3 AI Mindset Shifts for Teachers

THe BRIDGE - July 13, 2025

You sit down to build a few course pages in Canvas. Your brain’s buzzing with ideas… but that blinking cursor is staring you down like it’s got something to prove.

I’ve been there. More times than I care to admit.

From Ideas to Instructional Reality

When I started designing my online courses for teachers, I had everything I needed—content, research, standards, even a clear vision.

But turning all of that into something structured, clear, accessible, engaging, and ready to publish? That was the timesuck.

That’s when I realized I could stop trying to be the whole production team. I started using AI as my writing coach—not my ghostwriter, not my replacement.

Just a coach. I’d drop my messy bullet points into a chat, and instead of begging it to write something beautiful, I’d say:

“Ask me questions to work with me as I create this.”

And it did. Over and over again. It helped me think.

Letting AI In (on My Terms)

At some point, I stopped trying to outpace the blinking cursor and started leaning into the mess.

I gave AI my roughest drafts, unedited thoughts, even just notes I’d scribbled between meetings. 

It asked good questions. It pushed my thinking.

It mirrored my own voice back to me in ways that reminded me, hey, you actually know what you’re talking about.

Testing Tools with Purpose

I started uploading my research into Notebook LM, generated a study guide, and used that to write quiz questions directly tied to each module. 

Then I took my raw syllabus content and tested it in Mindsmith.

The lesson builder gave me interactive, accessible learning pieces I could embed right into Canvas. No extra coding, no hours wasted.

That alone saved me three hours of course development time. Probably more. 

And here’s the thing: nothing in those tools replaced my expertise—they elevated it.

The Real Shift: It’s How You Think

Now, I’m no AI evangelist. I don’t believe it’ll solve every problem or plan your course perfectly.

But I am an AI experimenter. And after a few wins (and a few wasted clicks),

I’ve learned that the real value comes from how I think about AI—not just how I use it.

Here are three mindset shifts I swear by:

✅ 1. Start With What You Already Have

Stop starting from scratch.

Use what you’ve already built—your syllabus, lesson ideas, learning objectives—and drop them into a tool to see what else they can become.

A quiz? An interactive activity? A warm-up prompt? Let AI remix the ingredients you already trust.

Sometimes the real mental drain comes from feeling like you always have to reinvent.

AI reminds me that reworking and reusing is creative work—especially when it helps make the content more dynamic or student-centered.

✍️ 2. Let AI Be Your Writing Coach

AI isn’t magic. But it can get you out of your own head.

When I’m stuck, I don’t ask it to write the perfect paragraph—I ask it to ask me questions.

It’s the only writing coach I know who works 24/7, doesn’t judge my grammar, and never gets tired.

This shift—using AI to coach rather than create—has made me feel more empowered, not less.

It’s like co-teaching with a very organized assistant who’s always ready with follow-up questions and fresh structure.

⛔ 3. Don’t Pay to Save Time (Right Away)

Every tool promises it’ll change your life. I’ve learned the hard way: if you have to pay upfront to find out if it works for you, skip it.

I don’t touch a tool that makes me pay first. When I’ve made that mistake in the past, it’s been just that—a mistake.

Now, I test every tool using my content first. If it doesn’t help me think better, teach better, or work faster, I move on. No regrets.

Mindset Over Hype

Here’s the truth: You don’t need AI to do your job. But you can use it to reclaim your time, your energy, and your brain space.

Not every tool is worth your time—but the right mindset always is.

If you’re feeling stretched or stuck, try one of these shifts this week. Use what you’ve got. Coach yourself forward.

Stay curious, and don’t buy into the hype.

You’re the teacher. AI just gets to ride shotgun.