Lesson Objectives

By the end of this newsletter, you'll have:

• A systematic approach to identifying automation opportunities in your workflow

• AI prompts to help you evaluate and prioritize which processes to automate first

• A step-by-step framework for designing your automation solution

• A concrete build plan you can execute during summer break

Do Now

Before we get started, take a moment to think about your most frustrating repetitive task from last school year. The one that made you think "there HAS to be a better way to do this." Hold onto that thought… we're about to turn it into your summer project.

What We’re Working with Today

Today we'll walk through the complete process of identifying, evaluating, and planning your own custom automation project. With budget cuts and understaffing hitting districts hard, now is the perfect time to build solutions that will save you hours when school starts back.

I Do, We Do, You Do

I Do: Here’s What I Created

This summer, I'm building three automation projects:

• Related Service Scheduler for SPED: Automatically schedules related service sessions and assigns staff for small group and 1:1 support, accounting for student and staff absences and preferred pull-out times

• Voice AI Legal Assistant: Answers SPED law questions instantly (building this for the 2-hour ElevenLabs hackathon next week!)

• IEP Report Writing Automation: Generates evaluation report drafts from assessment data (extending what I built out for my portion of the Bolt.new hackathon)

Tools I'm using: Bolt.new, Lovable, Claude and Gemini for planning, various APIs for building, VS Code, Gemini CLI (👀) and lots of prompt engineering

We Do: Let’s Build This Together

Follow this step-by-step guide to identify and plan your automation project:

Step 1: Pain Point Audit

I'm an educator looking to automate repetitive tasks. Help me analyze my workflow by asking me targeted questions about:
- Tasks I do weekly that take more than 30 minutes
- Processes that involve copying/pasting the same information repeatedly  
- Administrative requirements that follow predictable patterns
- Communication tasks that use similar templates

Ask me one question at a time and help me identify the top 3 automation opportunities.

Step 2: Solution Feasibility Check (For each pain point, use this prompt)

I want to automate [SPECIFIC TASK]. Help me evaluate this automation opportunity by analyzing:
- What data/inputs are needed
- What the desired output looks like
- How predictable/rule-based this process is
- What tools or platforms I'd need to build this
- Estimated time to build vs. time it would save annually

Rate this automation opportunity from 1-10 for feasibility and impact. If it is below a 7, recommend a related but more feasible automation opportunity.

Step 3: Solution Design (Once you've picked your project, use this prompt)

I want to build an automation for [CHOSEN TASK]. Help me create a detailed solution design including:
- User interface requirements (simple form, voice input, email integration, etc.)
- Core logic and decision points
- Integration needs (Google Workspace, district systems, etc.)
- Data storage requirements
- Error handling considerations

Present this as a technical specification I can follow.

Step 4: Build Plan Creation (Finally, get your roadmap)

Based on this solution design: [PASTE YOUR DESIGN], create a 4-week summer build plan that includes:
- Week 1: Setup and foundational components
- Week 2: Core functionality development  
- Week 3: Testing and refinement
- Week 4: Implementation and documentation

Break each week into daily 2-hour work sessions with specific deliverables. Assume I'm a beginner but willing to learn.

You Do: Your Mini Task for the Week

Now it's your turn! Run through Step 1 this week. Use the Pain Point Audit prompt and identify your top 3 automation opportunities. Don't overthink it - just start the conversation with AI and see what patterns emerge.

Think-Pair-Share

• Think of 3 processes you wish you could automate before school starts

• Pair up with a colleague to discuss what you both identified. You might discover shared pain points you could solve together

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

Exit Ticket

Are you an SLP or SPED teacher that wants to customize AAC icons? Check out AAC Icon Studio. Generate 5 icons for free to test it out.

Looking for a live hands-on course on AI and Automation? Our first cohort ran in March. Join the AI & Automation for Educators Course Waitlist to be informed about future sessions!

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Ready to explore automation and take control of your processes? Join the FREE 30-Day AI & Automation Email Course for Educators to learn how to build solutions tailored to your needs.

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