It is so important to acknowledge that the world you are graduating into is changing faster than ever before. Generative AI is no longer a futuristic concept or a niche tool; it is becoming a standard part of how we communicate, work, and solve problems right here in Ontario and across the globe. While it might be tempting to see these tools as a way to bypass the hard work of thinking, the reality is that knowing how to direct an AI is becoming a core literacy. Just as previous generations had to learn how to navigate a library or use a search engine, your ability to partner with these tools will likely be a defining part of your professional life.
We also need to be honest about the fact that these tools are right at your fingertips. It is perfectly natural to be curious about them or to feel the pull to use them when a deadline is looming. However, the goal of this course isn't to police your every click—it's to help you develop the integrity and the skill set to use AI as a collaborator rather than a replacement for your own voice. By learning to prompt effectively and critically evaluate what an AI produces, you are making sure that you remain the "pilot" of your own education. We want you to be the person who knows how to make these tools work for you, rather than just letting the tool do the work for you.
Watch and Learn: Watch Generative AI in a Nutshell. As you watch, jot down 2 or 3 "Golden Rules" for students using AI in a way that is honest and helpful.
To help you get the best results from an AI, it’s helpful to think of it as a very talented but literal-minded assistant. If you give a vague instruction, you’ll get a generic result. To really make the tool work for you, you can use "Prompt Engineering" (which is just a fancy way of saying "giving better instructions").
One of the most effective strategies is assigning a role. Instead of just asking for a script, tell the AI who it should "be." For example, you might say, "Act as a friendly peer mentor from Toronto who is great at simplifying complex ideas." This gives the AI a persona to inhabit, which instantly changes the tone, vocabulary, and "neighbourly" feel of the output. It helps move the writing away from sounding like a robot and closer to something a real person would actually say.
Another powerful technique is called Chain of Thought. This is where you ask the AI to "think step-by-step" before it gives you a final answer. Instead of jumping straight to the end, you guide the AI through a sequence like this:
By breaking the task down this way, the AI is much less likely to miss important details and much more likely to produce a logical, well-structured response.
Beyond these, you might try Few-Shot Prompting. This is where you provide the AI with one or two examples of what you like before asking it to create something new. If you have a favourite YouTuber or a specific style of writing you enjoy, paste a small sample into the chat and say, "Use this style as a guide." This gives the AI a concrete pattern to follow, ensuring the final video script feels like it truly belongs to you and your unique vision.
The Prompt Experiment
Now it’s time to get hands-on. Open an LLM (like ChatGPT or Gemini) and try out these three strategies to see how the "personality" of the AI changes:
Your Goal: Keep a record of your "prompt journey." You'll want to show how you started with a basic idea and refined it using these techniques to get the perfect script for your video.
Think about how often you "read" a message today versus how often you "see" or "hear" one. Whether you are scrolling through a feed, watching a quick tutorial, or checking a friend’s story, video has quickly become the primary language of the digital world. It isn’t just for entertainment anymore; in workplaces and communities across Ontario, being able to communicate through a lens is becoming as essential as knowing how to write a clear email. From local business owners showcasing their shop on Main Street to professionals presenting ideas to a remote team, video allows us to share our stories with a level of emotion and personality that plain text just can't match.
Because we all carry a high-powered camera in our pockets, the barrier to creating great content has never been lower, but the expectation for quality has never been higher. This is where tools like Canva come in. You don't need a Hollywood budget or a degree in film editing to make something that looks polished and professional. By mastering a few simple techniques, like how to layer text over a clip or how to time a transition, you are learning to cut through the noise. You’re not just making a video; you are building a skill set that helps your voice stand out in a world that is increasingly visual.
To dive into the production side, we will use Canva, which offers a "Video 2.0" editor that is as simple as making a slide deck but powerful enough for professional-looking results. Since you have a school account, you can use these tools on your computer or through the mobile app, allowing you to edit right on the same device you use to film.
Rather than starting with a blank screen, we’ll use a template to give your work a polished structure from the start. This helps you focus on your "Golden Rules" rather than worrying about where to place every single button or box.
Choose Your Format: On the Canva home screen, search for "Mobile Video" if you want a vertical (TikTok/Reels style) look, or just "Video" for a standard widescreen format.
Pick a Template: Browse the templates and pick one that feels "neighbourly" and professional. Remember, you can change the colours and fonts later, so look for a layout you like.
Upload and Assemble:
Add Visual Clarity:
Voice-Over Reflection: Once your video is edited, use the "Present and Record" feature (found under the Share button). This lets you record a bubble of yourself talking over your finished video to explain what you learned.
Export and Submit: When you are happy with the result, click Share, then Download, and choose MP4 Video. This is the file you will upload to Google Classroom.
Reflect as You Go: Using Canva’s "Present and Record" feature, record a brief voice-over at the end of your video (or as a separate final slide). In this reflection, tell me:
Submit: Download your final video from Canva as an MP4 and upload it to Google Classroom.
You've got this! Focus on telling a simple story well rather than trying to make a Hollywood epic. Every step you take is a win!
In our school culture, we often feel a lot of pressure to make everything look perfect on the first try. But here is a secret: if you submit a video where every transition is flawless and every line is spoken perfectly without any effort, it probably means you already knew how to do everything before we started. True learning usually looks a bit messy. It looks like a "jump cut" that was a little too abrupt, or a prompt that gave you a weird, robotic answer before you fixed it. In this class, you have full permission to let those small mistakes happen. They aren’t signs of failure; they are the "scuff marks" of someone who is actually trying something new.
The reflection at the end of your project is actually the most important part of the whole assignment. It’s your chance to step back and say, "I saw that this part didn't work the way I wanted, and here is what I’ll try differently next time." When you identify a mistake and figure out why it happened, you are doing the high-level thinking that matters most. Whether your video looks like a professional commercial or a fun, rough-around-the-edges experiment, I am looking for your growth. As long as you are reflecting on the process, you are succeeding.
Reflection Steps: When you use the "Present and Record" feature in Canva, try to answer these two questions in about 30–60 seconds:
Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.
2-3 ~30 sec. study skills videos
Reflection screencast video
We are learning to:
Plan and reflect on my creative process to set meaningful goals for improvement.
Use digital tools, like AI and video editors, to create informative and engaging content that reflects your digital identity.
I can:
Create effective content using digital tools. This means my videos clearly explain how to use tools like LLMs for learning and are designed to positively shape my digital identity.
Communicate clearly and purposefully. This means I use a voice, tone, and body language that are appropriate for my topic and my intended audience.
Reflect on my process and set goals for improvement. This means I can accurately explain my creative choices, identify specific strengths and weaknesses in my work, and create a clear, actionable plan to get better.
| Category | Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 | Level 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Knowledge/Understanding
How effectively does the student demonstrate understanding of media forms and conventions?
|
Consistently demonstrates a thorough understanding of media forms and explains techniques very clearly | Usually demonstrates understanding of media forms and explains techniques clearly | Sometimes demonstrates understanding of media forms with partial or unclear explanations | Seldom demonstrates understanding of media forms or conventions |
|
Thinking/Inquiring
How effectively does the student reflect on their media production and speaking strategies?
|
Consistently reflects insightfully on strengths, challenges, and specific next steps | Usually reflects appropriately on strengths, challenges, and next steps | Sometimes provides a general reflection with limited focus on improvement | Seldom provides meaningful reflection on the creative process |
|
Application
How effectively does the student apply AI concepts and media techniques to create a finished product?
|
Consistently applies AI knowledge and media techniques to create a highly polished and effective video | Usually applies AI knowledge and media techniques to create an effective video | Sometimes applies techniques with limited effectiveness or cohesion | Seldom applies techniques effectively in the final product |
|
Communication
How effectively does the student communicate ideas orally and through visual design?
|
Consistently communicates ideas with exceptional clarity, using professional vocal and visual cues | Usually communicates ideas clearly, using appropriate vocal and visual cues | Sometimes communicates ideas with some clarity; cues may be inconsistent | Seldom communicates ideas clearly or uses effective cues |
Consistently demonstrates a thorough understanding of media forms and explains techniques very clearly
Usually demonstrates understanding of media forms and explains techniques clearly
Sometimes demonstrates understanding of media forms with partial or unclear explanations
Seldom demonstrates understanding of media forms or conventions
Consistently reflects insightfully on strengths, challenges, and specific next steps
Usually reflects appropriately on strengths, challenges, and next steps
Sometimes provides a general reflection with limited focus on improvement
Seldom provides meaningful reflection on the creative process
Consistently applies AI knowledge and media techniques to create a highly polished and effective video
Usually applies AI knowledge and media techniques to create an effective video
Sometimes applies techniques with limited effectiveness or cohesion
Seldom applies techniques effectively in the final product
Consistently communicates ideas with exceptional clarity, using professional vocal and visual cues
Usually communicates ideas clearly, using appropriate vocal and visual cues
Sometimes communicates ideas with some clarity; cues may be inconsistent
Seldom communicates ideas clearly or uses effective cues