Automation vs Augmentation
In the future there will be those who use AI to do their jobs......and those who do their jobs with AI.Michael Stout
Master prompt engineering to amplify your knowledge and talents. Learn to work with AI as a powerful collaborator, not hand your work over to it.
The Question Every Educator Faces
Automation
āAI, write this lesson plan for me.ā
āAI, grade these papers.ā
āAI, create my curriculum.ā
You become dependent. Your skills atrophy.
Augmentation
āAI, help me think through this approach.ā
āAI, what am I missing here?ā
āAI, challenge my assumptions.ā
You grow stronger. AI amplifies your expertise.
The Augmentation Principles
Augmenting your SuperPowers
You Are the Expert
AI doesn't know your students, your context, or your goals. Your domain expertise drives the conversation.
Think First, Prompt Second
Know what you want before asking. Vague prompts yield vague results. Clear thinking produces powerful prompts.
Verify Everything
AI is confident but not always correct. Your job is to evaluate, refine, and improve every output.
Build Skills, Not Dependencies
Use AI to learn faster and work smarterānot to avoid learning or thinking altogether.
Why Augmentation Wins
The choice between automation and augmentation isn't just about how you use AI.It's about who you become.
You Get Better, Not Weaker
When you automate, your skills atrophy from disuse. When you augment, each AI interaction teaches you something new. You learn to think more clearly, ask better questions, and evaluate information more critically. Over time, you become more capableāwith or without AI.
Your Work Stays Authentically Yours
AI-generated content is generic by natureāit produces what's statistically likely, not what's uniquely right for your students. When you augment, the final product reflects your expertise, your voice, and your understanding of your specific context. It's yours, enhancedānot AI's work with your name on it.
You Stay in Control
Dependency is dangerous. If you can't do your job without AI, what happens when it's unavailable, wrong, or changes? Augmentation keeps you capable and independent. You use AI as a toolāit doesn't use you. You can always fall back on your own skills when needed.
Quality Improves, Not Just Speed
Automation optimises for efficiency: faster output, less effort. Augmentation optimises for excellence: better thinking, stronger results. When AI challenges your assumptions, fills gaps in your knowledge, and helps you see what you're missing, the quality of your work risesānot just the quantity.
You Model What You Want Students to Learn
Your students are watching. If you use AI to avoid thinking, they'll do the same. If you demonstrate thoughtful, critical engagement with AIāusing it to think deeper rather than think lessāyou teach them how to navigate a world where AI is everywhere. That's a lesson worth teaching.
Ready to Augment Your SuperPowers?
Learn to use AI as a thinking partner, not a replacement for thinking
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