Using AI to Create Course content
It's much easier than ever before to create high-quality and engaging course materials for your courses. The following course assets have been created using AI tools, and many of these materials are being used in courses in Spring, 2026.
Using AI to Create a Song
"Correlation Don't Mean Causation" theme song for a module about correlation and causation. Created using a free Sumo.com account.
Using AI to Create a Podcast of a Document
"Muddy Moment" podcast episode. This is a podcast within a course in Blackboard. It focuses on a topic that students often struggle with for each module. Created with an ElevenLabs paid account, about $11 a month. Google's Notebook LM can create podcasts from files, but it's a bigger file. Here's an example of the Notebook LM podcast.
Using AI to Create a Summary of a Course Module
This module summary was created by pointing an AI at existing course materials for the module and asking for a summary to structure student learning for the content.
Using AI to Create a Short Lecture
I used some notes and a quick conversation with Copilot to create this short written lecture for one of my courses.
Using AI to Create a PowerPoint
I uploaded the neuroscience "lecture" from above to Copilot's "Notebook" feature to create this PowerPoint and then applied an existing Microsoft template before saving the file. Gamma is also great for presentations and allows a PowerPoint file download too. Gamma's presentations are easy to make pretty; here's a PDF version.
Using AI to Create a Useful Game
I used ChatGPT to code the game "Verify or Fall For It" and I use it in a few of my classes to help teach media literacy.
Using AI to Create a Short Video
This video was AI created but the visuals are stock video clips. I created it using ClipChamp (free) and a prompt about some of the topics in the neuroscience lecture above. Not used in class.
Using Another AI to Create a Short Video
Using the same file and Google's Notebook LM, I created this video using the same neuroscience lecture above.
Resources
OIR would recommend folks check out the following resources
- Gamma: Great for presentations that really wow. Free and paid versions.
- Copilot (Enterprise, like at work): Safe and private and does PowerPoints really well. Useful for "looking" at your Blackboard content and checking for errors and missing content, and great at quick test questions if the Blackboard AI isn't what you need.
- Suno.com: Really good at songs. Free version and a paid version.
- Notebook LM: Creates fun podcasts and videos, but can't be edited. Login with your Google account. Free.
- Claude: Amazing at quick game and asset production, and these games can be hosted right from Claude for free.
- ChatGPT: Good if you are looking for a "personal assistant relationship" with an AI. Powerful, personable, and can code, create image, create lectures, and more. Free and paid versions.
- ElevenLabs: Easily create editable podcasts. Free and paid versions.