Review of Magic School AI Tool

Lesson Plan Tool

Link to my Magic School lesson plan

    In this blog post, I will discuss my experience with using the tool Magic School AI to generate a lesson plan. To begin, I input my lesson objectives and standards. The tool then generated this lesson plan within seconds. The lesson that it generated is a great starting point for a teacher. However, I believe that an expert should revise the lesson plan to make it rigorous and effective for all learners. 

    While the lesson plan is well aligned with the standards, it could be much more specific and could use a measurable component. The lesson plan should specifically state how each standard will be met with the lesson material. The lesson is also not sufficiently rigorous. The lesson lacks depth and it lacks differentiation for exceptional learners. While the assessments in the lesson plan are aligned with the objectives and the lesson procedure, there is a lack of formative assessment, which is critical in a project-based learning environment. The independent practice should also be more closely aligned with real-world applications in order to provide an authentic learning experience. 

    While Magic School AI offers a helpful starting point for teachers experiencing writer's block, it falls short in crafting rigorous lesson plans tailored to the diverse needs of every learner. A crucial aspect of effective teaching is the ability to cater to the individual needs of students, particularly those with exceptionalities. These students require the expertise and nuanced understanding of an experienced educator who can thoughtfully consider their unique learning requirements before designing and delivering instruction. Magic School AI lacks the human touch and personalized approach necessary to address the diverse needs of learners. As evidence, in a presentation by Ruben Gentry Ed.D for The Urban Education Conference in Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Gentry emphasized the importance of individualized teaching approaches for students with exceptionalities, highlighting the role of knowledgeable educators in meeting their diverse needs. While AI technology can offer valuable support, it cannot replace the expertise and personalized attention provided by human educators when crafting rigorous and inclusive lesson plans.

5E Model Lesson Plan

Link to my 5E Model Lesson Plan

    This tool works very similarly to the Lesson Plan Generator tool. I simply input my objectives and standards and the tool output a lesson plan that meets the 5Es. Within seconds, the program provided me with a five point lesson plan. Each of the 5Es are addressed. While the lesson plan that it produced was very vague, similar to the lesson plan discussed previously, it is another great starting point for a professional to develop. I could see myself using this tool for lesson plans that don’t meet the 5E model. I could use this tool for ideas that I may not have thought of on my own for engagement and exploration. 

Final Thoughts

    After interacting with Magic School AI, I can definitely see its usefulness. This tool could be a great way to find inspiration when our own is lacking. I could also see students using this tool to generate ideas for their own projects. It could spark inspiration for them that could lead to a great project. I would share it with colleagues with the understanding that it is not a replacement for professionals. Teachers have bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and endless professional development hours to become the experts in their fields. While this isn’t a replacement, it is a tool, just like the calculator. The calculator doesn’t automatically teach us math, and the AI tool cannot automatically create professional lesson plans for us. In my classroom, we have used other forms of AI, such as Grammarly. Grammarly can be used to correct spelling, grammar, and syntax issues in student writing. It can also make suggestions to improve student writing. Grammarly has been approved for student use by my district. For this reason, I allow my students to use it. The challenge that would discourage me from using Magic School is privacy concerns. For this reason, I would not use it with my students at this time. I worry about the program collecting student data. I would caution all teachers not to input student data into the machine. 

References

Gentry, R., Sallie, A.P., & Sanders, C.A.,(2013, November 18-20). Differentiated instructional strategies to accommodate students with varying needs and learning styles [Conference Presentation]. The Urban Education Conference, Jackson, Mississippi, United States. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED545458.pdf