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ASSIGNMENT
Reflect on the potential classroom use of AI tools and how this can impact on future teaching, learning and assessment. Post a reflective piece (150 words min) to this Module forum as a Reply to this post..
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The use of AI tools in the classroom can significantly impact future teaching, learning, and assessment. Here are some key points:</p>
- Personalized Support for Teachers: AI can provide actionable feedback to teachers, enhancing their practice and improving student outcomes. Teachers can design imaginative, innovative and engaging lessons with less research and man-hours.
- Changing Learning Priorities: AI can shift the focus from rote memorization to critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
- Fear-Free Learning: AI-powered tools can create a safe environment for students to explore and learn without judgment.
- Additional Assessment tools: These advancements can revolutionize education by making it more adaptive, equitable, and effective and less prone to human error. Robot-error can happen too however!
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Primary classrooms are embracing AI assistants like Copilot, transforming both teaching and learning. Imagine teachers using Copilot to craft engaging lesson plans in seconds, complete with interactive activities tailored to different learning styles. Students, meanwhile, could receive personalised feedback on their writing/reading etc, scaffolded by AI suggestions that enhance their creativity and expression. Copilot’s potential to streamline tasks like marking frees up valuable teacher time, allowing them to focus on fostering a love for learning through hands-on activities and social interaction.
However, it’s crucial to remember that AI serves as a valuable tool, not a replacement for the irreplaceable role of teachers in sparking curiosity, fostering critical thinking, and nurturing young minds. Collaboration between AI and educators potentially holds the key to unlocking a future of personalised and engaging learning experiences in the primary classroom.
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<span style=”color: #163c42; font-family: ‘Hind Madurai’, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;”>The use of AI tools in the classroom can significantly impact future teaching, learning, and assessment. </span>
I agree fully with this statement.
AI can help in the planning process suggesting activities or content to cover under a particular topic. It can also help in the creation of digital resources such as specific images which we saw in module 1 or in the creation of personalised videos using Vidnoz or equivalent in supporting teachers.
AI can also support the learner through a tutoring service where the student can ask questions (prompt engineering) and target particular areas of a topic that they may need help on.
It can also assist in assessments through analysis of the data inputted by a student and offer suggestions and/or areas for improvement.
The fact that there are EU Ethical guidelines on AI is a great comfort as schools embrace this relatively new concept to prevent misuse, bias or data breach.
These guidelines also help to address the misconceptions about the use of AI i.e. that it is too difficult to use…has no role in education and that it is not inclusive.
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Although this is only the first module, it showed me that there are so many potential uses of AI in the classroom. This module gave some very good examples of poetry writing and I think this is obviously something that could be done in school. Many pupils get concerned that their poems don’t rhyme and AI could allay that concern for them in the initial stages before they might progress to writing a poem independently. The party menu examples show how important it is to be precise with the words and terminology at the input stage to get good results. The choice of words used in many languages is important and it is worth reinforcing with pupils that AI output will only be as good as the initial input.
From a teacher perspective, the point has been made that AI tools would help save time and they clearly can do that. The tools also allow you to create more interesting looking and more subject-specific resources.
For assessment I think it can offer a good alternative to pupils who don’t present very successfully in the traditional way. For example, if they have very poor handwriting, but they have good ideas they could get their text presented in images or in video format instead.
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There are many benefits of using AI tools in the classroom and these can greatly impact future teaching, learning and assessment. For example:
As Shane stated, it can assist in creating a fear free environment and make learning more accessible for students of all abilities.
Support integrity in learning. My friend teaches English to second level students, and she uses AI to check for plagiarism from her pupils assignments.
Assessment strategies: AI can assist with formal assessment and can provide feedback during the learning process to pupils.
Interactive and creative learning: AI has the potential to make lessons more interactive and visual for pupils. It can also assist teachers refine their lesson plans and incorporate more creative content. AI can also assist teachers differentiate accordingly within their class by providing examples of mixed ability tasks for pupils.
As stated in the slides, educators need to be aware and ask questions when it comes to using AI for teaching, learning and assessment. Is it reliable, safe and trustworthy? Am I using AI for the common good and does it protect the privacy of individuals.
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Hi Kate,
Welcome to the course and thank you for your contribution here. You have offered many practical and useful examples of how AI can enhance our teaching and reduce our workload as educators. While many are worried about AI being used to plagiarize, you have shared how it can actually be used to check and guard against this (particularly relevant at second level).
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Module One has opened my eyes regarding the developments in Artificial Intelligence in recent years. I had only been aware of Chat GPT! The potential uses of AI tools in the classroom context are endless really.
AI tools make information for lessons, topic studies, projects, etc accessible in seconds. If used correctly, it could completely streamline a teacher’s lesson preparation which leaves us with the time and energy to teach!
I’m very much looking forward to exploring how generative AI can help me by providing suggestions for differentiated tasks in the coming school year. It can sometimes be a struggle to source differentiated activities for all levels in any given student group.
I was chatting to a teacher I went to college recently. She had used Chat GPT to generate meaningful phrases for feedback in her students’ end-of-year reports. When faced with over thirty report cards to complete, she noticed what she was writing was quite repetitive. Chat GPT provided her with suggestions that were well-worded, accurate and context-specific.
I’m also looking forward to experimenting with generating assessment tasks using AI.
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Hi Sarah,
Good to hear you found module one of the course of use and thanks for sharing a really practical example of how AI can be used to help with report writing. As you’ve mooted the potential use of AI powered tools in the classroom are endless but it is imperative that they are used ethically and safely. This starts with educating ourselves as teachers and then sharing this knowledge with colleagues so all staff or on the same page when it comes to the dos and don’ts of Generative AI tools. I also think that it’s imperative that schools develop policy/guidance for staff on AI use in teaching, learning and assessment . Interesting that you reference AI assisting so you have more time to focus on your teaching. This point I think is key, AI tools can help us be more productive and efficient and you will be introduced to a host of practical tools and examples over the coming modules…
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Hi Sarah, I agree that AI is an excellent resource for writing, both for students and for teachers. AI seems to be a game-changer for writers of all levels. For those struggling with writer’s block, AI idea generators can spark creativity by suggesting topics, storylines, or even character names. This jumpstart can be invaluable, especially for students unfamiliar with a particular genre or struggling to begin or come up with an initial idea.
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AI has so many uses in the classroom. However, one area I can see great potential for is in lesson design for topics that teachers are not overly confident with. For example, perhaps a teacher wants to dramatically improve their teaching of poetry in the following school year. Chat gpt and other AI are capable of providing very fast lesson plans, broken down by task or theme as you wish. It is unlikely you will be happy with the first attempt but as you keep trying you get better at providing prompts. Additionally, there is no rule that says you must follow exactly the lesson plan provided to you. AI is a wonderful blank page problem solver. You can then work with what it provided to tailor it to your own purposes.
Another use, would be to enable pupils to generate images based on the poem. Seeing where it takes pupils in attempts to understand the poem and everyone’s interruption of it. Or getting them to put the poem into different voices. There is a lot that could be tried. Some of it may be just playing around, but that is okay. In time as we understand the benefits it would be a lot easier to focus the use of AI to produce enhanced learning outcomes.
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I agree that AI can be a valuable tool for lesson design, especially in areas where teachers may feel less confident. Making use of AI to generate lesson plans and then tailoring them to fit specific needs is a great approach. Also, enabling pupils to generate images based on poems or conducting experiments with different voices can enhance their understanding and engagement.
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Module 1 has enlightened me with regards to the uses of AI within the classroom and reformed my opinion around some of the stigma’s which are associated with AI in general. It is clear from the uses of AI within the module that it could be used to dramatically improve a certain aspect of a teachers teaching which they themselves might not be confident with. E.g. Creating images for art ideas. AI can be used to create engaging and personalised lessons for the needs of the students within the class. AI could also be used when focusing on a particular topic in SESE, again it could be used to generate ideas for planning lessons and activities, similarly to what was being used within the module with the Fake News pieces and ideas.
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While AI offers many benefits, it’s important to remain cautious about over-reliance on technology and ensure that it complements rather than replaces human creativity and intuition in teaching. Balancing AI’s capabilities with traditional teaching methods can provide a more rounded educational experience.
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Module 1 has broadened my understanding of AI. AI has many uses within a classroom setting that are beneficial to teachers and students. It can allow students to have more time with their teachers and as a result improve their quality of learning.
-lesson planning: I have used Chat gbt before when planning a poetry lesson, but I never heard of any of the other AI platforms. Using AI platforms to help generate lessons plans using detailed prompts reduces teacher’s workload, reduce stress and anxiety around certain topics and improve quality of lessons being taught.
-Differentiation: Teachers have more time to create personalised lessons and activities for individual students. Using AI, teachers can create a selection of resources tailored to the needs of their students and use AI for open-ended questions in real time.
-Immediate, Effective Feedback: AI can be used to create quizzes through Microsoft/Google Forms. Students can receive immediate feedback on the work they have completed.
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Although I was wary of AI in education as I was worried about killing creativity and the death of natural intelligence through passive usage of AI through this module I can see the benefits.
After doing some additional research I came across Sal Khan using AI with his son. They were using Chatgpt as a math tutor. I found the results impressive. With a two tiered education system creeping in with some students affording grinds and others not maybe AI will become the great equaliser for education.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nSmkyDNulk&pp=ygUUc2FsbWFuIGtoYW4gY2hhdGdwdCA%3D
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The idea of AI becoming the universal facilitator in education is interesting. With the ability to provide quality tutoring and support to all students, regardless of their financial background, AI can help bridge the gap in educational opportunities. This could be a significant step towards a more inclusive education system.
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The potential uses for AI in the classroom are innumerable.
Using generative AI can make a teacher more efficient, by cutting down the time spent on tasks such as drafting emails, make them more productive, by using them to create lesson plans, analyse documents and data, summarise large volumes of information, and creative – by using it to generate new ideas.
One of my favourite suggestion from this module is a way in which it can prompt learners with ‘blank page syndrome’, a learner who is struggling to get started on something can use AI to generate ideas and give themselves a jumping off point, something I would find invaluable myself.
It would also be a very useful tool in helping to prepare and deliver assessments – When trying out the various bots we were introduced to to see how they work, I found that assessment was easily and readily included in the lesson plans and ideas presented – and while I realise that I will need a lot of practise in correctly wording my prompts to get to what I need, I feel that this is something that will become a second nature part of teaching, just like internet use or interactive whiteboards have been throughout the years.
As long as teachers are careful to guard the privacy of students, and AI is used in a way that is ‘reliable, fair, safe and trustworthy’, it will become an integral part of teaching and learning going forward.
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Preparing and delivering assessments with AI is another valuable use. The ability of AI to include assessments in lesson plans seamlessly is impressive and can save teachers a lot of time. As you mentioned, mastering the art of prompt wording will take practice, but it will undoubtedly become an integral part of modern teaching. I have myself used ChatGPT to help with planning, and it has really amazed me with its level of detail!
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I agree Carrie, I hope to use AI for children suffering with ‘blank page syndrome’ too. The anxiety they feel before starting to write a story can often lead to frustration and upset. As a teacher I will often brain storm ideas with the student or use imagery as a jump off point but AI would be a useful tool for children to become more independent leaners and hopefully this will encourage confidence in themselves as they become more practiced in the art of creative writing.
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The uses of AI in the classroom are vast and will likely develop into uses that we could not dream 0f at present. Applying a personal tutor that each pupil can access will change education profoundly. This tutor will be able to build a profile of the individual pupil and create an environment of proximal learning that will maximise potential through precise focus on aspects that need clarification, directing learning accordingly. The idea of scaffolding just enough and preempting areas of confusion with instant encouraging prompts is profound in its effectiveness in reducing frustration and assisting flow of thought and learning.
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Reflect on the potential classroom use of AI tools and how this can impact on future teaching, learning and assessment.
Having reviewed the first Module of this course, it is clear that there are endless possibilities for using AI in the classroom from differentiation to planning to lesson content creation.
I am teaching 1st class in September so I have a few ideas how using AI will impact my teaching and the learning experiences of the pupils.
- Using CoPilot (or similiar) to create more visually appealing lesson plans. This will support all learners and it is simply much quicker than the traditional PowerPoint that I would have been using. The time saving element is pretty impressive.
- Thematic Planning using AI…I did this using a specific topic (Space) with the Irish Curriculum for 1st class and the key words “learning experiences” & “cross-curricular” and it produced very specific ideas which were really good and the children would enjoy.
- Differentiating reading material on a specific topic would be hugely important in 1st class where readers are ranging from highly skilled readers to readers still at the basic phonic level.
- As an SET coordinator in the school, I definitely see the potential of using AI to compare our school’s specific needs with that of the entire country….comparing the different diagnosis levels in our school with the national average. I did this a few minutes ago and then checked the results and they were really accurate. It is very exciting and allows you to gain overviews in a much quicker manner.
- Teaching children to use AI is something I had not considered before and obviously, it makes so much sense. However, I am not sure yet if that is something that should be done in 1st class. So I will reflect more on that as I learn more throughout the course.
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I think having the support of AI tools within the classroom will massively improve and increase productivity for teachers. Using Gen AI is akin to having a team of teachers alongside you, creating and modifying work, lesson plans, and course content at an accelerated speed.
I found, having predominantly used Co-pilot, that it has made lessons more creative, and provided me with a wider scope of materials for content compared to that which I would normally use. Whittling down the myriad suggestions is time-consuming, but better/more accurate prompting has also improved the suggestions that have been returned.
I used Co-pilot this year to create a rubric for pupils, which we then re-engineered to incorporate more child-friendly language and more accurately reflect the specific tasks pupils needed to achieve to complete the work. Providing children with a voice to decide upon how to showcase their success meant much greater engagement.
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Having completed Module 1 I have learned with some enthusiasm and expectation about the potential of AI in the classroom. I have only used Chat GPT to assist me in writing school reports in June. However the language provided was concise and professional which enhanced the clarity of the reports.
I see the potential use of AI in creating engaging and stimulating lessons for the students in my 4th class this year. I look forward to seeing ideas for the practical use of AI in the classroom in the next modules.
As a teacher of 31 years I don’t see that AI will in any way undermine the role of the teacher. I see AI as a fantastic resource to create an engaging learning environment in the classroom. It will allow children to become increasingly independent learners and develop critical thinking skills. My two older sons have completed the Leaving Certificate in recent years without access to AI technology and my third son will begin his secondary school journey in the next few weeks. I will have a keen interest in seeing how he applies AI to assist his learning and listening to the views of his teachers on the role of AI in education. It is all very new at this time.
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Hi Paul,
Thank you for your post and for sharing your experience with us. It is great that you are able to share your experience of the education system, both as a teacher and as a parent. You have made an excellent point surrounding the notion that AI may replace teachers – AI cannot complete the multi-faceted role of the teacher, but it can help us with some of the mundane, cumbersome and time-consuming tasks that eat into our time and indirectly impinge on our ability to provide the highest quality learning environment for our children.
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The potential classroom use of AI tools has truly opened my eyes to the possibilities for future teaching, learning, and even assessment. Before this course, I was only familiar with ChatGPT, but now I see the endless applications of AI in education and I look forward to trying the different programs.
I big benefit that I see is the streamlining of lesson preparation by making information for lessons accessible in seconds and then tailor it effortlessly as required. I really value this as I then hope to spend more time and energy on actual teaching rather than on preparation and on building relationships in the class.
One area I’m excited about is using generative AI to provide suggestions for differentiated tasks. If people are interested, I came across a website called diffit which is great and provides differentiated questions!
As mentioned above, using it for reports and even better, assessments, could be transformational for me and others.
I’m also eager to experiment with generating assessment tasks using AI. The ability to create personalized assessments quickly can lead to more effective and timely feedback, ultimately enhancing student learning.
Overall, AI tools have the potential to revolutionize our teaching practices, making them more efficient and effective 🙂
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Hi Ciaran,
Welcome to the course. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for sharing your enthusiasm for the use of Gen-AI within the classroom. You are correct in identifying the potential transformative effect of AI tools for generating assessments and differentiated learning material for students. As well as enhancing student learning, it also offers the potential to free up time for the teacher to engage in more meaningful preparatory activities.
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AI tools, and in particular Generative AI tools, can greatly change how we teach, learn, and assess in education. For teachers, AI can help create lessons tailored to each student, handle routine tasks, and assist in making educational content, allowing more time for direct interaction with students. For students, AI can be used to adjust to their learning pace, give instant feedback, and track their progress, making learning more personalised and accessible.
In assessment, AI can automate grading, provide ongoing feedback, and assess a wide range of skills, not just academic knowledge. It can also be used to predict which students might need extra help, allowing for early intervention.
While AI brings many benefits like efficiency and personalisation, it also has challenges, such as concerns over data privacy and relying too much on technology. In the future, teachers may become more like guides, helping students navigate personalised learning paths, with AI supporting a broader understanding of student abilities.
The key to using AI effectively in education is to ensure it complements, rather than replaces, the essential human aspects of teaching and learning.
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