My Nerdy, Eye-Opening, AI-Packed Weekend at TSU

In late September, I packed my suitcase and flew down to Tennessee State University for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact and Effectiveness for Teaching and Learning conference at the SMART AI for All Applied Research Center in downtown Nashville. Whew—that’s a mouthful, but let me tell you, it was so worth it.

I came into the weekend already obsessed with AI (hello, paid ChatGPT user over here), but this conference took my appreciation to a new level. I went from “ChatGPT helps me write parent emails faster” to “Wow, AI might actually transform how I teach my multilingual learners.” Here’s a rundown of some of my favorite AI tools from the conference—and why I’m still geeking out over them:

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Poe.com

This one got a lot of hype from the presenters. It’s free, supposedly more accurate than ChatGPT, and easy to use. I haven’t jumped ship yet, but Poe is definitely on my radar now.

Gemini (gemini.google.com)

Gemini is that AI if you’re teaching multilingual learners. It’s approved by my school district, so I can use it with no stress on my work device. I’ve been using it to differentiate readings and activities—and the translations are fire.

NotebookLM (notebooklm.google.com)

Interactive podcasts. Need I say more? I fell in love instantly. Sadly, my students can’t access it yet, but I’m already imagining how it could become an amazing study tool down the line.

MagicSchool (app.magicschool.ai/tools)

This is the one that got all the teacher buzz. MagicSchool is designed specifically for K–12 educators. My coworkers swear by it, but I haven’t needed it because, well, ChatGPT has my back. Still, it’s good to know there are teacher-centered options out there.

Napkin (app.napkin.ai)

Super helpful for creating quick visuals. I’m a control freak when it comes to design (Canva is my BFF), so I haven’t used it much—but I see why teachers who want visuals fast love it.

Gemini Storybook

This one blew me away. Think AI-generated storybooks. Perfect for helping struggling readers or letting students create their own storybooks about historical events. Unfortunately, it’s blocked for students on our school network (cue dramatic sigh 😩).

Suno.com

This one’s not really in my lane as a social studies teacher, but music teachers—this is your JAM. You can create original songs using this tool. Imagine your students writing a protest song about the Civil Rights Movement or a chant for a Revolutionary War simulation!

VideoGen.io

I can’t wait to start using this. I’m planning to make unit intro videos for my geography and history units. It’s going to be a huge help for my visual learners and ELL students—and a major time saver for me.

Other honorable mentions:

Hume.ai – still exploring this one
Sendstep AI – worth checking out
Gamma AI – sleek presentations in minutes!

Final Thoughts

This conference reminded me that the AI revolution isn’t coming—it’s already here. As a teacher, I need to stay ahead of the curve, not just for my sanity but for the sake of my students. Whether it’s helping my multilingual learners access grade-level content or designing visuals for that last-minute sub plan, AI is becoming an everyday part of how I teach.

Oh, and shout-out to TSU for hosting such an energizing, welcoming, and inspiring event. I came home with a notebook full of ideas, a dozen new tools to try, and a renewed sense of curiosity.

If you’ve been curious about AI but unsure where to start, just know: you don’t have to be a tech guru. You just have to be open.

Stay curious, stay creative,
Janelle aka The Urban Teacher
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