What Role Does AI Play In My Life As A Teacher? #AIedu #EdChat

AI is the buzzword right now in education circles. There are plenty of "experts" that claim to show you how to do AI right. I think it is a little early to declare yourself an expert on this topic. However, there are some teachers that are AI Explorers. I think of these people as teachers looking for ways to leverage tools to enhance the work they do and support the varied learners in their classroom. 

I think it is important for teachers to constantly think about equity in all parts of education, and that includes how AI can and will be used by students and staff. There are some great conversations going on about these issues. Dee Lanier and Ken Shelton have shared amazing things on these topics and you should check them out if you want to learn more. 

For me, I have explored lots of different uses of AI for myself and for my students. I'd like to share a few of the ways I have used two tools to help me in those areas. 

MagicSchool AI

I have used MagicSchool for most of the school year to help me create rubrics, level text, and create meaningful lessons. It is nice to be able to quickly create something like a rubric in a couple of minutes when it used take a full prep period. Being able to automate these types of tasks that require minor tweeks makes my job as a teacher easier and more efficient. I can spend the extra time providing more in-depth feedback to students and more 1:1 time with students who might need some extra help. Being able to quickly create multiple versions of the same article for students to read with the text leveler to help the wide variety of students with varied reading levels is a huge time saver. It supports inclusivity for all of the students so they can still read the article, understand the content, and participate in the group discussion. I love using these tools to make so many things, that once took so much time, easier to get done and allow me to focus on the students. 

SchoolAI

SchoolAI is awesome because I love to use it create Spaces. Spaces are ways for teachers to set up AI chatbots to support students with very specific projects. I have created one for every single project my students have done this last trimester. SchoolAI has helped students with their coding projects, design projects, and creative thinking. I set the chatbot up in a way to ask student's questions and push their thinking instead of just giving them the answers to the problems. This has been a great tool to help students learn how to best prompt chatbots to get the most out of a single question instead of having to create multiple questions over time. 

These two tools are awesome to use in the classroom and really help make my life easier as a teacher. Most importantly, when used correctly, AI tools can support inclusivity. AI can allow students and teachers to create items that meet them where they are and help them where they need to go. As a dyslexic, neurodivergent learner, I struggled in many of my classes because I could not get past the opening paragraph and would just give up. Having texts leveled for me and written in ways that can support how I take in and process information would have made school so much easier for me in the long run. Having a AI Sidekick to guide me though the toughest parts of my Math, Science, Social Studies, and other classes would have helped eliminate the anxiety I would feel. 

Be wary of the self-proclaimed experts and pay attention to the AI Explorers who are living and learning with AI on a day to day basis if you want to see how you can use these tools to support your students. 

From Compliance to Engagement: Inspiring Students Beyond Following Rules

One of the toughest things to understand as a new teacher or someone outside of education is that there is a big difference between students being compliant and students being engaged. Students can be sitting quietly in the classroom staring straight ahead at the board, but that doesn't mean anything is taken in by them. It is a sticky subject, because it often takes a long, hard look inward to truly see if your students are being engaged or compliant. Let's take a look at some examples and see how we can try to move students toward engagement. 

Compliant

Vs

Engaged

1. Compliant Students: Raising Hands, but Reluctantly

Compliance: You know the type—they do their homework, answer when called upon, and follow classroom rules. They’re not causing trouble, but they’re not volunteering answers, either. They’re just following the script. This was me for many of my classes growing up. Just going through the motions because that is what was expected of me at school. I didn't want any type of attention and I would freeze if a teacher cold called me. 

Moving to Engagement

Strategy: Mix things up by letting the students collaborate! Give them a problem that requires them to brainstorm, discuss, and find innovative solutions with their peers. Think, Pair, and Share your questions to have students thinking and connecting. Ask questions and have students move to spots in the room that coincide with their opinions. Movement can help get the brains working and seeing that you can connect with others will help those students who just want to sit and do nothing. It is tougher to sit quietly and just be present when you need to move around and connect with peers. 

2. Compliant Students: Working Silently, but Bored

Compliance: These students complete assignments quietly and on time but often seem bored and disconnected. They meet the minimum requirements without a hint of excitement. The bare minimum is all some students will give if asked to fill out forms or take notes day after day. They lack the motivation to truly be engaged with the content. Students can often be bored because the content does not interest them, it is too easy, or the level of engagement is too high from them to meet. 

Moving to Engagement

Strategy: Let’s give them a little more creative control! Invite them to design a project that allows them to blend their personal interests with your lesson goals. This way, they see learning not as an obligation, but as a platform for self-expression. Whether it’s creating an animation, writing a short story, or developing a prototype, let them choose their medium and topic. Project Based Learning and MakerEd are great ways to engage students in learning. Having them explore topics that match their interests and having them create artifacts that demonstrate their learning are great ways to have them engaged in the learning process. Sitting and taking notes is not the way to create an engaging classroom for students all of the time. 

3. Compliant Students: Writing Down Notes, but Not Asking Questions

Compliance: Some students take diligent notes, but they never question or dig deeper. They’re content copying down what’s on the board without much thought to why it matters. Students are pretty good at figuring out school. If they know a teacher is just giving notes and the notes make up the assessment, they will do the notes, study, and take the assessment. This creates great test-takers, but terrible critical thinkers. Recording information is an important skill to have, but taking the next step and placing meaning on the information and deciding how that meaning impacts great things is something that cannot just be ignored. 

Moving to Engagement

Strategy: Flip the script with open-ended questions that require critical thinking. Pose a question that doesn’t have one right answer, and let them brainstorm and hypothesize in pairs or groups. Allow them to present their findings and encourage them to ask their own questions. Push the students to look at multiple answers and solutions to problems. Have them engage in research and rebut possible conclusions. Push the students to push back on the provided notes. Just providing all of the answers for the students does not help them learn to find the answers for themselves later in life. 

Recap

There are going to be plenty of times when students are going to come to class and check out for a wide range of reasons. Few students can be engaged every class every day of the year. However, teachers should work on creating environments where students will have difficulty checking out. High energy classes that push student thinking and encourage them to engage with the content in ways that get them out of their seat and beyond their notebook helps with class engagement.

On a connected note, classroom management issues will also drop because bored students that choose to be disruptive will be less likely to be a distraction because they are engaged in the content. Creating engaging learning environments does not happen overnight, but it is worth putting in the time because those dynamic classes are so much fun for the students and the teachers. 

3 Easy Ways to Support Neurodivergent Students in Any Classroom #EdChat

Creating a supportive classroom environment for neurodivergent students is crucial for their success and well-being. Here are three straightforward strategies that teachers can employ in any educational setting to better support these students.

Establish Clear and Consistent Routines

Neurodivergent students often benefit from having a predictable classroom structure. Use visual schedules and consistent daily routines to minimize uncertainty. This can include having a clear agenda on the board and consistent times for certain activities like reading or group work. Having this information in physical and digital forms helps all learners in the classroom be prepared for their time in class. These predictable patterns help reduce anxiety and provide a safe learning environment.

Offer Flexible Seating and Quiet Spaces

Giving students the choice of where and how they work can be incredibly beneficial. Flexible seating options such as cushions, chairs with movement, or quiet corners allow students to choose a workspace that suits their sensory preferences. Additionally, having a designated quiet area where students can go to decompress or regroup can be especially helpful for those who might feel overwhelmed by noise or crowds. Depending on the layout of your classroom, the hallway might be the best option for this. I have found that many students who have trouble focusing in the classroom prefer to read outside or listen to their books in the hallway. Letting students know there are options can be very helpful to their overall anxiety levels. 

Utilize Multi-Sensory Instructional Strategies

Incorporating teaching methods that cater to various senses can greatly assist neurodivergent students. For example, when discussing new concepts, combine visual aids (like charts or flashcards), auditory elements (discussions or audio recordings), and tactile activities (hands-on projects or manipulatives). This approach ensures that learning is accessible for students with diverse needs and preferences, enhancing their ability to engage with and retain information. The change of pace is also nice for neurotypical students who can get bored with the same routine over and over again. I have also found it is a nice way to keep lessons fresh for me as well. 

Implementing these simple strategies can make a significant impact on the inclusivity and effectiveness of your teaching. By adapting your classroom to the needs of neurodivergent students, you create a more equitable learning environment where all students have the opportunity to excel.

Hit the Ground Running: Why Schools Must Amp Up Meaningful PD Before the Bell Rings #PD #EdChat

As the new school year looms on the horizon, it’s high time we talk about something that can make or break the initial momentum for educators: professional development (PD). Now, I know what you’re thinking — not another dreary workshop! But hear me out. The kind of PD I’m advocating for isn’t the sit-and-get variety that has you counting the ceiling tiles. It’s about creating experiences that are engaging, practical, and, dare I say, inspiring. Here’s why school administrators need to prioritize meaningful and actionable PD before teachers set up their classrooms for the new school year.

1. Start Strong

First impressions are everything. The tone for the whole school year is often set in those first few days. When teachers receive PD that is energizing and relevant, it doesn’t just prepare them for the year; it fires them up and boosts morale. There’s a palpable difference between a staff who’s been genuinely inspired by innovative PD and one that’s just gone through the motions. It is important to determine exactly what the focus of the year is going to be and start strong outlining what it is and how admin is going to support teachers and students in implementing this new concept. 

2. Address Real Needs

Teachers are on the front lines, grappling with diverse classrooms where each student's needs can vary dramatically. Effective PD should directly address these challenges, offering tools and strategies that teachers can immediately implement. This means administrators need to really listen to what their teachers are saying and tailor PD to meet those specific needs. Start with a survey and focus on feedback from the staff about what types of support teachers need. Plan to give the teachers something actionable after the PD has concluded. 

3. Build Community

PD sessions are a fantastic opportunity for teachers to connect, collaborate, and share ideas. This can be especially vital in schools where staff might feel isolated in their individual practices. When PD fosters a sense of community, it strengthens the entire school’s support network, creating a more cohesive environment where everyone feels valued and understood. PD can be the only time that different content areas or grade levels come together. It is crucial to build in time to laugh and connect. PD days can be long if the teachers are just being asked to "sit and get". Have fun and grow as a community. 

4. Stay Current

The educational landscape is constantly changing, with new technologies, pedagogical approaches, and curriculum standards emerging all the time. Summer/Back to School PD is the perfect time to catch teachers up and get them comfortable with the latest developments. This isn’t just about keeping up with the Joneses; it’s about providing the best and most current educational experiences for our students. However, do not throw everything at teachers all at once. See what is out there and how these new tools or approaches can support the goal for the year. Make sure whomever is providing the content is someone who is an expert and can connect with teachers because they have shared experiences. 

5. Empower Teachers

There’s something inherently empowering about receiving PD that you can actually use. When teachers feel empowered, they engage more deeply, take more creative risks in their teaching, and ultimately, impact student learning more profoundly. PD should leave teachers feeling equipped and excited to try out new ideas, not overwhelmed and lost in theoretical jargon. Find ways for teachers to own a piece of the professional development. This could be teacher led sessions that allow the community to showcase what they know and everyone can learn together. 

So, let’s ditch the old-school, cookie-cutter PD sessions that feel more like a checkbox on an administrative to-do list. Instead, let’s aim for PD that sparks creativity, addresses real classroom needs, and provides practical tools that teachers can immediately take into their classrooms. Trust me, your teachers — and your students — will thank you for it.