Creativity in Communication: Unlocking Every Learner’s Voice with Technology

Bethany
Dec 8, 2025
4 min read

Finding Our Voice: Why Creativity and Choice Must Define Communication in the Age of AI

Thanks for joining our session at the School Leaders Advancing Technology in Education, or SLATE, Conference in Wisconsin Dells! We're so glad to have met you! As a Technology Integration Specialist and High School Social Studies teacher, we have both seen the power of creativity in communication first-hand, and we hope you will to

The educational landscape is shifting rapidly, constantly centered on the rising prominence of Artificial Intelligence. In this environment, we believe it is crucial to re-examine how we ask students to communicate their learning.

For too long, the default has been writing—essays, reports, and traditional assignments. Yet, the truth we see in our classrooms is that many students simply don’t like to write, and we ask them to do it over and over again. This aversion is so strong that some students will resort to disruptive behaviors just to avoid a writing task, even if they genuinely enjoy the subject they're learning.

We conducted an informal poll to gauge this challenge, and the results were eye-opening. When students were given the option to write or do anything else to show what they'd learned:

77% of students chose an alternative communication method.
Only 23% chose to write.
Of those who chose writing, one-third admitted they only did so because it was the easiest option.

This data confirms a critical problem: the traditional writing assignment is often seen as a hurdle to be avoided or a path of least resistance, not a genuine opportunity for expression.

Our Goal: Beyond the Essay Default

In a world where AI can generate text instantly, the authentic, personal voice of the student has never been more valuable. This is why we are focused on a simple, yet transformative goal:

To have students of all ages use their own voice and create in their own way, at all levels, in every classroom.

This means moving past a single default format. It means giving students the choice to demonstrate their mastery through:

Creating a video or documentary.
Designing a comprehensive infographic or presentation.
Building a physical or digital model.
Recording a podcast or developing an app.

By incorporating creativity and choice, we shift the focus from the format to the quality of thinking and the depth of understanding. When students are empowered to choose the medium that best suits their strengths, they can express themselves more authentically and engage with the material more deeply.

It's time to let every student find their unique way to communicate and to make every classroom a space where creativity is the foundation of learning.

Our Goal: Choice, Voice, and Creativity

If educators are concerned that students will misuse AI to cheat, our response is to pivot the assignment. We must ask ourselves: What if we told students exactly what they needed to show us, and then gave them choice in how to do it?

Our goal is simple: To have students of all ages use their own voice to create in their own way, at all levels, in every classroom.

By offering options—like creating a video, designing an infographic, or recording a podcast—we empower students to choose the medium that best allows their unique understanding to shine through, transforming a dull assignment into a creative story. This shift not only increases engagement but also naturally reduces the incentive to misuse AI, as the task is no longer purely text-based.

Addressing the Time Crunch and Tools

One of the most common pushbacks we hear is: "But those creative things take too long!"

We have two solutions to this time constraint:

Give them a time limit. Lean into the limitations of time! A two-minute video reflection, for example, is a powerful way to demonstrate knowledge and forces students to be concise (we even ran a "2 Minute Creativity Challenge" in our presentation to prove it!).
Teach them to use AI to assist, not cheat. AI can be used to brainstorm, summarize, or edit, accelerating the creative process rather than replacing it.

We must also consider the tools. We have to decide whether we will limit students to specific apps or leave it open, but we should always leverage the powerful built-in apps on devices like Chromebooks and iPads to support creative communication.

It's easiest to begin with a few simple tools from the 101 Ways to Show What You Know, and in our session we explored the following ones, which are easy to integrate in any classroom. (They're also available to download as 4x6 cards in the session resources at the bottom of this page. Notice that writing IS still an option, just one of many!

A Mindset for Change: Take the Risk

Making this shift doesn't require you to be a tech expert. It requires a willingness to take the risk and embrace a crucial concept: "Yes, and...".

This small phrase makes a world of difference. When a student suggests an alternative way to show what they know, don't say "no, but..." Instead, say, "Yes, and... here is how you can ensure it meets the learning objectives."

We encourage every educator to reflect:

What is one lesson you can level up?
What options will your students have for showing what they know?
Are you comfortable letting them independently work with the tools and learning alongside them?

Let’s empower our students and learn together. The most exciting work is often the work that steps beyond the traditional essay.