[Jane Fennelly]

Great use of co pilot. I am excited to use this in my own lesson planning and teaching. Really engaging for the children.

[Jane Fennelly]

<h2>First Class SEN Lesson Plan – English</h2>
Topic: Creating a Story
Time: 40 minutes
AI Tools: Microsoft Copilot and MagicSchool
<h3>Learning Objectives</h3>
Pupils will:

• Develop vocabulary and oral language.
• Sequence events in a story.
• Create a simple beginning, middle and ending.

<h3>Lesson Activities</h3>
Introduction (5 mins):
Use pictures to introduce a character and setting. Ask pupils questions such as: Who is the character? Where are they? What might happen?

Main Activity (25 mins):
Pupils use picture cards to sequence a simple story. They can then tell, draw or write their own story. Sentence starters such as “One day…” and “Suddenly…” will support pupils who need additional help.

Plenary (10 mins):
Pupils share their stories. The teacher reviews the beginning, middle and ending.
<h3>Use of AI</h3>
I would use Microsoft Copilot to help create story ideas, vocabulary and questions. I would use MagicSchool to create differentiated activities and sentence starters for pupils with different needs. All AI-generated material would be checked and adapted by me before being used.
<h3>Assessment</h3>
I would assess pupils through observation, questioning, sequencing activities and their oral, drawn or written stories.

 

I believe AI can be a useful tool in teaching, especially when planning lessons for pupils with different learning needs. In a First Class SEN setting, I would use AI to support my teaching and planning.

I could use Microsoft Copilot to create story ideas, vocabulary, questions and simple activities. I would also use MagicSchool to help create differentiated activities and sentence starters. This would save time and help me provide activities for pupils with different abilities.

AI could also help make lessons more fun and engaging. For example, some pupils could use pictures and oral answers, while others could use sentence starters to write their own sentences.

I think AI can be especially helpful for supporting pupils who need extra help with communication, language and literacy. It can give me new ideas and different ways to present activities.

Overall, I see AI as a helpful teaching tool that can make my planning more creative, inclusive and efficient, while the teacher remains at the centre of learning.

[Jane Fennelly]

I think Osmo would be a great app for the SET  when working with smaller groups of children. It looks fun and I love that it encourages children to keep trying even when they make mistakes. I think this would really help to build their confidence and resilience while making learning enjoyable.

[Jane Fennelly]

One AI application I would introduce to my pupils is ScratchJr. I feel this would be a really useful starting point, particularly for pupils in First Class, as it is visual, simple and fun to use. It would allow pupils to explore technology and early coding skills without making the subject feel too difficult or complicated.

In my own classroom, I would use ScratchJr to develop pupils’ understanding of positional language and directions. For example, pupils could programme a character to move forwards, backwards, left and right, while using language such as beside, above, below, next to and between. This could link well with Maths, as pupils would be developing their understanding of position, movement and direction while also learning the basics of coding.

I would begin with simple instructions and gradually allow pupils to create their own short stories or challenges. I think this would encourage creativity, problem-solving, sequencing and computational thinking. I would also discuss how their ScratchJr character is not actually “thinking”, but is following instructions given by them. This would help First Class pupils begin to understand how technology and AI work.

[Jane Fennelly]

I agree i feel like AI will support my efficiency and speed in putting together well written targets and plans.

[Jane Fennelly]

I agree Ciara, I look forward to trying Diffit to support decodeable reading in my classroom when UFLI passages are too tricky for some

[Jane Fennelly]

This module introduced me to a range of AI tools that I could use in my own classroom. As I teach Infants, I think AI could be particularly useful for supporting literacy, language development and reading.

One tool I would use is Copilot Image Creator. I could create colourful pictures based on topics we are learning about, such as the zoo. I could then use the image as a starting point for discussion by asking the children what they can see, encouraging them to describe the picture and helping them create simple stories. This would support their vocabulary, oral language, speaking and listening skills.

Another tool I found useful is Microsoft Reading Coach. I could use it with simple decodable texts that match the children’s phonics knowledge. The children could practise reading aloud and receive support with unfamiliar words and pronunciation. This could help improve their confidence, fluency and reading skills.

Looking ahead, I think AI could become a useful part of teaching, learning and assessment. Personally I see it as making me more efficient and saving my time.It could help teachers identify areas where children need extra support and provide more personalised learning experiences. However, I think it is important that AI is used alongside teacher judgement rather than replacing it. Teachers will still play an important role in understanding children’s individual needs and providing encouragement and support.

[Jane Fennelly]

I agree, the Immersive Reader tool really interested me also. Keen to give it a try and introduce the idea to colleagues. I think I will approach my principal about using some croke park hours for training in AI tools this year

[Jane Fennelly]

Artificial intelligence will  have a positive effect on teaching and learning in the classroom. It can make learning more personalised by adapting work to suit different students’ abilities and learning styles. AI can also help teachers with tasks such as marking, assessments and organising information, giving them more time to focus on their students. It can also identify areas where students are struggling and provide quick feedback.

AI can make lessons more interesting and interactive too. For example, Minecraft Education allows children to use coding, carry out science experiments and build cities, which could encourage them to become interested in careers such as engineering or design.

I do think there are some challenges. AI can be expensive to introduce into schools, and teachers need proper training to use it. It can also be difficult to tell if students have done their own work or used AI. Privacy and data protection are important, and AI systems can sometimes be biased or give incorrect information.

[Jane Fennelly]

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>The main things I am taking away from module 1 is that AI can really be used to assist and complement my teaching rather than replacing the teacher or my own ideas. Also we play a role in helping students to also understand that AI generated information can be inaccurate and it is important to fact check and critically evaluate rather than completely rely on chat bots etc.</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Some of the tools explored during the video were completely new to me and I look forward to using them to support my own teaching and learning and assessment. What struck me about the likes of pictory was how useful it could to send explanations of new concepts to parents as well when supporting with homework etc</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Ai will reduce time spent on administrative workload and planning. I know some of my colleagues are using Claude and find it invaluable for planning so I ook forward to exploring this in the coming school year. Ai will help with differentiation as well and save me from searching endlessly for the right worksheet or activity for a particular child by assisting me in creating these resources myself. Helpful also in engaging children by using their own personal interests in a worksheet or reading comprehension for example.</span>

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