How Rikke turned AI into a tool for creativity, inclusion, and engagement

Articole
How Rikke turned AI into a tool for creativity, inclusion, and engagement

In a small Danish classroom full of third-graders, something remarkable is happening. Writing no longer feels like a chore.

Students are excited, curious, and engaged, running from one desk to another to share their creative work. And at the heart of this transformation is one teacher, Rikke, and a tool that helped her change the classroom dynamics: Schoolhub.

Rikke is an experienced educator. She has spent over 18 years as a reading guide, helping students across her school develop reading skills and confidence. She also teaches Danish to a third-grade class. But despite all her experience, introducing AI into the classroom felt like a leap.

“I was taking a course and realized I had to do something with AI,” she recalls.

What began as a simple experiment quickly became something much more powerful.

Giving every student a voice

Rikke’s first activity involved two fictional characters: Ella and Alex. She designed two separate chatbots that guided her students through character analysis, one question at a time.

This seemingly small decision made a big difference:

“If they had to answer a whole list of questions on paper, many would have given up before even starting. But with the chatbot, they got one question at a time. It felt doable.”

And for her students with dyslexia or other learning challenges, it made a real difference.

One girl, an excellent literary thinker but a struggling reader, thrived in this new setup. For once, her strengths were at the center of the task.

“She could use all the things she’s good at. It gave her a sense of success. She wasn't just the one who struggled with reading, she was the one who knew how to work with AI.”

This shift, from frustration to empowerment, is a thread that runs through all of Rikke’s use of Schoolhub.

When writing becomes exciting

Schoolhub didn’t just help struggling students. It inspired the entire class.

Whether analyzing characters, creating podcasts, or generating visual images, the excitement was palpable.

“I have pictures of students waiting eagerly for their AI-generated images to appear. They were talking, comparing results, and pointing out tiny differences. It was so engaging.”

The process also got them thinking more critically. They started noticing when the AI didn’t follow their exact instructions, which led to some great conversations in class about prompts, communication, and what AI can (and can’t) do.

“They realized that AI isn’t magic. They had to be clear, precise, and thoughtful. It made them the clever ones in the room.”

From blank pages to full stories

One of the biggest benefits Rikke observed was how Schoolhub made starting easier.

Writing, especially creative writing, can be daunting for young students. A blank page can feel like an impossible mountain to climb. To address this, Rikke created a chatbot that offered students ready-made suggestions for characters, settings, and plot elements, helping them start their stories.

“We worked with fairy tales. The chatbot gave them five options for characters, five for environments, and so on. They could choose, combine, and start writing.”

Even students who previously struggled to write more than a few lines found themselves building full stories. And with AI tools that read their writing aloud or helped with spelling, they felt more confident.

“It helped them focus on what really matters, creating a good story. Not worrying about spelling every word correctly.”

Inclusive, differentiated, and time-saving

Schoolhub has also helped Rikke meet the diverse needs of her students more easily.

In a single class, some students are advanced readers and writers, while others need more support. Manually creating different levels of tasks was time-consuming. Now, she’s exploring how to use chatbots to differentiate directly.

“The difference between the strongest and the weakest students in a class can be huge. Schoolhub helps me adapt without doubling my workload.”

By preparing versions of tasks at varying complexity levels, or by adjusting prompts slightly, Rikke can offer personalized challenges without starting from scratch.

And the benefits don’t stop there.

“It saves time. It helps me plan better. And it allows me to focus on supporting my students, not just creating worksheets.”

A closer teacher-student connection

Perhaps most meaningful of all is how Schoolhub has shifted the dynamic between Rikke and her students.

“There’s no doubt, they’re much more engaged.”

Tasks now have clear purpose and payoff. They’re not just writing to please the teacher, they’re writing to create something: a story, a podcast, a picture.

“It’s not a task to make the teacher happy. It’s something they genuinely want to do.”

And even though Rikke laughs when asked if that makes her the “fun teacher,” her students' enthusiasm speaks for itself.

A message to other teachers: start small, then grow

While Rikke is now confident and creative with Schoolhub, she admits it wasn’t always easy.

“At first, it felt overwhelming. I didn’t know where to begin or how to create a good prompt. But once I tried it, I realized it doesn’t have to be complicated.”

Now, she even shares her prompts with colleagues, showing them that sometimes, one small step is all it takes to start. Her advice to other educators?

“Start with one idea. Don’t wait until you feel like an expert. Let it grow with you.”

And she’s just getting started. Next year, she plans to let students try creating their own chatbots, bringing even more ownership and creativity into the classroom.

Teaching with heart and innovation

Rikke’s story is more than just a success story with a new tool. It’s a story about rethinking what learning can look like, especially for students who often feel left out.

By combining her pedagogical experience with a willingness to explore, she’s built a classroom where curiosity, inclusion, and creativity thrive.

And for her students, AI isn’t just about getting answers. It’s a way to express themselves, build confidence, and see writing as something joyful.

In her words:

“We can’t get rid of AI. But we can teach students how to use it meaningfully, and that starts now.”

Let Schoolhub help you create the kind of classroom where every student feels engaged, curious, and excited to learn. Start today.