WEEK #4- EDUC 5313

 PART 1:  Lesson Plan Generator

1.  I chose to use the Magic School AI tool to create a lesson plan that focuses on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) ELAR Standard 7.7(D) which states that students will learn to “analyze how the setting influences character and plot development” (TEKS, 2019).  The criteria of the plan was also supposed to highlight the  International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standard 1.6c (Creative Communicator) which asks that “Students use digital tools to visually communicate complex ideas to others” (ISTE, 2024).

The lesson was fairly basic, but it did follow a solid lesson cycle; it started off with looking at background knowledge like definitions of vocabulary words, and it moved on to guided practice.  Independent practice followed, and , and a closing and extension activity were both included.  ISTE Standard 1.6c was highlighted in the extension activity.  Magic School also included a think-pair-share aspect to the lesson.  This would help my bilingual, special education, and shy students especially.  

While the basic outline of the lesson is not in itself rigorous, the chosen texts and questions asked could improve the rigor.  ELAR Standard 7.7(D) and ISTE Standard 1.6c were both addressed in the lesson.

2. I would make adjustments to this lesson in order to improve the rigor and make the lesson more interesting for my students.  As written, I honestly think the lesson is a bit boring.  I would ask higher order thinking questions during the think-pair-share portion of the lesson.  I would also use a short film instead of a short story or excerpt during the guided practice.  Finally, I would provide a choice board for the extension activity.  Since I teach advanced academics, the extension activity would be required, and it would be used as the assessment.

3. I think that AI could be useful for the creation of  rigorous lesson plans if the teacher actually infuses the lessons with more rigor.  The lesson I received from Magic School was basic and formulaic.  The current lesson plan calls for students to locate an example and tell how something functions.  Those are both lower level skills on Bloom’s Taxonomy (Armstrong, 2010).  In order to have a rigorous lesson, students should be analyzing, evaluating, and creating.  

4. Here is the lesson plan created by AI:  https://app.magicschool.ai/tools/lesson-plan-generator?share=0cc3b137-0971-4bad-96cb-ed56610edf68

PART 2:  AI Tool

1. I chose the Text Leveler tool on Magic School.  The Text Leveler tool allows a teacher to take a text or portion of a text and scaffold it down to a learner’s reading level.

2. This tool is very useful.  I have students in my classes who read at varying levels of English proficiency.  I also have many students with dyslexia and other learning challenges.  If my students can learn to understand a text at a slightly higher level than what they currently read at on their own, this creates a zone where students can be guided to read at the next level (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).  The leveler feature is also useful for situations where students are required to complete work on their own.  With this tool, the text can be at the level of the student!  Students gain confidence and can actually complete assignments.

3. I would use this tool in delivering instruction to my students by giving them leveled texts for independent or group work.  These texts would allow students complete their work without significant aid from others.

PART 3:  Reflection

1. I would use Magic School in my classroom as a teacher resource.  I would use it to get ideas for a lesson plan and possibly a brief outline of how a class period might proceed.  I would recommend it to colleagues with the understanding that this AI program will not do all the work for them.  It is a tool to get ideas and to start lessons, but the rigor must be added by the teacher.

2. I am still skeptical about AI and copyright violations.  I would not want to steal people’s ideas that they could be selling on Teachers Pay Teachers or other sites.  I also do not like the thought that every classroom could look the same if AI use continues.  I like the creativity that comes from a variety of teachers with different minds!

3. Magic School and other AI tools could be useful for getting ideas and trying to see what is possible for a lesson.  It could help teachers define concepts and words more easily.  It could also provide sub plans, too.

4. This is my first encounter with AI tools.

References

Armstrong, P. (2010). Bloom’s Taxonomy. Vanderbilt University. https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blooms-taxonomy

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2020). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (5th ed.). Pearson.

Chapter 110. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for English Language Arts and Reading Subchapter B. Middle School. (2017). https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/laws-and-rules/sboe-rules-tac/sboe-tac-currently-in-effect/ch110b.pdf

International Society for Technology in Education. (2024). ISTE standards: For students. ISTE. https://iste.org/standards/students

MagicSchool AI. (2024). MagicSchool AI. https://app.magicschool.ai/tools/lesson-plan-generator?slug=lesson-plan-generator&thread=31029677