3 A.I. Tips | 051 | For College Educators
Student success is human work. A.I. is just a tool.
Artificial intelligence is moving fast. New tools seem to appear every week, each promising to change everything. It’s easy to feel like you’re constantly behind.
The truth is simpler: you don’t need to master every platform. You just need to learn how to use a few tools well and integrate them thoughtfully into your work.
Ever since A.I. came on the scene, I’ve been helping college educators leverage it for the student success work in a highly practical and ethical way. Here are practical ways I’ve learned to leverage A.I. while keeping your thinking, and your voice, at the center.
1. Pick One or Two Tools and Master Them
There’s a growing ecosystem of A.I. platforms. Trying to keep up with all of them will only frustrate you. Instead, pick one or two tools and learn how to use them well.
For me:
ChatGPT is still my go-to for refining ideas, testing assumptions, and saving time on synthesis. It’s also known me for two years.
NotebookLM is excellent for turning dense research into chunkable, teachable insights.
Every so often someone declares, “ChatGPT is dead! Use Claude instead.” “X is dead! Use Y!”
When I hear that kind of marketing, it actually makes me less interested in exploring the new tool.
Different tools serve different audiences. Highly technical professionals like engineers may prefer Claude. But blanket statements about one tool replacing another without solid evidence or understanding the audience makes too many of us who think critically suspicious.
Perhaps you prefer Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, or others. Focus on mastering the one or two tools that work for you. Gradually explore new platforms as you see fit.
2. Talk to A.I. Like You’re the Teacher and It’s the Student
Prompt frameworks like the one below can help, but the real key is context and how you teach A.I.
Enhance your professional development. Subscription upgrade available.
Without context, A.I. often produces shallow or generic responses. Explain the situation, define the role you want it to play, and provide supporting materials.
If you’re relatively new to prompting, here’s an example:
I am a dean at [college name] launching a student-centered scheduling improvement project.
You are a project management and college course scheduling expert. Create a practical two-year action plan with major actions, sub-actions, timelines, and budget considerations. Use the attached documents to inform your response.
Potential materials you might upload:
Your own notes or thinking about the project
A course scheduling manual
Research or tools on improving course scheduling
The more context you provide, the better the output becomes. Again, put your teacher hat on.
But here’s the thing. Yes, A.I. can save a tremendous amount of time in planning. But the student success work is ALL about execution. It’s the human work.
Hardcore, in-the-weeds implementation is my passion. That’s where initiatives either move forward or stall. A.I. can’t replace this human endeavor.
3. Use A.I. to Refine Your Thinking; Not Replace It
I transferred as a veteran reentry student from a community college to Cornell University. Cornell is serious about writing. Super serious.
One of the books we studied was Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style. The core message was simple: be clear and concise.
Ironically, A.I. takes this to another level. It tends to over-structure and over-simplify.
I’ve had to rein in some of my own habits. For example, I used to be an enthusiastic user of em dashes. A.I. loves them even more. I’ve had to delete plenty from my drafts because people assume the writing is A.I.-generated.
I’ve also reduced my use of one-sentence paragraphs. That said, I am not giving up titles, bullet points, or action items. My audience is made up of no-nonsense practitioners. They want clarity and structure. That’s also my writing style.
What concerns me more is that many people are starting to sound the same. Scroll through social media and your emails long enough and you’ll notice it. Posts that feel completely A.I.-generated: same cadence, phrasing, and structure.
Here’s what I recommend: Upload several pieces of your own writing into your A.I. tool and ask it to analyze your voice. Keep prompting until it understands your style.
Then:
Write your first drafts yourself.
Ask A.I. to strengthen specific sentences.
Use it to clarify transitions.
Ask it to challenge your thinking.
That’s where it shines. This is no different from how I used the Cornell University Writing Center. I ran every essay draft through their staff for feedback.
Your thinking should lead. A.I. And please let your voice come through.
If your writing is a little messy, fine. If you occasionally use a sharp word to make a point, great. If your cadence is uneven but authentic, even better.
I want to hear your voice.
Here’s a bonus “Tip”: Please Abbreviate Artificial Intelligence as “A.I.”
Those of us named Al (short for something longer) would appreciate it.
It’s already confusing enough when people say:
“Al is taking over the world.” :-)
Artificial intelligence is powerful, but it works best when paired with thoughtful human judgment. Use it to accelerate your work, sharpen your thinking, and refine your communication.
Just don’t let it replace your voice, and again, remember that the student success work is human work.
Related Resources:
What A.I. Can’t Replace
A.I. can churn out outputs. But the relational processes--the way to move people forward--remains deeply human.
The Role of Higher Ed In A.I.
Avoiding the threat to short-term disastrous decision-making in the name of A.I.
A.I. Resources Related to Teaching & Learning
Anna Mills (@Anna Mills), Sam Illingworth ( @Slow AI ), Doan Winkel (@How to Teach With AI), Steven Mintz ( @Steven Mintz), Eric Martinsen ( @Eric Lars Martinsen)
Here’s an example of one my trainings. If you’re interested, contact me.
Depending on your college’s professional development policies, you may be reimbursed for the Continuous Learner premium subscription.
Use this template to request a reimbursement.
Let’s connect on LinkedIn.
Onward…
Dr. Al Solano
Founder, Continuous Learning Institute | About
Host, Student Success Podcast
A meaningful test of success is how helpful we are in contributing to our fellow human being’s happiness.
