AI in Action: Planning a Whole-School Math Celebration with Ease

Back in March, I ran Pi Week at my school with the help and support of my amazing Math colleagues. To make this event as seamless and teacher-friendly as possible, I turned to AI. My goal was twofold: 1) to reduce the time spent on organizing schedules, documents, and promotional materials, and 2) to effectively advertise the events to both colleagues and students.

Having recently completed a course on AI prompting, I decided to put my new skills into action. Here’s how I used AI to streamline the process and create an engaging, well-organized Pi Week schedule for our school:

Step 1: Setting the Stage (Role: Personal Assistant)

• I provided the theme and details of Pi Week.

• Asked the AI to summarize and organize the information into a coherent schedule.

Step 2: Crafting an Easy-to-Read Schedule (Role: Planner)

• Requested a table format including event names, dates, times, and locations.

• Ensured space for links and teacher instructions.

• Received a polished schedule in one shot, perfect for sharing with staff.

Step 3: Generating Promotional Content (Role: Content Creator)

• Used AI to draft engaging ManageBac posts for specific events like the Pi Day Baking Competition.

• Incorporated emojis, student-friendly language, and teacher engagement.

Step 4: Iterating on Details (Role: Creative Collaborator)

• Worked collaboratively to refine Goosechase activity ideas, prize suggestions, and online submissions.

• AI suggested small prizes aligned with school guidelines and creative ways to enhance student participation.

Step 5: Translating Content for Accessibility (Role: Translator)

• Translated promotional posts into Chinese to ensure inclusivity for all students.

Step 6: Reflecting on the Process (Role: Blog Writing Support)

• AI helped summarize the entire process, categorizing tasks into one-shot, many-shot, and specific roles.

Pi Week was an overwhelming success, bringing joy and engagement to students, teachers, and parents alike. Students embraced the activities with enthusiasm, and parents shared heartfelt feedback about how much their children enjoyed the experience. Comments like, “We greatly appreciate that you and the CIS teachers make learning a fun and joyful experience,” reaffirmed the value of connecting learning with creativity and collaboration.

Teachers appreciated the clarity and ease of implementation, with the AI-generated documents providing a central resource that ensured everyone was on the same page. Scratchcards turned out to be a particular hit, sparking excitement in G9 and G10 students and even prompting them to engage with non-math teachers in mathematical discussions—a true testament to the event’s impact.

While minor challenges arose, such as a scheduling conflict with a mandatory assembly, AI tools allowed for quick solutions. A ManageBac post drafted on the spot ensured all students had an opportunity to participate.

Reflecting on this experience, my goal of fostering problem-solving skills and raising the profile of the Math department was clearly achieved. The integration of AI tools like ChatGPT and Canva not only saved time but also enhanced the design and purpose of activities, streamlining the entire process. In the future, I’m excited to explore additional AI tools to expand brainstorming and planning capabilities further.

Ultimately, Pi Week was more than a celebration of mathematics—it was a celebration of community, creativity, and collaboration. Events ran smoothly, students were engaged, and the feedback highlighted the positive impact of combining innovative tools with dedicated teaching.