"Middle School English Instruction through AI-Generated Content"
In a forward-thinking move, Bill Henry, an 8th-grade English teacher at Amity Middle School in Orange, Connecticut, is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prepare his students for a future where AI may play an important role. Henry's innovative approach to AI-assisted writing is making waves in education, as he guides his students towards a better understanding of writing processes and the ethical use of AI.
Henry's strategy involves clear guidelines and transparency about AI use. Students are required to document AI involvement carefully and avoid plagiarism by distinguishing between AI assistance and original work. This includes keeping records of AI edits to ensure authentic intellectual development.
The focus remains on maintaining student intellectual effort, with AI serving as a tool to enhance learning rather than automate it. Henry emphasizes to both his K-12 and college students that AI is not meant to replace their thinking or creativity, but to supplement their learning experience.
To integrate AI effectively, Henry uses approved district platforms like MagicSchool AI. He teaches students to write prompts for the AI, asking for statements related to the themes of their readings. The AI offers advice on how to improve their prompts, helping students to understand writing processes better.
Initially, some students may have thought AI was a way to cheat, but Henry's lessons have shown them otherwise. AI is viewed as a tool for improvement and live feedback, with students becoming more enthusiastic about its potential. Some students even attempted to override MagicSchool with unrelated prompts, but ultimately met the lesson objective.
Henry's approach aligns with emerging educator best practices around AI integration in K-12 and higher education settings. He believes that by embracing AI from the start and teaching students to use it, they will be able to accomplish more than if they were trying to use the AI on their phones or a separate tab.
Teachers should use approved district programs and retain control over AI, ensuring ethical and integrity considerations are met. This includes teaching students about AI use, academic integrity, and appreciating the difference between language editing and content generation.
In conclusion, Bill Henry's approach to AI-led writing exercises in K-12 and college classrooms involves transparent, documented AI use focused narrowly on editing, with strong emphasis on upholding student originality and academic integrity. This approach not only prepares students for a future where AI may play an important role but also integrates technology as a tool, not a replacement for thinking.
Sources:
- EdSurge
- Education Week
- TechCrunch
- Bill Henry, an 8th-grade English teacher, is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in his class at Amity Middle School to help students better understand writing processes and the ethical use of AI.
- Henry's strategy for AI-assisted learning involves giving students clear guidelines to document AI involvement, ensure authentic intellectual development, and avoid plagiarism when using AI for editing.
- In his class, Henry uses approved district platforms like MagicSchool AI to help students write better and understand the writing process, teaching them to craft prompts related to their readings and receive feedback from AI.
- Henry emphasizes that AI is not meant to replace students' thinking or creativity but rather to supplement their learning experience, helping them achieve more with technology as a tool.
- Teachers should use AI carefully, ensuring ethical considerations and teaching students about AI use, academic integrity, and the difference between language editing and content generation, to effectively integrate AI in education-and-self-development settings.
