MagicSchool AI and the Future of Teaching: A Reflection on AI Supported Learning

Part 1: MagicSchool AI Lesson Plan

When using MagicSchool AI to generate a lesson plan, I focused on the NYS Standard (2017) “9-10W3b: Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, reflection, and plot line[s] to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.” I will be connecting the following standard with the ISTE Standard for Students (2024), Innovative Designer “1.4.a Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.” The lesson aligned with the standard and all other aspects perfectly, and was challenging enough, it even provided ideas for struggling learners. Truthfully, I do not have any improvements to make, this website connects everything, providing a plethora of information, from guiding questions, to activities, to key insights, this was more informative than chatGPT. I would say it could be useful for rigorous lessons, however, it is still a bot, and a bot does not know the environment of your own classroom. For example, I could be teaching a 9-10 course, and have a majority of kids who do not learn at this level, but the bot makes this lesson based on the standard provided. Granted it gives examples for struggling learners there is still that overall gap. Not every class has your “average” learners and I feel as if that is the type of lesson this source created. Here is the link to the lesson plan I created: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RLfs4QZC13OeXcdQwuep9wl0FXnt9vt2CGBrGi1wSr4/edit?usp=sharing. This lesson plan does reflect some of the readings we have in the last few weeks. One concept that stuck out to me was the idea of students being collaborators. This connects to the triple E framework, more specifically, on Enhancement and Extension. By providing students with guided questions during peer review, we are meeting the criteria for Enhancement. As well, in having a peer review assignment, where students are editing each other's work, there are connections to Extension.

Part 2: MagicSchool AI Tool 

When using MagicSchool AI, I chose to utilize the “Make it Relevant!” tool. The tool takes the grade level you teach, and asks you to fill out what you are going to teach, or what students are learning in the classroom. Once you fill that out, the last portion has you write about your classroom environment, what the students' interests are, what their behavior/energy is like in the classroom (your overall atmosphere and student interests). Once you fill out all the necessary information, it uses what you want to teach and what your students are like to create a lesson, or activity that would connect (or be relevant to) your classroom. I really enjoyed using this tool because sometimes we make assignments that students may not be interested in, and this can cause difficulties or challenges when trying to keep students actively engaged in the classroom. Having this tool can help you connect what you are learning in the classroom with what your students enjoy. I think this tool is very useful because it will keep the class engaged. When students are doing things they like, or feel like their interests are included in a classroom, it can keep them focused and interested. I would 100% use this tool in my own classroom. I would use this to deliver instruction or provide assignments for students. In terms of instruction, this tool could help me make connections with the material and student interest. For assignments, I can ensure students are completing assignments that could be intriguing or could relate to their own identities/experiences. If I know I have a topic that would not be interesting for students, I could spruce it up using this tool, so students can be actively participating in the classroom. At times too, when you have something that appeals to your interests you intake information better. 

Part 3: Reflection

I really enjoyed navigating this resource. I truly believe I would use this with my students and/or share it with colleagues because of the different components/tools this website has. I used the Make it Relevant tool, but I noticed it creates songs for certain topics too. I think this could be an amazing tool for teachers to enhance student learning and engagement. As well, I feel as though students could use this to get assistance, in case a teacher is busy, or if they are working outside of school and need help. like any AI tool, a challenge, or concern I foresee would be the dependency. I think it is difficult to depend on such a tool because while this site is being creative, we are losing our own creativity. Even with students, they could start to depend on this for help, and potentially get misinformation. I would be concerned for it to turn less into a guide and more into a creator. Like I said before, the benefits could be increasing student learning and engagement. There were so many tools that could help teachers make content that truly connects with students' lives and interests, to the next level. In Oklahoma State Department of Education (2024) it says “AI-assisted grading can accelerate assessment processes, providing timely feedback to students.” This is something that really intrigued me, as sometimes grading can feel overwhelming especially as an ELA teacher, needing to grade 120 5-paragraph essays. To have a tool that would allow you to upload a rubric and an essay then grade it for you, would really get some weight off of teachers shoulders. There are so many times I have spent a Saturday or Sunday grading (I know that is not good for you) but it was the only choice I had. I do not have personal experience using AI in the classroom, as I was always someone against it. There was a time when I was working in KY that they were trying to teach us how to use MagicSchool AI, but I never got the chance to learn or implement it, I just could not find the time and nothing was mandatory. I did use chatGPT, although, knowing what I know now, I would definitely change that. The only reason I used chatGPT was to help me make my brainstorming ideas one cohesive thought, or to upgrade something I thought could use some enhancement. I would love to use a tool like MagicSchool in the classroom from now on.

References: 

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

Oklahoma State Department of Education. (2024). Guidance and considerations for using artificial intelligence in Oklahoma K–12 schools (Version 1.0). https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/osde/documents/services/standards-learning/educational-technology/Guidance-and-Considerations-for-Artificial-Intelligence-in-Oklahoma-Schools.pdf