Boosting Student Engagement with AI: Practical Ideas and Prompts for Teachers

AI is quickly becoming a partner in how we think, plan, and create. Instead of replacing teachers, it can open the door to reimagining lessons, sparking curiosity, and engaging students in new ways. Recently, I read two excellent books:Teaching Effectively with ChatGPT by Dan Levy and Angela Pérez Albertos, and the second edition of EdTech Essentials by Monica Burns, both packed with practical strategies for using AI thoughtfully in the classroom.

Inspired by their insights, I created this collection of ideas and prompts to help teachers use AI to create lessons that are interactive, engaging, and relevant. These strategies go beyond simply saving time, they aim to turn ordinary lessons into opportunities for students to think deeply, make connections, and stay actively involved in learning.

1. Start with What Students Care About

Before asking AI for lesson ideas, take time to learn about your students’ interests. Casual chats, class discussions, quick polls, or short surveys are great ways to discover what excites them.

Once you have that insight, ask AI to generate activity ideas linked to those interests: math problems with a sports theme, writing prompts about space exploration, or science projects tied to local issues. Pair these with quick formative assessments like exit tickets or short reflections to see what’s working and keep students motivated.

2. Gamify Your Teaching

Gamification makes lessons more fun and interactive. When using AI, be specific and ask for games, challenges, and playful activities tied to your topic.

• “Create a Kahoot-style quiz with 10 questions on fractions.”
• “Turn my grade 7 history lesson on Ancient Egypt into a classroom escape room.”
• “Suggest a points-based spelling game with a simple scoreboard for grade 3 students.”

These small tweaks can turn review sessions into friendly competitions students love.

3. Bring Lessons to Life with Multimedia

AI can quickly help you find videos, podcasts, documentaries, or infographics that match your lesson goals. Be specific about the format and length you want so the suggestions fit your class time.

Mixing formats keeps attention high: a short video paired with a discussion question, a podcast clip followed by a quick write, or an infographic used as a group activity. This variety reaches different learning styles and deepens understanding.

4. Make Cross-Curricular and Real-World Connections

Ask AI how your topic links to other subjects or real-life situations. This might mean connecting math to music, history to literature, or science to careers. When students see how a lesson relates to their lives and futures, engagement naturally rises.

For example:

• “Show me three ways to connect a lesson on ratios to real-world scenarios.”
• “Give me two cross-curricular projects on ecosystems that include writing or art.”

5. Grab Attention with Creative Openers

AI can suggest surprising ways to start class; a mystery question, a funny fact, or a quick story that connects to your topic. These attention-grabbers get students curious before you dive into content. Be sure to ask for “unexpected,” “creative,” or “attention-grabbing” ideas so you get responses beyond the usual warm-ups.

6. Explain with Analogies and Examples

Difficult concepts become easier to understand when connected to something familiar. Ask AI to turn a complex idea into a simple analogy or real-life example.

For instance:

• “Explain photosynthesis using a cooking analogy.”
• “Give me three sports examples for Newton’s Third Law.”

Related: Blending Depth of Knowledge (DoK) with AI Tools

7. Visualize Your Lesson

AI can generate images, diagrams, and illustrations to match your topic. Try experimenting with different styles: cartoonish for younger students, photorealistic for science topics, even Ghibli-style for creative writing prompts.

You can show these images in class, add them to slides, or print them as part of an activity. Students can even compare multiple versions and choose their favorite.

8. Spark Curiosity Every Day

End (or start) class with a daily curiosity question. Ask AI for one open-ended question that links to your topic and takes just a few minutes to discuss or write about.

This routine not only warms students up but also builds critical thinking and helps them see how today’s lesson connects to the bigger picture.

Here is the PDF version of Boosting Student Engagement with AI: Practical Ideas and Prompts for Teachers

Final Thoughts

AI gives teachers a powerful way to design lessons that are not just efficient, but engaging and meaningful. By combining AI’s strengths with your expertise and insight, you can create classrooms where students are active participants in learning, not just passive listeners. Try one or two of these strategies in your next lesson: adapt them, experiment, and see how your students respond.