Artificial Intelligence – Friend or Foe?

Personally, I love using ai as a tool to support my learning, as well as my planning as a teacher candidate. I think there is a lot of misinformation about ai, specifically how it’s used. Rather than using it to just generate answers or information, I use ai to help me generate ideas to create a clearer path to my goal. My biggest tip for using ai, more specifically Chat Gpt, is PROMPTS!!! ai can only give you what you ask for, so to get better support you need to ask better questions!

Let’s put this to the test! lets see the difference between a simple prompt and a detailed one!

My simple Prompt: write me a lesson plan for a grade 1 class about sound and light

chat:

Grade 1 Lesson Plan: Exploring Sound and Light

Objective: Students will be able to differentiate between sound and light, identify sources of sound and light, and understand basic properties of sound and light.

Materials Needed:

1. Picture cards of various sources of sound and light (e.g., bell, flashlight, sun, guitar)
2. Flashcards with words related to sound and light (e.g., loud, quiet, bright, dark)
3. Flashlight
4. Bell or any other musical instrument
5. Mirror
6. Prisms (optional)
7. Whiteboard and markers
8. Chart paper and markers
9. Storybook about sound and light (optional)

Duration: 45 minutes

Procedure:

Introduction (5 minutes):

1. Greet the students and ask them if they know what sound and light are.
2. Show the picture cards of various sources of sound and light.
3. Discuss with students what they see in the pictures and what they know about sound and light.

Exploration (15 minutes):

1. Divide the class into two groups.
2. Group 1 will explore sound, and Group 2 will explore light.
3. Group 1: Take the bell or musical instrument and ask each student to make a sound with it. Discuss with the group what they observe about sound (e.g., loud, soft, high, low).
4. Group 2: Use the flashlight to shine light around the room. Ask students to describe what they see and how the light behaves (e.g., bright, dim, reflection).
5. Rotate the groups so that each group gets a chance to explore both sound and light.

Discussion (10 minutes):

1. Gather the students together and ask them to share their observations about sound and light.
2. Write down their responses on the whiteboard.
3. Discuss the similarities and differences between sound and light based on their observations.
4. Introduce vocabulary related to sound and light using the flashcards (e.g., loud, quiet, bright, dark).

Activity (10 minutes):

1. Give each student a mirror.
2. Show them how light reflects off the mirror by shining the flashlight onto it.
3. Let them explore with their mirrors, trying to reflect the light onto different surfaces.
4. Optional: If available, use prisms to demonstrate how light can be refracted.

Wrap-up (5 minutes):

1. Review what students have learned about sound and light.
2. Ask if anyone has any questions.
3. Summarize the key points of the lesson.
4. Conclude by reading a storybook about sound and light (optional).

Assessment: Observe students’ participation during exploration and discussion. Assess their understanding based on their ability to differentiate between sound and light, identify sources of sound and light, and use appropriate vocabulary to describe them.

Okay so this wasn’t too bad, it covers all the bases of a lesson plan, but it’s very simple and doesn’t really feel that engaging and is a bit dated. its also quite robotic, and super vague!

Let’s try something more detailed !

my new prompt: write me a engaging lesson plan for a grade 1 class in bc about sound and light , that integrates the first peoples principles of learning and is inclusive for different learning styles, and connect it to the bc curriculum!

chat:

Grade 1 Integrated Lesson Plan: Exploring Sound and Light through Indigenous Perspectives

Subject: Science

Objective: Students will explore the concepts of sound and light through Indigenous perspectives, integrating First Peoples Principles of Learning and accommodating various learning styles. This lesson plan aligns with the British Columbia curriculum’s focus on science and Indigenous knowledge.

Materials Needed:

1. Picture books featuring Indigenous stories related to sound and light (e.g., “The Sharing Circle” by Theresa Meuse, “Shin-chi’s Canoe” by Nicola I. Campbell)
2. Traditional Indigenous musical instruments (e.g., drum, rattle)
3. Flashlights
4. Prisms (optional)
5. Blankets or mats for sitting comfortably
6. Drawing supplies (e.g., crayons, markers, paper)
7. Music player with Indigenous music (optional)
8. Computer or tablet with internet access for research (optional)

Duration: 60 minutes

Procedure:

Introduction (10 minutes):

1. Begin by gathering students in a circle on the floor with blankets or mats for comfortable seating.
2. Introduce the concepts of sound and light, explaining that Indigenous cultures have unique perspectives on these phenomena.
3. Engage students with a brief discussion about what they know about sound and light, encouraging them to share any Indigenous stories or knowledge they may have.

Storytelling Session (20 minutes):

1. Read aloud a selected Indigenous picture book related to sound and light, such as “The Sharing Circle” or “Shin-chi’s Canoe.”
2. Use props or pictures to enhance the storytelling experience and engage different learning styles.
3. Pause occasionally to ask questions and encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings about the story.
4. Play Indigenous music softly in the background to create a multisensory experience (optional).

Discussion and Reflection (15 minutes):

1. Lead a discussion about how sound and light are portrayed in the story and how they are significant in Indigenous cultures.
2. Connect the story to the First Peoples Principles of Learning, discussing concepts such as storytelling, experiential learning, and respect for diversity.
3. Encourage students to reflect on how they can apply Indigenous perspectives on sound and light in their daily lives.
4. Provide opportunities for students to express themselves through verbal discussion, drawings, or writing, accommodating different learning styles.

Hands-On Exploration (15 minutes):

1. Divide students into small groups and provide them with traditional Indigenous musical instruments and flashlights.
2. Instruct each group to explore how sound and light can be produced and manipulated using the provided materials.
3. Encourage experimentation and creativity, allowing students to share their findings with the class.
4. Circulate among the groups to offer assistance and guidance as needed.

Closing (5 minutes):

1. Have each group share their experiences and discoveries with the class.
2. Conclude by emphasizing the importance of respecting Indigenous knowledge and perspectives on sound and light.
3. Invite students to reflect on what they’ve learned and how they can apply these lessons in their daily lives.
4. Thank students for their participation and engagement.

Assessment: Assess students’ understanding through their participation in discussions, reflections, and hands-on exploration. Look for evidence of connections to Indigenous perspectives, comprehension of the story’s themes, and incorporation of First Peoples Principles of Learning. Additionally, observe how students with different learning styles engage with the lesson and adapt as needed to ensure inclusivity.

See how different these plans are ! I know there are so many other ways to use Ai in teaching, but for me this has been the most useful, and increasing the complexity of my prompts has improved my brainstorming experience by far ! I think this is also a lesson to talk about with students – ai is only as good as the jobs new give it – as it will promote critical thinking (this could even be a class routine, like maybe once a week you give them an idea and have students try to write the most detailed prompt)