AI Practice for Teacher Candidates: Day 1 — Welcome to the 100-Day Journey!
Welcome to Your AI Adventure
Congratulations on taking the first step toward transforming your teaching practices with the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI)! Over the next 100 days, we’ll explore practical ways to integrate AI into your teaching toolkit, making your work more efficient, creative, and impactful.
As teacher candidates, you’re preparing to lead classrooms in a world that increasingly relies on technology. AI isn’t just a tool for tech professionals; it’s a game-changer for educators, offering new ways to enhance lesson planning, engage students, and manage your time effectively.
Today’s Focus: Setting the Stage
Before diving into the practical applications of AI, let’s start by reflecting on your current understanding and setting goals for this journey.
Task 1: Reflect on Your AI Experience
- What do you already know about AI?
- Have you used any AI tools before? If so, which ones?
- What excites you most about learning to use AI in education?
Task 2: Set Your Goals Think about how you’d like to incorporate AI into your teaching practice. Some examples might include:
- Simplifying lesson planning.
- Creating personalized learning experiences for students.
- Finding new ways to engage students in the classroom. Write down 2-3 specific goals for what you hope to achieve by Day 100.
Practical Tip: Get Your AI Toolkit Ready
To start, you’ll need access to a few key tools. Here are some free or low-cost platforms that will be your companions throughout this journey:
- ChatGPT (or similar AI chat tools): Great for brainstorming ideas, generating lesson plans, and answering questions.
- Canva for Education: A design tool with AI features for creating visually engaging classroom materials.
- Quillionz: An AI tool for generating quizzes and assessments.
- EdPuzzle: Use AI to create interactive videos for your lessons.
Make sure you create accounts for these tools and explore their interfaces briefly. You’ll use them a lot during the journey.
Why AI Matters for Teachers
AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a tool that’s here to stay. For teacher candidates, this means:
- Saving time on administrative tasks so you can focus on students.
- Offering differentiated instruction tailored to diverse learning needs.
- Enhancing creativity in lesson planning and classroom activities.
By the end of this journey, you’ll not only feel confident using AI but also be ready to teach your future students about it.
Reflection Questions
Take a moment to think about the following:
- What are your initial thoughts about using AI in teaching?
- What challenges do you anticipate when integrating AI into your classroom?
- How do you think AI can support your students' learning?
Feel free to share your thoughts with your peers in the comments!
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow, we’ll dive into the basics of what AI is and why it’s important for teachers. For now, focus on setting your goals and getting your toolkit ready. Let’s make this 100-day journey one of growth, discovery, and innovation!
See you on Day 2! 🎉