[Dearbhla Greene]

Sounds like a great lesson. The module has introduced me to the challenges of AI, aswell as the obvious benefits.  Your lesson will introduce the children to challenges and how they must think critically for themselves as AI is not 100% reliable.

[Dearbhla Greene]

Develop a lesson plan incorporating AI concepts and write about how you plan to use it and other AI tools in your teaching. Post a reflective piece (150 words min) to this Module forum as a Reply to this post.

Lesson Plan: Long Division (5th Class)
Subject: Mathematics
Strand: Number
Strand Unit: Operations
Class Level: Fifth Class
Topic: Long Division

Learning Outcomes: By the end of this lesson, pupils should be able to:
1)Understand the process of long division (dividing by 1-digit and 2-digit numbers).
2)Apply multiplication and subtraction skills within long division.
3)Solve contextual word problems involving long division.
4)Use Khan Academy AI to practise and self-assess their understanding.

Resources:
• Whiteboard & markers
• Base-ten blocks / counters (for concrete demonstration)
• Long division step chart (visual aid)
• Laptops/tablets with Khan Academy accounts (AI tutor enabled)
• Worksheets for offline practice

1. Introduction (10 mins)
• Begin with a mental maths warm-up: quick division facts (÷2, ÷5, ÷10).
• Explain: Today we are learning long division, a way to solve big division problems step by step.

2. Development (25 mins):
• Use base-ten blocks/counters to divide 84 ÷ 7.
• Show grouping into equal sets.
• On the board, set up 84 ÷ 7 in long division format.
• Model step-by-step: Divide → Multiply → Subtract → Bring down.
• Solve 154 ÷ 11 together as a class.
• Emphasise repeated steps and checking answers (Multiply & Add back).

Digital practice (Khan Academy AI)
• Pupils log into Khan Academy → Long Division Practice.
• They attempt problems with hints/explanations from AI.
• Teacher circulates, supports, and notes misconceptions.

3. Guided Practice (10 mins)
• Pupils work in pairs on 2–3 problems (one simple, one larger, one word problem).
• Encourage use of “division steps checklist” (Divide → Multiply → Subtract → Bring Down).
• Share solutions on the board, discuss mistakes as learning opportunities.

4. Conclusion (5 mins)
• Recap key steps of long division.
• Ask pupils: “What tip would you give a friend who is learning long division for the first time?”

Assessment
• Teacher observation during concrete/pictorial activities.
• Monitoring pupils’ progress on Khan Academy AI (automatic reports).

Differentiation
• Support: Use smaller numbers, visual aids, and step-by-step guidance.
• Extension: Challenge stronger pupils with 3-digit ÷ 2-digit problems and multi-step word problems.
• Digital Adaptation: Khan Academy AI adjusts difficulty to learner’s progress.

This course introduced me to so many AI tools that I can use in teaching and planning. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by so many resources, so I think I will spend the next number of months just focusing on two AI resources, the first one that was highly recommended was Diffit. The ability of the technology to convert any piece of text into content tailored for any reading level is a fantastic. Then, all the resources to accompany that level of reading means that I will feel that each child will be able to access differentiated work to suit their needs and develop their learning. I imagine this AI resource will save so much time and I look forward to playing around with it over the next week to become familiar with all of its features.

The second AI resource that I plan on using is Microsoft Reading Coach. This is another amazing tool that will supply me with endless amount of lessons tailored specifically to the child’s reading level. It appears to be an extremely child friendly resource and I am looking forward to seeing how the children engage with it in the classroom.

[Dearbhla Greene]

Consider one of the AI application examples highlighted and explain how you would introduce this to your pupils. Post a reflective piece (150 words min) to this Module forum as a Reply to this post.

Many years ago, I used Khan Academy to develop my students’ maths skills. It definitely allowed the children to become independent learners and feedback was very useful for both the student and the teachers. The website has improved greatly in recent years and it is an invaluable resource in primary education.

Before introducing Khan Academy, I will explain it’s features and how we will recognise it as our ‘Class Helper’. I will explain that it is a fun way to learn and the useful videos will help us become better at maths. I will introduce the website on the whiteboard and show the pupils how I can easily navigate around the various tools. I will encourage the children to ask questions about the resource and encourage them to talk about it with their parents at home.

I will organise the classroom setting to prevent pupils feeling anxious, making sure there are extra staff in the room to help the initial setting up of accounts. I also think it will be best to put the children in pairs until they gain confidence to use the tools independently. I will continually monitor the Teacher Dashboard to ensure that all children are engaging and to provide extra support where needed.

[Dearbhla Greene]

A very good idea to refer to the school’s AUP and GDPR policies before introducing an AI tool to students.  An internet safety programme is also important to protect the children and teachers before engaging into the world of AI.

[Dearbhla Greene]

Part 1
Give two examples of how you can use some of the tools identified in this module to improve your own teaching, learning and assessment.
Part 2
Reflect on the potential classroom use of these examples and the other AI tools covered in Module 3 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.

I appreciate the recommendation of Microsoft Reading Coach. Having looked at the website, I feel that this would be a super tool to help improve a child’s literacy skills within the classroom. I feel that Reading Coach is very child friendly and would appeal to all pupils. I love that the children can choose their own characters and icons to personalise their own story and that they can choose what the next chapter in their story is about. The idea of gaining a ‘reading streak’ each day would definitely appeal to the children. I think the fact that the tool constantly monitors the progress of the child and gives feedback to the child and to the administrator is wonderful. I also think that this would be great to give as a homework activity, supported by the parents.

Search Coach is another tool that I haven’t heard about. It appears to be a great resource for research projects for senior students, allowing them to develop their research skills independently and in a safe environment. There are many ideas in the attached lesson plans to develop the pupils’ information literacy skills. The students will carry these skills into secondary school.

I am taking up the role of SET teacher in September and following your recommendation, I plan to use Diffit. It is such a clever tool in that it can provide a differentiated scheme of work to cater for each child’s ability. The resources are easy to access and there is a wide choice of activities available. Above all, the main benefit is that I will be able to spend more time teaching than spending hours searching for suitable resources for every child.

[Dearbhla Greene]

Part 1
Give two examples of how you can use some of the tools identified in this module to improve your own teaching, learning and assessment.
Part 2
Reflect on the potential classroom use of these examples and the other AI tools covered in Module 3 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.

I appreciate the recommendation of Microsoft Reading Coach. Having looked at the website, I feel that this would be a super tool to help improve a child’s literacy skills within the classroom. I feel that Reading Coach is very child friendly and would appeal to all pupils. I love that the children can choose their own characters and icons to personalise their own story and that they can choose what the next chapter in their story is about. The idea of gaining a ‘reading streak’ each day would definitely appeal to the children. I think the fact that the tool constantly monitors the progress of the child and gives feedback to the child and to the administrator is wonderful. I also think that this would be great to give as a homework activity, supported by the parents.

Search Coach is another tool that I haven’t heard about. It appears to be a great resource for research projects for senior students, allowing them to develop their research skills independently and in a safe environment. There are many ideas in the attached lesson plans to develop the pupils’ information literacy skills. The students will carry these skills into secondary school.

I am taking up the role of SET teacher in September and following your recommendation, I plan to use Diffit. It is such a clever tool in that it can provide a differentiated scheme of work to cater for each child’s ability. The resources are easy to access and there is a wide choice of activities available. Above all, the main benefit is that I will be able to spend more time teaching than spending hours searching for suitable resources for every child.

[Dearbhla Greene]

I am also amazed with the AI examples in the module and I agree with you Victoria, it so important to share this new found knowledge with the staff team in September, alot of people are unaware that these tools exist.

[Dearbhla Greene]

Based on what you have learned in this module, how do you think AI can transform the teaching and learning experience in your classroom? Provide specific examples and potential benefits and discuss any challenges you might face in implementing AI tools.

I think the main benefit of the use of AI in primary school is that it acts as a smart assistant to the teacher, helping to develop personalised learning for every child. The suggested assessment tools in this module, such as Squirrel and Century will enable early detection of learning gaps. The child can be assessed and feedback is instant, allowing the student and the teacher to become immediately aware of difficulties in understanding, giving the pupils the best chance to succeed. This feedback can be used to develop specific targets for a child’s Support Plan.
Such AI led programmes are so beneficial as once assessed, students can engage with learning content that adapts to their learning pace.

AI helps with administrative tasks, allowing the teacher more time to focus on teaching the pupils. It was beneficial to listen to the teacher from Scoil Mhuire in Rosslare who is availing of AI to enhance the educational performance of its pupils. Carlow Educate Together use of Mash Plus was interesting. The Immersive Reader appears to be an extremely useful learning tool.

Of course there are challenges of using AI in the classroom, the major one being the expense of implementing it in the school and the continual retraining of teachers. The introduction of such tools may also lead to anxiety among staff, as they may lack confidence in using technology. Through their digital strategy, the department of Education plans to provide support to allow teachers to gain confidence using AI in the primary classroom.

Another challenge is that research has shown that some of the AI creators can sometimes reflect biases, resulting in inaccurate information. There are also privacy concerns when using AI and the school must comply with GDPR. Educators, students and parents must know how this technology works, promoting transparency if vital in school. The Teaching Council has outlined ethical standards which school must follow when using technology in the classroom.

[Dearbhla Greene]

I agree that the greatest challenge will be ensuring that all children have access to AI technology. The expense of purchasing AI tools is a risk factor as some teachers may lack confidence and refuse to implement the digital tools within their classroom. As you said Natasha, training of staff may also be required, an additional expense for the school.

[Dearbhla Greene]

Reflect on the potential classroom use of AI tools and how this can impact on future teaching, learning and assessment.

I chose this course because I am moving into the role of SET in September and I hope that AI will guide me to create individualised teaching plans and assessment resources for the varied needs of my pupils. Children with sensory processing needs often learn better through a combination of sight, sound and touch. I enjoyed learning about Microsoft Copilot and how it can create images when prompted specifically.

AI tools will allow me to create lessons digitally instead of traditional paper based assessments, which will suit children who have differing learning preferences. Children with additional needs may benefit from the use of AI based assessments as the resources will be able to attract their attention better. Parents may also benefit from visual updates and reporting, which can be found on Canva.

The Generative AI in Education resource in Module One will be a huge benefit to my new teaching role. I must admit that I feel quite overwhelmed by the amount of AI tools that are available for teaching and assessing learning. Hopefully I can find a few that will help me implement inclusive teaching strategies effectively.

[Dearbhla Greene]

I also think the Khan Academy will be great to use in the classroom as it will allow the child to reflect and critique on their learning. I used to use Khan Academy many years ago and it is amazing to see how AI has enhanced this resource.

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