We introduced “Let’s Try It!” classrooms in this newsletter and blog last month to promote and support environments where students and teachers feel safe to explore and experiment with new ideas.
Grade 3 teacher Michelle Kulwin and instructional coach Jen Parisi jumped right in—trying out Notebook LM, a free tool from Google (currently restricted to staff) that uses AI to help users generate insights, ask questions, and summarize content from connected resources like YouTube videos, Google Docs, etc. It’s designed to support deeper thinking, reflection, and planning.
Michelle and Jen uploaded student essays along with standards and a rubric, then prompted Notebook LM to generate feedback—one essay at a time. With a single click, they used the Audio Overview feature to create 5–6 minute audio tracks for each student group. The tracks feature two AI-generated voices offering detailed, thoughtful commentary on their shared writing.
💡 What happened next?
- Students locked in.
- They paused, re-listened, and reflected.
- They revised their essays—using the feedback in meaningful ways.
It was a powerful example of how the right tool can deliver timely, meaningful feedback that helps students grow as writers.
Thank you to Michelle Kulwin and Jen Parisi for stepping up to be the first "Let's Try It!" classroom.
Who's next?
To get started or propose your own "Let's Try It!" classroom idea, please email me at jjrobinson@barrington220.org.
Let's try it!
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