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By the end of this lesson, students will be able to effectively integrate and utilize various AI tools within Padlet to enhance their learning and collaboration experiences.

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Students will:
- Identify at least 3 AI tools compatible with Padlet
- Demonstrate the practical application of AI tools in educational contexts
- Evaluate the effectiveness of AI integration in collaborative learning environments

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How can AI tools enhance our learning experience when integrated with collaborative platforms like Padlet?

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Introduction to key AI tools:
- ChatGPT for content generation
- Grammarly for writing enhancement
- Canva's AI features for visual content
- Google Bard for research assistance

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AI in Education: Must-Have Tools for Teachers

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Guided Practice: Collaborative AI Integration

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Guided Practice: Collaborative AI Integration

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In small groups, students will create a Padlet wall incorporating AI-generated content, focusing on a specific educational topic. Use ChatGPT to generate initial content and Canva's AI for visuals.

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Students individually explore one AI tool of their choice and document its potential applications in education through a Padlet post.

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Advanced students can experiment with creating AI-powered interactive quizzes using Padlet's backend integration capabilities.

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Additional guidance provided through pre-recorded tutorials and step-by-step guides for students needing extra support with AI tool navigation.

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Monitor student progress through:
- Group discussions on AI tool effectiveness
- Review of practice Padlet walls
- Peer feedback sessions

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Students will create a comprehensive Padlet board that demonstrates the effective use of at least 2 AI tools, evaluated using a provided rubric.

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An educational technology professor shares a rubric teachers and administrators can use to decide why and how to use edtech tools to improve student learning.

Donna Grethen / Ikon Images

What does effective technology integration in a pre-K to 12 classroom mean? When I was in K-12 classrooms, many believed that using technology to present lectures to middle school English language acquisition students indicated effective technology use. There are many more edtech tools now, and with educators required to implement so many tools, they often don't get a clear picture of what successful technology integration looks like.

Every day in the classroom, we base everything we do on standards. How else would we know what to teach each day? Similarly, ISTE has provided educators with standards for best practices in integrating technology. These 24 standards are a bit daunting for most teachers, so I've condensed them into seven categories and articulated specifics to use as a guideline when deciding why and how to use technology to improve student learning.

A Rubric for Effective Edtech Integration

We can envision an ideal education technology teacher and classroom but not a clear path on how to get there. By breaking down the different components of successful technology integration, you can scaffold your learning to meet your own needs and the needs of your students. This rubric is broken down into seven different areas of educational technology.

Seek to continually improve their practice by learning about emerging technologies

Create experiences where all learners can engage with digital content and digital tools

Model appropriate use of digital tools and content by critically examining resources to ensure that they are safe, legal, and ethical

Use digital tools for collaboration between and among students, parents, and colleagues

Use technology during lessons to deliver authentic learning experiences that align with content standards

Utilize innovative digital learning environments that engage and support learning

Manage the use of technology in the classroom and at home

Teachers do the following:

What are you already doing and happy with, technology-wise? What areas are new to you? I've also broken down each area into levels of technology integration, from novice to expert. Which areas spark your interest to work on in your classroom?

Each year, as teachers, we have goals to improve our teaching and learning. This year, why not start with edtech? Look at the seven categories of this rubric. More than likely, you're already doing many of them. Where could you improve? For example, I use technology daily for evaluation and presentation with my students. After self-reflection on the rubric, I decided to add using technology for collaboration and global communication. Or, in addition to attending traditional technology professional development sessions, why not make it a priority this year to build your online professional learning network (PLN)?

One specific area of this rubric that I struggle with is digital citizenship. How could you model these skills for your students this year? How do students know that information online is not "fake news"? How could you model for your students that when they're communicating online, it should be with the same respect as if the person were standing in front of them?

How School Leaders Can Use the Rubric

Administrators, when you're evaluating your teachers, how do you define what successful technology integration looks like in the classroom? This rubric could also be utilized during observations. Teachers, however, should explicitly be given the rubric and have the time and guidance to reflect upon it and the seven categories well before implementing the rubric as an evaluation tool.

In addition, if they use the rubric for evaluation purposes, administrators should provide an open dialogue after observing a teacher. For example, if an administrator fails to see evidence during the lesson that shows that the teacher strives for continuous improvement and study into new technology tools, the teacher should be given the opportunity to show evidence of PLNs, technology professional development opportunities attended, or self-directed learning about best practices in edtech.

Perhaps the rubric could be incorporated into a schoolwide plan for technology integration, allowing teachers to choose categories to work on and reflect upon throughout the school year. Some categories would require teachers to prepare before evaluation. For example, Mrs. Smith would need to show evidence of PLN collaboration or self-study on technology tools to meet the category of continually improving practice by learning about emerging technologies.

I challenge administrators to utilize this rubric in an open dialogue with teachers about best practices when integrating technology.

Ensuring the Lasting Efficacy of Edtech

In my own teaching, I found myself getting excited about a new tech tool. I would come home from an ISTE conference with a list of the five latest and greatest tools that I wanted to integrate into my classroom. Six months later, I would find the tool changed, out of date, or not meeting my needs. I then started to change my thought process about edtech and edtech tools. I started to reflect upon why I was using the tool. Was it for student collaboration, for student evaluation, or for student engagement?

Once my mindset shifted to thinking not about the specific tool but about the reason for using the tool, I found that my vision for edtech in my classroom changed. Why are you using an edtech tool in your classroom? What area of ISTE standards does it help you achieve? My hope is that this rubric can guide your reflection to a greater vision of edtech for teaching and learning in your classroom.

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An educational technology professor shares a rubric teachers and administrators can use to decide why and how to use edtech tools to improve student learning. Donna Grethen / Ikon Images What does effective technology integration in a pre-K to 12 classroom mean?

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In pairs, students will discuss and share their most valuable insights about AI integration in educational settings.

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Students will complete a quick Padlet post answering:
1. What AI tool did you find most useful?
2. How might you use this tool in your future learning?
3. What challenges did you encounter?

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Create a mini-lesson on any topic using at least one AI tool and share it on a collaborative Padlet wall.

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Research one emerging AI tool not covered in class and create a brief evaluation of its potential educational applications.

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Technology Solutions That Drive Education

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Another driver of AI reluctance may be a lack of familiarity with the technology. In Microsoft's AI in Education report, 68% of educators say they have used AI once or twice, while 22% use it daily. However, only 24% claim a strong familiarity with AI.

Most educators in this survey may be trying to develop a better understanding of how the emerging technology could be applied to their administrative and classroom tasks.

AI Benefits Productivity and Differentiated Learning

Between managing the classroom, grading assignments, planning lessons, communicating with parents and families, and meeting administrative requirements, teachers are stretched thin as they strive to meet all of their occupational demands. Generative AI is well suited to address these pressing teacher needs.

According to Carnegie Learning, teachers who use AI are finding multiple benefits from doing so:

42% found that using AI reduced the time spent on administrative tasks.

25% reported benefits in AI's ability to assist with personalized learning.

18% reported benefits related to improving student engagement.

17% noted AI benefits in enhancing student learning outcomes.

Notably, only 1% of respondents found no benefit to using AI in the classroom.
WATCH NOW: Modern classroom technologies improve K-12 student engagement.
Looking at the particular tasks where AI has been applied, the majority of Carnegie Learning respondents (52%) are using the technology for brainstorming and idea generation. Others use it to create teaching materials, plan lessons or grade assignments.

Overall gains in productivity and personalized learning were reflected in both the CoSN and Microsoft reports. Among Microsoft's respondents, 24% used AI to update lesson plans, supporting materials and assignments.

Biggest Concerns Include Training on AI and Student Cheating

While educators have found valuable upsides to using AI, they are also concerned about the technology. When CoSN asked them about AI's biggest risks, 63% worried about new forms of cyberattacks, and 49% cited a lack of teacher training for integrating AI into instruction. Concerns about training and classroom integration were high among Microsoft respondents as well, with 50% seeing a lack of training and support as the biggest challenge.
REGISTER HERE: Webinar shares steps for leveraging AI for student learning.
The most widespread concerns by far among Microsoft and Carnegie Learning educators, however, were related to student cheating and plagiarism.

This worry is not lost on CoSN educators, with 20% of respondents saying that they worked in districts that use tools to detect AI-generated answers in student work. Clearly, this is a leading concern for educators that includes a thorny patch of ethical considerations with no easy answers.

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AI in Education in 2024: Educators Express Mixed Feelings on the Technology's Future

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There is optimism about artificial intelligence's productivity gains amid worry about inappropriate student use. Here's what you need to know.

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Experiment with creating AI-generated content in different languages and share your experience on the class Padlet wall.