The Future Is Visual: How AI-Generated Videos Are Reshaping School Psychology
AI video generation isn’t a fringe novelty—it’s about to be central to how school psychologists work, communicate, and support students. And unlike traditional video editing or animation, these tools are fast, intuitive, accessible, and cheap. With a few simple prompts, we can create short, tailored videos that engage students, educate families, and equip teachers. The shift is already happening.
I’ve been experimenting with Gemini’s latest video generation capabilities and have created a couple of short clips. One satirizes our field’s overuse of psychobabble, while the other captures the overachieving student who spirals into anxiety because every test feels like it’s timed. Are the videos perfect? Not yet. Some of the dialogue is a little off, captions contain typos, and the videos are quite short. But even with those flaws, they’re remarkably useful—and they’re getting better fast. In just a few more months, we’re likely to see major improvements in quality, length, and customization.
Here’s where AI-generated videos can make an immediate, meaningful impact:
1. Social Stories & Behavioral Scripts (Customized Videos)
Use: Teaching routines, expectations, or social-emotional skills—like “How to ask to join a game” or “What to do during a fire drill.”
Benefit: Custom visuals (e.g., actual classroom photos), personalized language, and relevant scenarios make them more engaging and effective for students who benefit from structure and repetition.
2. Role-Plays for SEL & Conflict Resolution
Use: Modeling peer interactions, de-escalation strategies, or self-regulation techniques.
Benefit: These can be integrated into group counseling or SEL lessons and shared with families to reinforce learning across environments.
3. Animated Explanations of Evaluations or IEP Processes
Use: Clarifying what psychoeducational testing is, how accommodations work, or what to expect at an IEP meeting.
Benefit: Increases understanding for families, especially those with limited literacy or those who speak other languages. Videos can include dubbing, subtitles, or visual metaphors that make abstract processes concrete.
4. Training Aids for Teachers and Staff
Use: Short explainer videos on behavior supports, trauma-informed strategies, or executive functioning techniques.
Benefit: A more digestible and visually engaging format than slide decks or handouts. Especially useful for busy educators needing on-demand resources.
5. Psychoeducation for Students
Use: Teaching students about learning disabilities, anxiety, ADHD, or mindfulness practices.
Benefit: Videos can match developmental levels and cultural context. For younger students, cartoons are more engaging. For teens, realistic avatars and casual tone help with buy-in.
6. Augmented Parent Communication
Use: Sharing interventions, home strategies, or evaluation updates in a more humanized format.
Benefit: A short video can convey warmth and clarity more effectively than a dense report or text-heavy email. Families are more likely to watch—and remember—the message.
7. Data Storytelling
Use: Visually summarizing MTSS data, progress monitoring, or RTI outcomes using avatars or narrated charts.
Benefit: Easier to grasp patterns and trends during team meetings. Especially helpful when presenting to non-specialists or administrators.
8. Student-Created AI Videos (Empowerment & Self-Advocacy)
Use: Students generate videos to explain their goals, strengths, and learning needs.
Benefit: Promotes student voice, agency, and self-determination. These videos can be used in IEP meetings or transition planning, allowing students to actively shape their support plans.
These use cases aren’t theoretical. They’re ready now—and will only improve with time. As AI video generation becomes more intuitive and accessible, school psychologists will increasingly lean on these tools to streamline communication, enhance learning, and empower students and families. The future of school psychology won’t just be written—it’ll be animated.