From Questions to Quick-Builds: Using AI as a Thinking Partner & DIY Micro-Tool Maker
As some students rush to let AI answer for them, the real opportunity is to make AI question with them—turning the model into both a thinking partner and a rapid-prototyping buddy that sharpens critical reasoning, not shortcuts it.
In this hands-on session I share a workflow that can be applied in various subjects:
- Ignite Curiosity – use AI to surface surprising angles rather than canned facts
- Shape Questions – prompt “devil’s-advocate” and “evidence-hunt” moves that push students beyond first-draft thinking
- Iterate & Create – co-build a micro-tool in 30 minutes to practice metacognitive feedback loops
- Reflect & Transfer – explicit protocols for deciding when to trust, tweak, or toss AI output
You’ll leave with a repeatable framework that cultivates richer questions, rapid AI prototyping skills, and true critical AI literacy—without turning your classroom into a tech lab.
Facilitated By
Shasha Xie
AI Learning Experience Designer & Educator
Shasha Xie is an educator and learning-design specialist who has taught and built curricula in both the United States and China. Drawing on classroom practice, program design, and L&D leadership, she now explores how generative AI can expand curiosity, questioning, and creativity—helping teachers and students imagine the next chapter of teaching and learning.
