I caught a glimpse of the future of AI in education.
And it blew my mind! 🤯
It was a session hosted by the Harvard Graduate School of Education featuring AI expert Professor Haya Ajjan from Elon University.
(If you’re curious, I shared a few of my biggest takeaways in this LinkedIn post.)
But there was one offhand comment that really stuck with me:
“Custom GPTs are underutilized.”
That stopped me in my tracks
I’ve been thinking about creating one for my course Live Session Magic for almost a year.
Maybe you have been thinking about creating one too?
💭I kept dreaming…
What if I could create an on-demand coach trained in exceptional live session design.
A sparring partner to help you build stronger session outlines – anytime.
Only one small problem. I never got around to actually creating it.
😬 So why did I keep putting it off?
I didn’t have the time.
The right prompts.
And besides, bots are known for giving unhelpful answers.
At least that’s what I told myself.
(Any of these sound familiar?😉)
💪Then I finally did it.
I built a custom GPT for Live Session Magic.
I named it Wizz…
And no – it wasn’t hard!
It took about 2 hours (here are the instructions I followed)
1/ I gathered a few solid resources in PDF format (video scripts, pro-tip sheets, templates)
2/ I uploaded them into ChatGPT’s Custom GPT builder.
3/ Wrote a few clear instructions.
4/ Gave it a name (Wizz).
And… done.
🎉 I now have a working Custom GPT! (Well, at least v1).
🤔How is it working out?
My first test. I asked Wizz to give me some ideas on how to manage overtalkers in a 90-minute live session.
And here’s what it came up with:
✔️The underlying principle (creating a space where everyone’s voice matters)
✔️Tools (time-boxed sharing, round robin)
✔️Methods (mixing up group sizes, using the chat etc.)
✔️Facilitation tips (how to interrupt well)
Not bad for a first draft!
💡What I’m learning:
🧠 It works with you, not for you.
Wizz won’t write full session plans. But it’s a great idea-sparring partner—if you already know the basics of good facilitation.
🔁 It needs ongoing training.
The first answers? Meh. I refined the prompts, added examples, and tested questions like:
💬 “How do I energize a tired group?”
💬 “What’s a good breakout prompt for this topic?”
🧠 It’s great at asking questions.
I’m training Wizz not just to give the answers—but to ask smart questions that spark new thinking.
I’m still tweaking it. It’s not as reliable as I’d like it to be – yet.
That’s why I haven’t made it public.
But it’s getting smarter every time I use it.
🎯 Why you might want to consider creating a Custom GPT for your sessions?
I see an opportunity for experimentation:
- Coaches: a GPT that helps clients prep before sessions?
- Trainers: a GPT that supports learning between modules?
- Online community leaders: a GPT that answers FAQs 24/7?
Because when people get just-in-time support, they’re more confident, focused, and engaged.
It makes it possible for us to deepen and scale our work in new ways.
And yes—it saves you from answering the same 17 questions over and over. 😅
🤔 Over to you:
Have you created a Custom GPT for your course or training?
If not—what would you want yours to do?
Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear!
This Week’s Facilitator Finds 💪
In this section, you’ll find curated events, resources, tips, and tools that I’ve found super valuable — and I think you will too!
Just one for this week👇
1/ How Curiosity Rewires Your Brain for Change. An article in BigThink by Neuroscientist Anne Marie Cuff that helps understand how curiosity turns threat into an invitation.
2/ The difference between Coach, Facilitator & Trainer. A brilliant post to understand the different hats that facilitators, trainers, and coaches wear by facilitation pro Manal Sayid.
3/ My favourite check-in for an online workshop. A LinkedIn post by seasoned facilitator Kerri Price, where she shares her favourite online check in “Tell me the story of your week using just emojis”. Here’s my weekend version ☀️🚴⛰️🥘☕️😅✨
💌 Thanks for reading The Quest
I always love hearing your feedback and suggestions. Just hit reply to share your thoughts and ideas.
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Creatively yours,
Whenever you are ready there are 2 more ways I can help you:
👉Custom coaching & team training. Book a free 15-minute zero-commitment call with me to see how I can support you and your team.
👉 Live Session Design Video Course. Live Session Magic gives you a proven system for designing consistently high-quality online sessions. Join the interest list here and be the first to get access.
👉5-week Live Online Course. The Breakthrough Facilitation course gives you tools, personalized feedback, and a proven framework for designing and leading high-engagement live sessions. Join the interest list and be the first to get the next cohort dates and discounts.
