Smart Collaboration - TeamTeacher Features

TeamTeacher isn't just about prompting AI - it's about thinking alongside AI agents that can work together, build on each other's ideas, and help you develop complex teaching materials through collaboration.

Beyond Simple Prompting

Traditional AI tools work like this:

You write a prompt
AI responds
You iterate with more prompts
Eventually, you get something usable

TeamTeacher enables true collaborative workflows:

Start a conversation with one agent
Fork to explore different approaches
Have agents consult with each other
Share context through notes
Build complex materials iteratively

Conversation Forking

What is Forking?

Forking creates a new conversation branch from any point in an existing conversation. It's like creating an alternate timeline where you can explore different directions without losing your original work.

Why Fork?

Explore Alternatives:

Try different instructional approaches for the same concept
Create varied difficulty levels of the same assessment
Test multiple explanations to see which resonates
Develop differentiated versions of a lesson

Preserve Successful Paths:

Keep your working version while experimenting
Return to the "good" conversation if experiments fail
Build multiple final products from one planning session
Share different versions with different colleagues

Build Iteratively:

Start with a lesson outline
Fork to develop individual activities
Fork again for assessment tasks
Each branch focuses on one aspect while sharing context

Example: Unit Development

Main conversation: Overall unit plan for "Cellular Respiration"

Fork 1: Detailed lesson 1 on glycolysis

All context from main conversation
Focus just on this lesson's learning objectives
Develop activities and checks for understanding

Fork 2: Lab activity for observing respiration

Same unit context
Different focus on hands-on investigation
Safety considerations and data collection

Fork 3: Summative assessment

Builds on all concepts from main conversation
Aligned with unit goals
Appropriate difficulty and scaffolding

Each fork benefits from the original context while letting you focus on specific needs.

Phone-a-Friend: Agent Collaboration

What is Phone-a-Friend?

TeamTeacher's agents can consult with each other during conversations. Need curriculum expertise while planning a lesson? Your generalist agent can "phone" the curriculum specialist and incorporate their expertise.

How It Works

During any conversation, agents can:

Recognize when they need help - "I should check with Minerva about IB requirements"
Consult specialist agents - Request input from agents with specific expertise
Integrate responses - Incorporate specialist knowledge into their answer
Maintain conversation flow - You see the collaboration happen in real-time

Example: Cross-Curricular Planning

You: "Help me create a science lesson about water quality that also addresses math standards."

Iris (Generalist): "Let me consult with our math specialist about appropriate quantitative standards..."

Iris phones Diane (Math/Standards specialist)

Diane's response: "For water quality data analysis, Common Core 8.SP.A.1 (constructing scatter plots) and 8.SP.A.2 (interpreting bivariate data) would be highly relevant..."

Iris: "Based on Diane's input, here's a lesson that integrates water quality concepts with scatter plot construction and data interpretation..."

You get expertise from both agents without managing multiple conversations.

Shared Notes: Persistent Context

What are Shared Notes?

Shared notes let you maintain context that persists across multiple conversations. Think of them as a shared workspace where you and AI agents can reference common information.

Why Use Shared Notes?

Consistent Context:

Student information that applies across lessons
Classroom management strategies to always remember
School-specific requirements or constraints
Personal teaching philosophy to guide all AI suggestions

Evolving Resources:

Build a unit plan incrementally across multiple conversations
Maintain a running list of vocabulary terms
Track which concepts students struggle with
Document successful strategies to reuse

Collaboration Support:

Share context between forked conversations
Give all agents access to the same background information
Update once, available everywhere
Reduce redundant context-setting

Example Use Cases

Student Context Note:

# My Grade 7 Science Classes

Section A (25 students):
- 3 ELL learners (Spanish L1)
- 5 students with IEPs for extended time
- Strong engagement with hands-on activities
- Struggle with written explanations

Section B (23 students):
- 2 students with ADHD accommodations
- Advanced math skills
- Prefer structured activities
- Excel at written work, hesitant in discussions

With this note linked to conversations, agents automatically:

Suggest appropriate accommodations
Design activities matching engagement patterns
Recommend differentiation strategies
Consider class size in activity planning

Real-World Collaboration Scenarios

Scenario 1: Unit Development

Day 1: Start main conversation about a unit on photosynthesis

Develop essential questions
Outline learning progression
Identify key concepts

Day 2: Fork for Lesson 1

Detailed lesson plan for introduction
Link to unit notes in shared note
Focus on activating prior knowledge

Day 3: Fork for Lab Activity

Design hands-on investigation
Same unit context from main conversation
Safety and materials planning

Day 4: Fork for Assessment

Create formative check
Aligned with lessons developed in other forks
Link to unit objectives in shared note

Result: Complete unit with all components developed collaboratively, maintaining coherence through forking and shared notes.

Scenario 2: Differentiation Planning

Main conversation: Grade 5 math lesson on fractions

Fork 1: Intervention version for struggling learners

Iris consults with Diane about prerequisite skills
Focuses on concrete manipulatives
Reduced cognitive load

Fork 2: Extension for advanced learners

Iris consults with Diane about next-level standards
Introduces fraction operations
Open-ended problem-solving

Fork 3: ELL accommodations

Visual supports and vocabulary scaffolding
Maintains grade-level expectations
Language-accessible materials

All forks share the core lesson context, each optimized for specific student needs.

Think Alongside AI, Not Just Prompt It

Traditional AI tools position you as the director giving instructions. TeamTeacher positions you as a collaborator working alongside intelligent agents who can:

Explore alternatives without losing progress (forking)
Consult experts automatically (phone-a-friend)
Maintain context across sessions (shared notes)
Build iteratively toward complex goals

This isn't just more efficient - it's a fundamentally different way of working with AI. You're not prompting a tool; you're collaborating with teaching partners.

Learn more about our AI agents →