From AI User to AI Builder: Join Me for a Hands-On Online Workshop
You already use AI. You've probably experienced how ChatGPT, Claude, or other tools can help with lesson planning, grading, content creation, and countless other tasks. But what if you could create AI assistants that work exactly the way you need them to—specialized for your classroom, your subject, your teaching approach?
That's exactly what I'll be teaching in my free upcoming workshop: Create Custom Models Using Open Source LLMs and Tools.
Why Build When You Can Just Use?
Generic AI is powerful, but it's like having a brilliant assistant who doesn't quite understand your specific context. When you build your own AI models, you create assistants that:
Follow your specific pedagogical approach
Understand your subject matter deeply
Maintain consistency across interactions
Protect student privacy
No Coding Required—Seriously
If the word "build" makes you nervous, let me put your mind at ease. Creating custom AI models with Ollama is more like writing instructions than programming. You'll use simple text instructions called Modelfiles to transform generic AI into specialized assistants.
Ollama is open source software that runs on your own computer—meaning you have complete control and ownership of what you create. No cloud subscriptions, no usage limits, no monthly fees.
In our workshop, we'll create together:
A Poetry Teaching Assistant that guides students through writing haikus and sonnets with encouraging, grade-appropriate feedback
Historical Roleplay Characters that bring history to life through conversation—imagine your students discussing democracy with Thomas Jefferson, debating women's rights with Susan B. Anthony, or exploring scientific discoveries with Marie Curie. Each character speaks authentically in their historical voice and perspective
A Shakespeare Assistant that speaks only in Early Modern English and iambic pentameter, helping students understand the Bard by becoming the Bard—complete with "thees" and "thous" and beautiful Shakespearean sonnets
A Science Lab Report Helper that teaches the scientific method through hands-on guidance
Building Towards Something Bigger
This workshop is just the beginning. In July, I'll be launching an exciting open source initiative to build a comprehensive portfolio of educational AI applications. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to contribute to this project, sharing their creations with educators worldwide.
Imagine a library of specialized AI assistants created by educators, for educators—all free and open source. Together, we can build tools that truly serve our teaching needs without the burden of licensing fees or subscription costs.
Learning by Doing—and Refining
The AI assistants we create in the workshop will be your first draft—functional and useful, but with room to grow. The real magic happens through iteration, and that's where the open source initiative comes in.
The July launch will provide:
A structured framework for refining your workshop creations
Ongoing support from a community of educator-builders
Training resources to help you level up your AI assistant design skills
Collaborative opportunities to iterate on ideas—whether from the workshop or entirely new concepts you develop
Think of the workshop as planting seeds and the open source project as the garden where they'll flourish. You'll have the foundation, the community, and the resources to transform your initial ideas into polished educational tools—all while keeping everything free and accessible.
Join the Movement
The future of educational technology isn't just about using AI—it's about shaping it to serve our students better. When educators become builders, we create tools that understand the nuances of teaching and learning. And when we build with open source tools, we ensure these innovations remain accessible to all educators, regardless of budget.