Teaching Tip: Use GPT Vision to analyse workshop notes in real time
Dr Guy Bate used GPT Vision to elevate brainstorming sessions in his Innovation in Practice course for the Graduate School of Management’s Master of Management programme.
Want to make the most of brainstorming sessions?
Workshops often generate a flurry of ideas, captured on Post-it notes, flipcharts, or large sheets of paper. These visual artefacts reflect rich student thinking, but it’s not always clear how to build on them. GPT Vision—part of ChatGPT’s multimodal capability, but other Large Language Models (LLMs) do the same—offers a practical way to move from raw brainstorms to actionable insights by analysing images and identifying themes in real time.
Try this!
Upload a photo of your workshop’s handwritten notes for an instant transcription and thematic summary. This lets you respond to students’ thinking in real time and even use their ideas to shape the next session.
Addresses these teaching challenges:
- Losing momentum between workshop sessions
- Difficulty transcribing handwritten notes
- Missed opportunities to build on student contributions
- Limited time for post-session analysis
Image: Created with ChatGPT 4o
Implementation
During a workshop, take a photo of the group’s Post-it notes or brainstorming sheet. Upload it to ChatGPT and prompt it with something like:
“Transcribe these notes. If you can’t read something, say so.”
Then ask ChatGPT to group ideas by theme or generate recommendations based on the notes.
Pro tips
- Use clear photos with good lighting and minimal glare.
- Ask GPT Vision to highlight unreadable notes so you can double-check.
- Use colour coding in the brainstorming session (e.g. advantages in green pen, disadvantages in red pen) to help GPT group ideas meaningfully—don’t forget to include this in your prompting.
- For bigger classes, get student groups to take the photos and do the prompting.
Benefits
- Saves time and effort: no manual transcription required
- Enables continuity between workshop sessions
- Validates student contributions by using their words
- Supports inclusive participation (even quiet voices are captured)
Teacher’s voice
“I uploaded a photo of our post-it brainstorm during the coffee break. GPT Vision transcribed and themed the notes so we could pick up the discussion straight after. It felt like magic, and students loved seeing their ideas reflected back.” — Guy Bate
Try this variation
Use GPT Vision to compare multiple workshop boards across groups or sessions. Ask it to identify common themes or divergent ideas to spark discussion.
Accessibility considerations
- Offer students the option to submit typed notes if needed.
- Be transparent about how AI is used and check for accuracy before sharing outputs.
See also
Watch the recording
Guy presented his teaching case at the Business School’s Teaching Session on 21 May 2025. Staff login required.
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Faculty: Business School
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Dr Guy Bate
Professional Teaching Fellow
Business School