AI-Powered Brain Breaks and Bell Ringers
Brain breaks and bell ringers are short activities that can be used to help students focus, stay engaged, and learn more effectively. Explore how AI can be used to create brain breaks and bell ringers that are more personalized, engaging, and effective.
Let's get started!
Presentation Resources
Outline
- Introductions (Four Corners)
- Questions, Research, and Activities
Evidence-Based Learning: A Short Overview
Spaced vs Massed Practice for Brain Breaks
Retrieval Practice for Bell Ringers
- AI Prompt Engineering
Chatbots
3-2-1 Guide to Prompt Engineering
- Build Your Own Brain Breaks and Bell Ringers
- Share and Reflect
(to get a copy, you need a Canva Pro account)
Short Session Outline (30 minutes)
Prompt Creation Basics
Chatbot Exploration
Share Results
Directions
Locate the different levels of agreement in the room.
Read the statement presented.
Move to the location that reflects your location on the continuum of agreement.
Introduce yourself to others and discuss your reasoning/opinion.
There are five statements. Move each time to signal your level of agreement.
2. Questions, Research, and Activities
(to get a copy, you need a Canva Pro account)
Questions
Why Brain Breaks and Bell Ringers?
How Do I use AI to Improve these activities to the benefit of my students?
What does this look like when I try?
Research
John Hattie's Visible Learning Meta X
Spaced vs Mass Practice (d=.59)
Practice Testing (d=.49)
Activity
3-2-1 Activity
Learn about a specific learning intention, and then explore a strategy that, when used consistently, has the potential to accelerate student learning. Use your 3-2-1 organizer (Google Slides or Canva) to take notes. Be prepared to share your thoughts afterwards. Here are strategies that are often seen as appropriate all phases of learning and/or surface learning.
3. AI Prompt Engineering
Chatbots are available for free but may also cost money. It would be best for your school district to decide on which AI chatbots it was going to purchase on your behalf. In the meantime, most offer free or trial accounts.
Bing/CoPilot Chat App with ChatGPT 4
(free)
Want to see more ways you can use chatbots to enhance or facilitate teaching and learning in your classroom? Here are some popular ideas to explore. All you need is access to a chatbot to explore with. My favorites include Claude.ai, ChatGPT to start with.
4. Build Your Own
Directions
Divide up into small groups of 2-3 people. You will be working together on all activities.
You are an internet scavenger hunt to try out ONE prompt on different chatbots.
BEFORE you start, craft your prompt for each:
A bell ringer (entry/exit ticket) for a specific grade level and content area topic
A brain break for a specific grade level with a single task.
Post the prompts you come up with for each in their respective Padlets shown below. A few examples appear in each Padlet for you to use.
Prompt Elements
Be sure to try and include these elements in your prompt creation.
- Grade level
- Content area (e.g. science)
- A specific topic in that content area (e.g. CER)
- Type of activity:
- Bell Ringer
- Brain Break
View some sample prompts to try.
Prompt to Diffit.me:
Create bell ringer activity for CER for grade 5 students in science class
Sample Brain Break Prompt for AI
Assume the role of a sixth grade teacher. Use a tone that is educational but suitable for middle school students. Come up with a slow movement brain break activity that incorporates balancing and posture changes.
Try this prompt for different AI chatbots you have available or that are free for your use.
Sample Bell Ringer Prompt for AI
Assume the role of a sixth-grade teacher. Use a tone that is educational but suitable for middle school students. Come up with a bell ringer activity that focuses on Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) for Texas Science TEKS for sixth grade.
Try this prompt for different AI chatbots you have available or that are free for your use. More ideas for brain breaks and when to use them.
5. Share and Reflect
Instructions
- Pair Up
- Roll The Dice using one of these free services:
- Discuss with each other
- Share one takeaway, then
- Find a new partner and roll again.
Access the slide deck for this presentation.
