Lesson Objectives

By the end of this newsletter, you'll be able to:

• Recognize when educational boundaries are "dotted lines" that can be crossed with AI innovation

• Distinguish between situations that need creative AI solutions vs. those where existing approaches work best

• Apply strategic prompts to navigate flexible boundaries in your educational practice

• Develop confidence in making decisions about when to push through with new AI tools

Do Now

Before we get started, take a moment to think about a recent challenge in your classroom or educational role where you felt stuck by "the way things have always been done." Was there a rule, process, or boundary that felt rigid but maybe didn't need to be?

What We’re Working with Today

Today we'll explore the concept of "dotted lines" in education - those flexible boundaries that sometimes need to be crossed for innovative solutions, and sometimes should be respected because they're already working. We'll learn how AI can help you make these strategic decisions with confidence.

I Do, We Do, You Do

I Do: Here’s What I Created

This week, I had a powerful realization during my performance review. I was reflecting on what I love most about my role in special education administration, and it hit me: in special education, there are no lines. Or if there are, they're all dotted lines.

Some days you need to cross through the gaps to reach the right solution for a child. Other days, you don't cross because what exists is already the best approach. This constant reassessing and fluid decision-making requires tremendous creativity and innovation.

I realized this is exactly the same energy I feel when building with AI tools during hackathons, that creative problem-solving where you're constantly evaluating what boundaries to respect and which ones to reimagine.

We Do: Let’s Build This Together

Follow this step-by-step guide to identify your own dotted lines:

Step 1: Use this AI prompt to analyze a current challenge

I'm an educator facing [describe your specific challenge]. Help me analyze whether this situation requires innovative thinking or if existing approaches are sufficient.

Consider:
- What boundaries or "rules" currently exist around this issue?
- Are these boundaries serving students well, or are they outdated barriers?
- What would happen if I approached this differently?
- What are the risks of changing vs. staying the same?

Provide me with 3 questions I should ask myself to determine if this is a "dotted line" I should cross.

Step 2: Identify your crossing points. List 3 current practices or policies in your educational environment that feel like "dotted lines" - flexible boundaries that might benefit from innovation.

Step 3: Use this strategic decision-making prompt

I've identified a potential "dotted line" in my educational practice: [describe the boundary/practice]. Help me create a decision framework to determine if I should innovate here or maintain the current approach.

Consider:
- Student impact and outcomes
- Available resources and time
- Stakeholder concerns and buy-in
- Implementation complexity
- Risk vs. benefit analysis

Give me a simple 3-question checklist I can use to make this decision confidently.

Step 4: Take action on one small dotted line this week - either by respectfully maintaining a boundary that's working or by carefully crossing one that needs innovation.

You Do: Your Mini Task for the Week

Now it's your turn! Choose one area where you've been feeling constrained by "the way things are done" and apply the prompts above. Start small - maybe it's how you give feedback, communicate with parents, or organize your lesson planning. Use AI to help you think through whether this boundary serves your students or if it's time to innovate.

Think-Pair-Share

• Think of 3 "dotted lines" in your educational practice - boundaries that feel flexible and might benefit from creative approaches

• Pair up with a colleague to discuss: What's one educational boundary you've successfully crossed, and what's one you've decided to respect? What guided those decisions?

• Share your insights with our community of educators and connect with other Edumators who are transforming their classrooms with AI and automation.

Exit Ticket

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