing GenAI as a "timesaving" technology, then your attitude starts to shift. Not faster, just different.

I'll write more about it next week on the blog.

This week, though, I've spent my time looking backwards.

A PhD (and blog) Retrospective

I'm getting close to my four-hundredth article on the blog, which is sort of insane when I reflect on how it started. Almost a decade ago I began writing articles for fellow English teachers. Many of those articles later turned into my first books, Practical Reading Strategies and Practical Writing Strategies.

Even when I started my PhD, my intention was always to work in those areas of reading, writing, and literacy. When ChatGPT landed on us just 15 days after I officially started my studies, things changed overnight.

In this week's article, I reflect on the lead up to starting my PhD and the first couple of years studying and writing amidst the increasing chaos of GenAI in education. Part two next week.

Read: PhD Retrospective: Three Years of GenAI in Education

Practical AI for Curriculum Leaders: Term 3

The waitlist for Practical AI for Curriculum Leaders closes tomorrow (Sunday May 17th). After that, I'll open up Early Bird registrations for Term 3, with spots open first to the people on the waitlist.

The term 2 cohort is halfway through, and the waitlist for term 3 is almost full. You can read more about the 6 week live and asynch intensive over on the website, and if you're interested join the waitlist for the Early Bird price next week.

Learn more and join the waitlist

Cheers,

Leon

---

Stay informed.​
The Practical AI Library curates fresh, practical articles, research, and advice on AI and education—updated every week. Check it out
Check it out → Practical AI Library​

---